A Trip to the Farm

There's just so much guilt about being a working parent.  I thought it would get better after Ainsley started school.  She would have her own life then, right?  She wouldn't be so sad that Mama has to leave every workday to head off to work, right?

But then I found out that parents are supposed to go to the first day of preschool with their child.  This is something I cannot do, as I am a teacher myself.

And so I missed the first day of school for 3 year old preschool.  I missed the "invite-a-parent" first day of school for four year old preschool.  Guess who's going to miss the first day of each of these for the next two kids as well?

This Mama.  Right here.

I miss the Christmas parties and Valentine's parties.

I miss the end of year field trips, too.

But I was kindly invited along to attend the daycare field trips in the summer, even though my daughter doesn't attend daycare in the summer.  Naturally, I try to pack in a year's worth of family activities in one summer.  This summer I'll be chaperoning five field trips!  The first trip of the summer was to a farm.

The kids went to a local farm that also runs as a tourist attraction.  They spoke briefly about each of the baby animals on their farm before allowing the kids to hold or pet a few of those animals.

Holding a kitten.  

Holding a baby chick.  

 After that the kids were given a cup of food each to take with them to the pens outside of the barn.

Listening to the directions about not screaming or running.  

 I can see why they told us not to scream or run.  They had all the kids line up with their cups of food and then let loose 20 full grown goats and sheep to stampede toward us to eat.  I nearly ran away screaming.

Ainsley didn't hold the cup long.  Soon she was overwhelmed by five sheep all fighting over her cup.  She gave up and threw the cup on the ground.  

 We then had the opportunity to walk around and see each of the animals in their pens.  We saw newborn lambs, horses, alpacas, goats, sheep, chickens, and cows.  I was so excited to be on a field trip with my daughter.  What fun we were having!  I held her hand as we walked from one group of animals to the next.

And Ainsley kept saying, "Can we just go home?  I'm tired."

 No, my sweet child.  We will ENJOY OUR SPECIAL MOMENT.  Or, at least, we will take pictures that make it look like we are enjoying ourselves.

Smile like you are having fun! 

Just one more picture of you looking four years old and sweet as can be!  

 She was upset with me for wanting to take that last picture.  She just wanted to walk on the log in the field.  Surprisingly enough, with all the baby animals to feed and pet, the kids were LINED UP to walk on a log.  We took three turns walking on the log, all the while completely ignoring the sheep standing next to it.

And then we went on a hayride.  

 Once again, grumpy guss came out.  "It's too hot.  When are we going home?  I'm hungry."

How do I teach this child to just enjoy the moment?

After the hayride we ate a picnic lunch at the farm.  Once everyone was finished, the kids got to play a little while we waited for everyone to take turns in the potty.  Ainsley wanted me to get a picture of her head sticking out as each of the animals from their head-in-the-hole thing.

Ainsley the sheep.  

 The kids got to take turns milking a fake cow.  That was a pretty popular attraction.  In the end, I think the kids liked touching the fake animals more than they liked petting/feeding the real ones!

We rode the bus home together with Ainsley sleeping on my shoulder.  I can't wait for the next trip!