My first year teaching 5th grade is wrapping up, and boy, I am hanging on by my fingernails (as are all the students)! The weather is so nice, and the kids just want to move and play outside. Who can blame them? It means that it is a perfect time for an outside field trip!
Yesterday was the day. We bused the entire 5th grade up to beautiful Snow Basin to enjoy a day of hiking, games, and lunch on the lawn. It was PERFECT weather for our trip. Sunny but not too hot, shady for most of the hike without being too cold, and really fun to interact with my students in a less formal setting.
After the hike, we settled down for lunch, and the kids started pulling out games to play on the grass. Everything was picture perfect, until we heard one of the kids screaming, and running towards the adults, specifically to his mom, who was one of the parent chaperones.
As I turned toward the screaming, I saw blood running down the side of of this boy's head. A metal sign had fallen and struck him on the side of the head, right above and behind his ear. Panic and efficiency set in as all the adults tried to clean him up and determine what to do. And here is where things get interesting.
The original plan for me, since I only work half time and the field trip would extend beyond my contract hours, was for me to drive up separately so that I could leave in time to get back for my babysitter, who needed to leave before the field trip would be over. But, one of my teen daughters woke up sick that morning, so while my babysitter did come for my little guy, I decided that my teen could watch him for an hour between when babysitter left and I returned home. I made quick last minute arrangements, and rode the bus on the field trip instead. Also, before leaving home in the morning, as I packed everything I would need for the trip, I grabbed a small first-aid kit and stuck it in my pack. (Some kid was bound to need a Band-aid, right?)
So when this injured boy came running in a panic with blood streaming down his head, his mom took a look while I got gauze out to apply pressure to stop the bleeding (one of the other parent chaperones had a much better first-aid kit with her as well, which was good because mine was not enough!). Then as his mom was getting him in the car ready to go, I was able to ask if she wanted me to come. She brushed it off a little, just anxious to get her boy to the ER as quickly as possible. But, not having a car of my own to worry about, I insisted and rode down the mountain to the hospital with them. She drove, and I was able to keep an eye on her child to make sure he was doing okay.
At the hospital, thankfully, we learned that it was not as bad an injury as we had initially thought. No concussion, even. And this kid is a trooper--he showed up at school today, ready to just move on.
At the time of the incident, I did what I felt I had to do. When it was all over, I questioned every choice. After all, I just up and left my entire class to help one student! I was afraid my team would be upset with me. But I knew that it was really no different than what I had originally planned to do, by leaving the field trip a little early on my own. And I felt like being with this mom, whose stress responses were so heightened, might be a real help.
This morning, I apologized to one of the teachers on my team for just up and leaving so unexpectedly. My fears were permanently put to rest as she said, "I was just thinking about how perfectly everything worked out for you to go with him, with your daughter being sick so you didn't have to drive..."
So, it wasn't just in my head. Even those little choices, that I thought were just to benefit me, were inspired.
The entire day yesterday was full of stress. As wonderful as it was to be outside, a field trip is a big deal, and isn't necessarily relaxing for the adults in charge (especially yesterday's!). All evening, I kind of wanted to sob, just to release the emotion of the day. I never did. I ate a big bowl of ice cream instead. (I also heard the other day that you can expect to gain 25 lbs. your first year of teaching. Now I know why!) I woke up this morning, thankful for a light day of teaching (we are just finishing up standardized testing), and hoping to get to school early for faculty meeting.
I hug-hug and kiss-kissed my children as I was walking out the door, and listened to the pounding of their running feet as they hurried to the window to wave. And then came the sound that made my blood run cold--the shattering of glass and my son's scream.
I ran to the broken window, expecting to see blood everywhere.
There was no blood. None. Just a frightened little boy and a mess to clean up.
I inspected A.J.'s hands, looking to see if they were cut and just waiting to bleed. There was a minor scratch on his arm that barely required a Band aid, and a couple of speck-like cuts on his face that only needed to be washed. Shattered glass everywhere, in the house and out, but no blood.
I have known many people who have had hand-through-the- glass-experiences, and there is profuse bleeding and ER visits involved nearly every time. There is no reason for my son to not have had the same experience. But for whatever reason, he was spared. And whatever that reason may be, I am thankful.
Mostly I'm writing up these experiences so that I remember. I want to remember that Heavenly Father is watching over us. He is in the tiny details of our lives. From something minor like changing my plans so that I could help a student, to something bigger like my boy going unscathed, He is there, helping, supporting, comforting, and protecting every step of the way. We just need to see it.
Yesterday was the day. We bused the entire 5th grade up to beautiful Snow Basin to enjoy a day of hiking, games, and lunch on the lawn. It was PERFECT weather for our trip. Sunny but not too hot, shady for most of the hike without being too cold, and really fun to interact with my students in a less formal setting.
 |
| Our majestic view of the mountains, and a beaver-made pond in the foreground. It was really cool to see the trees that the beavers had cut down! |
After the hike, we settled down for lunch, and the kids started pulling out games to play on the grass. Everything was picture perfect, until we heard one of the kids screaming, and running towards the adults, specifically to his mom, who was one of the parent chaperones.
As I turned toward the screaming, I saw blood running down the side of of this boy's head. A metal sign had fallen and struck him on the side of the head, right above and behind his ear. Panic and efficiency set in as all the adults tried to clean him up and determine what to do. And here is where things get interesting.
The original plan for me, since I only work half time and the field trip would extend beyond my contract hours, was for me to drive up separately so that I could leave in time to get back for my babysitter, who needed to leave before the field trip would be over. But, one of my teen daughters woke up sick that morning, so while my babysitter did come for my little guy, I decided that my teen could watch him for an hour between when babysitter left and I returned home. I made quick last minute arrangements, and rode the bus on the field trip instead. Also, before leaving home in the morning, as I packed everything I would need for the trip, I grabbed a small first-aid kit and stuck it in my pack. (Some kid was bound to need a Band-aid, right?)
So when this injured boy came running in a panic with blood streaming down his head, his mom took a look while I got gauze out to apply pressure to stop the bleeding (one of the other parent chaperones had a much better first-aid kit with her as well, which was good because mine was not enough!). Then as his mom was getting him in the car ready to go, I was able to ask if she wanted me to come. She brushed it off a little, just anxious to get her boy to the ER as quickly as possible. But, not having a car of my own to worry about, I insisted and rode down the mountain to the hospital with them. She drove, and I was able to keep an eye on her child to make sure he was doing okay.
At the hospital, thankfully, we learned that it was not as bad an injury as we had initially thought. No concussion, even. And this kid is a trooper--he showed up at school today, ready to just move on.
At the time of the incident, I did what I felt I had to do. When it was all over, I questioned every choice. After all, I just up and left my entire class to help one student! I was afraid my team would be upset with me. But I knew that it was really no different than what I had originally planned to do, by leaving the field trip a little early on my own. And I felt like being with this mom, whose stress responses were so heightened, might be a real help.
This morning, I apologized to one of the teachers on my team for just up and leaving so unexpectedly. My fears were permanently put to rest as she said, "I was just thinking about how perfectly everything worked out for you to go with him, with your daughter being sick so you didn't have to drive..."
So, it wasn't just in my head. Even those little choices, that I thought were just to benefit me, were inspired.
The entire day yesterday was full of stress. As wonderful as it was to be outside, a field trip is a big deal, and isn't necessarily relaxing for the adults in charge (especially yesterday's!). All evening, I kind of wanted to sob, just to release the emotion of the day. I never did. I ate a big bowl of ice cream instead. (I also heard the other day that you can expect to gain 25 lbs. your first year of teaching. Now I know why!) I woke up this morning, thankful for a light day of teaching (we are just finishing up standardized testing), and hoping to get to school early for faculty meeting.
I hug-hug and kiss-kissed my children as I was walking out the door, and listened to the pounding of their running feet as they hurried to the window to wave. And then came the sound that made my blood run cold--the shattering of glass and my son's scream.
I ran to the broken window, expecting to see blood everywhere.
 |
| That's two panes of broken glass. |
There was no blood. None. Just a frightened little boy and a mess to clean up.
 |
| Not a cut on his hands, just a little "glass dust" to wash off. |
I inspected A.J.'s hands, looking to see if they were cut and just waiting to bleed. There was a minor scratch on his arm that barely required a Band aid, and a couple of speck-like cuts on his face that only needed to be washed. Shattered glass everywhere, in the house and out, but no blood.
 |
| One little cut on his arm. |
I have known many people who have had hand-through-the- glass-experiences, and there is profuse bleeding and ER visits involved nearly every time. There is no reason for my son to not have had the same experience. But for whatever reason, he was spared. And whatever that reason may be, I am thankful.
Mostly I'm writing up these experiences so that I remember. I want to remember that Heavenly Father is watching over us. He is in the tiny details of our lives. From something minor like changing my plans so that I could help a student, to something bigger like my boy going unscathed, He is there, helping, supporting, comforting, and protecting every step of the way. We just need to see it.
Comments
Post a Comment