05/14/2026
CHAPERONING TALES:
My husband has been a chaperone on nearly every single field trip our kids have been on throughout their school journeys. At the moment, heâs weeks away from getting knee replacement surgery and is not as able to chaperone.
Today I was the chaperone for a middle school field trip. Super low key, all good. BUT on the way back to school on the bus I hear talk that the kids are going to play Truth or Dare. Itâs been a long day, kids are a bit restless, okay. THEN the âdareâ I overhear is - open the window on the bus and stick your head out the window.
Iâm not a seasoned chaperone, but Iâm 50-something and know enough to realize this is a terrible idea. I stand up to see kids open the window and one of them is eagerly about to stick his head out the window and without thinking, loudly say, âNO! NO ONE WILL BE STICKING THEIR HEAD OUT THE WINDOW. THAT IS NOT HAPPENINGâ. Everyone on the bus was taken aback with the surprise authority they were suddenly facing. No one said a word and everyone sat down.
A moment passed and then the lead Chaperone said, âgood call, I didnât hear what was going onâ.
I would like to say that the rest of the bus ride home was smooth sailing. It was not. 7th graders are a special kind of handful. Unruliness happened, the volume was way too loud, most chaperones were sleeping, as it had been a long day. I stood up one more time and made a pronouncement if anyone else chose to stand, they would have to come sit next to me and that it would not be enjoyable. The students seemed genuinely shook - for a bit.
GOOD NEWS: my chaperoning days at this school are done. My oldest is finished here.
OTHER NEWS: I was sincerely worried that it would get back to my daughter, who was on a different bus, that I was such a hard-ass, that sheâd be shunned and embarrassed. But when I told her what happened, she laughed and said I handled it perfectly.
I stayed low key and didnât insert myself into anything for the whole trip UNTIL someone was about to literally lose their head out the window and I said NOT ON MY WATCH! Instinctually, I did not hesitate to bring out my authoritative voice because one must keep the kids from the most stupid of all stupid moves.
Whoever the parents are, youâre welcome that I did not allow your child to lose his head out of the bus window today. âď¸