T-REX

Today was our school trip. I was responsible for getting 100 small children to The Natural History Museum in one piece and then all the way back too.

School trips are exhausting - there really is no other way to describe them. Parents trust you with their most precious possessions and you've got to ensure they are safe, secure and happy. I spend the whole day counting like a lunatic, checking children are present, making sure children are safe and making sure they have a good time. And all without time for a cup of tea!!

This year we decided to visit the Dinosaurs to tie in with our topic on...you guessed it...dinosaurs.

Having held meetings with the volunteer helpers and made up info packs for them all; having done a risk assessment to check any possible dangers; having organised 100 goodie bags to be collected in the shop so parents don't have to go through the nightmare that is negotiating the gift shop with a measly £2 to spend; having considered every possible event that could or would or might happen it was finally time to go.

Despite the headaches, stress and worry I wouldn't miss these days for anything. For some children it is the only time they go on a day out. There are children who have never experienced a trip to the park, the zoo or a farm. There are children who spend their weekends glued to the telly or in a supermarket. There are children who have no stimulating or exciting events to look forward to. For one little boy today, the highlight was eating his lunch on a 'real picnic'. He would have been quite happy to have got back on the coach after this monumental event. It really does break your heart and make you realise how lucky you were to be brought up by parents who thought regular days out and excursions should be part of the upbringing process.

Once you have negotiated the busy roads, coach steps, lunch time, museum steps and crowds of secondary kids who seem like giants in comparison the real reason for the trip is ready to be enjoyed. And when you take your little companions to look at the life size, roaring and moving T-Rex any stress and worries are all forgotten.

"Wow!" is the silmultaneous word that emerges from their little mouths. The children were truly awe struck.

"Can we take him home?" enquired one little girl.

"I'd love to but the coach is full" I told her.

And lucky for me it was - there and back!