Puppies and Children (a lesson in worth)

This past week, I had the opportunity to chaperon a camp at our local dog shelter. I was in charge of looking after four kids, around the ages of 12, for about three hours a day. Easiest assignment ever, right?
The first two days were actually highly enjoyable. I do love cats and had the opportunity to play with them every day, a rare treat since most of my family is extremely allergic. By the third day, however, I began to dread the camp. I missed my kids. I missed my classroom. I missed teaching lessons. Even with all the ups and downs of this past summer, I love my job. It is so fulfilling and wonderful. Those precious children always put a smile on my face. They help define my worth. At the animal camp, the staff always stressed the importance of making new pets feel like part of the family, to never call yourself an "owner" but instead a "pet handler".  Now, I love my dog, but I'm also her owner. My family bought her and she is an animal, therefore, we are her owners.
What about an animal gives it worth? Animals can be loyal, shy, energetic, etc. But what trait says, "Hey! I'm worthy of your affection!" The answer to that question depends on where you find worth. For me, I gather a great deal of worth from my work. My kids depend on me for creativity, learning, exploration, and excitement. I am worth something to them- they find worth in me because of what I do for them.
This past week taught me that I do not find as much joy in animals as I do kids (kids say the funniest things, something animals will never be able to do). And I also discovered that I right were I am meant to be: working with kids, not puppies. The reward is worth so much more.

Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! (a lesson in memories)

I went to the zoo on Friday. Wow. Pretty sure I’m still recovering. I hiked my group to the Kingdom of the Night, gorilla complex, aquarium, petting zoo, sea otters, cheetahs, and many other exhibits’. After about 4 hours, my 16 kids and I were poop out. There had been fits pitched, rules broke, tears cried, lost backpacks and scraped knees. We tiredly trudged up to the waiting buses.  Upon reaching the pick-up spot, I looked around for our other groups. Almost everyone from work was at the zoo, a group of about 120. There was not another soul from my work. I quickly called the main building, got the number of the lady in charge, called her and asked where everyone was. They had left.

I am sitting on the grass, exhausted in the heat, wondering how, and if, we were ever going to get back. I had already worked 9 hours and was so tired from all the yelling, fighting, and animal-like behavior the zoo brings out in kids. When the lady called back, she said that they would drop off the kids and one of the buses would drive back to get us. (At this point, the kids got a map of the zoo and divided up the exhibits to where each person would life. Super hilarious) My group and I sat for 40 minutes. I thought the day couldn’t get any worse.

When the bus finally picked us up, a girl got a very bad bloody nose, which bled all over me as I helped her. And when we were about a block from the building, our bus got pulled over for going 40 in a 35. Happy Friday the 13^th.

As I am recovering this weekend, that crazy zoo trip makes me laugh. Of course something awful would happen to me. But it made for the best memories. I will never forget those kids who got left at the zoo with me. And, I guess I wouldn’t have it any other way.