Yesterday I accompanied Jeff, my 3rd grader on a field trip with his class to the Shedd Aquarium in downtown Chicago. My job was to help chaperone. Oh, my! I was assigned charge of what seemed to be 5 monkeys out of the zoo… 3 girls and 2 boys–the two boys were Jeff and his friend Alec. I saw what I was in for when we began walking around to see the animals and the kids started to run up to the interactive exhibits and in a frenzy, pushed, or should I say ‘banged on’ the buttons like they were playing Pac Man. EVERY exhibit…the whole time. I had to remind them we were here to see the fish, not play pretend video games.
The kids were okay in the beginning, but by the end of the day, I was thinking this field trip is wayyyyyyyyyyy too long! They were bored to death! I, on the other hand, having learned to appreciate the finer things in life, enjoyed watching the dolphins immensly. I also got a kick out of seeing the guy in the scuba suit go into the large Carribean reef and feed the sharks, manta rays and other fish by hand. How cool was that! All the kids could say was ”Mrs. Fraanz, this is so boring!” AACK!!!
By 11:30am, all these imps wanted to do was run around in circles, chasing each other as they monotonously sang a home-made song over and over again.–“I just wanted to flyyyyy, but I got shot by the FBIIII”…….! I seriously thought I’d kill myself if I had to listen to one more verse of this loony tune.
As I stood there and watched them crazily chase eachother, I got to thinking about how different these kids were from me and from many of my friends, when I was that age. I really believe manic-like cartoons and fast paced video/computer games are ruining these kids. They can’t stand to take in anything if it isn’t being done at a fast pace. How sad it is, really. I’m glad I enjoy gazing at the colorful scales on the giant iguana and laughing at the penguins as they waddle and flirt. I don’t need any video games or computer games to entertain me. Taking on the sights of daily life is entertainment enough for me.
So, to sooth my insanity after this long day, I stopped at T. J. Maxx for a half hour while I waited for Jeff to be dismissed from school. I found this fabulous little handbag for $17, which is so feminine and flirty and very Carrie Bradshaw. I felt I deserved it after all I went through that morning. I can’t wait to find the perfect sundress to pair it with. Cindy already called first dibs on it if she goes on a date any time soon. I told her absolutely, girlfriend!
Why Jane 
