It's that time of year where you will be asked to put your hand up

It is that time of year again when the kids are getting ready for the much anticipated school tour and the letters have arrived requesting a parent volunteer. If you have never volunteered before you might feel compelled to especially if your little one is asking you do so.
Here are 9 things things to expect if you put your self forward.
  • The professional and experienced volunteer parent- This person has being doing the school trips for years and is a veteran in all school tour exercises. While you just rock up she arrives with a huge backpack that would give Mary Poppins a run for her money! Cut legs, blisters, dirty hands are no problem she has plasters, blister patches and hand wipes while you have your mobile and sucky sweets and they aren’t even for the kids. 
  • The singalong’s- Usually you are on the bus for at least up to an hour and “wheels on the bus” can become a little old, while pro parent is loving it (she even started the singalong) you are secretly kicking yourself that you didn’t bring headphones. 
  • Counting kids and recounting kids- Getting off the bus you must count the numbers of the kids, entering the establishment you must count again and waiting on your tour guide you guessed it recount again. Yea counting is easy but try counting to realise the fear of losing a child in your area, than thankfully you realise you forgot the one lagging behind! 
  • Lagging behind kid- Some kids just hate walking and literally drag themselves along while you try to be polite without saying “move it”! You miss all the cool stuff because the slow as a turtle kid is taking their time.
  • The sick kid and the kiddie that always needs the toilet- This kid is the one that suffers with travel sickness and you had to sit next to on the bus holding the vomiting bag.. Of course I understand when a kids need the loo they need the loo but for goodness sake every time we pass a portable loo most of the children make a bee line there. On the other side of the coin you have the nipper that didn’t go when they needed to and now you have to get there quickly while the kid does the closed legs bouncing around dance! 
  • Interruptions- If you believe that for one second you can go on the school tour and learn something you are mistaken. Every time the very nice tour guide opens his/her mouth one off these little rascals will interrupt so if you want to learn about the Vikings do yourself a favour and do it in your own time. 
  • Lunch time madness- Feeding your own kids is hard enough but try 30 plus tots all battling with lunch boxes and drinks. There will be juice cartons exploded, sandwiches everywhere and the kid that brought no lunch but super pro parent brought an extra lunch as apparently “it always happens” and thankfully too as I wasn’t about to share my Caesar wrap. Than the treats are taken out and it is like a free for all eating the most sweets in a short space of time.
  • Going home- The trip is over (thankfully) and you are on the bus home counting your lucky stars you made it. The kids are usually tired after the tour so this is usually a quieter time and you are so grateful to have a rest while listening to professional volunteers talk about how it was such a “terrific day and can’t wait till next year” while you nod in unison. 
Written by Emma, Irish mummy blogger and staff writer at  www.familyfriendlyhq.ie 
Check out her blog emmasmadjotters.com
 

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