Growing up too quickly

To the man who drives Bus #24...THANK YOU!

My 4 1/2 year old daughter attended her first field trip with her preschool class today. THANKFULLY, I had my prep and team time during her field trip, so I was able to chaperon!

I was sitting at my desk this morning, thinking about my daughter's first field trip!  I started thinking about all the field trips I have attended as a teacher, as an aunt (thanks Claire for allowing me to attend your Como Zoo field trip back when you were in kindergarten), and as a student!  It is exhausting as an adult - I'll say that!  Especially an adult to young children.  Your eyes are constantly counting kids to make sure they're all there, watching other strangers around you, making sure kids are being respectful and kind.

Then it hit me...not only was my daughter attending her very first field trip, which is SUCH an exciting time, but my daughter was riding a school bus for the VERY FIRST TIME.

That morning, Callie had told me that she wanted me to ride the bus because she was scared, so her daddy and I built it up to be this SUPER cool thing!  "You get to ride with your friends on a big seat, you don't have to wear a seat belt, and there's no car seat!"

Seriously, this is what I'm telling her to get her excited?  We're going to put you on this HUGE bus with NO car seats for your tiny little body and no seat belts to protect you...

It hit me, like a ton of bricks.  My anxiety kicked in...my daughter was going to be riding on a school bus, ON A HIGHWAY, without a seat belt, car seat and without one of her parents.

Mr. Bus Driver, thank you for taking your job so seriously!  Thank you for paying attention to traffic and other cars.  Thank you for taking the time to make sure that the children on YOUR bus, MY DAUGHTER, is arriving to their destination safely.  Thank you for your warm smile as she loaded the bus.  Thank you for the hellos and goodbyes that I am sure you are giving all children.

Thank you for being patient with other children who are testing you.  Thank you for not listening to their shouts, screams, rants or whatever can cause you to take your eyes off the road.  Thank you for seeing those cars that speed past your "Stop Sign" arm and act as though it's not a big deal...IT IS A BIG DEAL...there are children on that bus.  These children are babies to moms and dads all over...my baby girl.

You do not receive the recognition you deserve, so I want to thank you now.  Thank you for having a kind heart, a watchful eye, a quick hand and foot and the knowledge to drive our babies around safely when we cannot be there.

Thank you for opening my eyes to the importance of your job.  To the man driving Bus #24, THANK YOU!  You made my daughter's first bus ride an amazing experience - one she will probably never forget!

Sincerely,
A mother who loves her daughter dearly!