It’s like Lord of the Flies in There!
pamelamyers | September 22, 2017
I volunteered today for my first lunch helper gig at Scenic. I figured it would be a good day since it was the day before her birthday and it’s like an extra treat to see her mom. I was also curious to see how things are at her new school. Well, to preface things, at her old school, the helpers did a lot. We unpacked their lunch bags from the lunch cart and put them on their designated tables, helped the kids throw away trash (they don’t like the kids walking around a lot), took their lunch trays and put them on the appropriate counter so they could be washed, and then when the kids were done, wiped down the tables. All that besides the normal stuff like helping kids open things, and trying to keep them in place to eat. It was all pretty civilized. Well, as civilized as a bunch of first graders can be.
When I got to the cafeteria, the staff welcomed me and asked if I’d been there before, when I said no, I had only volunteered at the SLC, they told me that it’s very different, “the kids do everything.” Wow. What an experience! The kids definitely do everything, but that means they are constantly up and moving around throwing trash away, going to the snack line, talking…It was insanely loud and chaotic. I helped a couple kids get paper towels when the spilled their drinks, but other than that, I spent most of my time answering questions about whether they could go get a snack or go to the bathroom. The kids are left with wet paper towels on each table and they are expected to wipe the tables when lunch is over. They even have styrofoam trays so there is nothing to do there.
I am glad I went though. Sam was so happy to see me, and apparently so were a lot of her first grade friends. They were all waving hello and I even got a hug from Aidan, the little boy who liked Sam last year. 😉 Sam loves lunch at Scenic because they have better snacks. She already bought a chocolate chip cookie and a Dixie Cup. It’s funny, Sam thought Aidan was annoying last year and when I told her he hugged me and said, “He really liked you last year,” Sam said, “Hmmmm….I dunno, maybe someday I will go out with him.” OMG! Please. I can’t even. But seriously, if I wind up this kid’s mother in law someday, what a story that will be!
