Adventures as a Grown Up

Hey, that’s not my kid!

Yesterday, while working here in Dallas, TX a mother and father decided to come visit their student. As they walked in they expressed interest in checking in with their son, even if it meant pulling him out of his workshop for a few minutes. Not a problem. After all, he is their son.

Well, Tania decided to get the paperwork going and speak with the parents while I get to get the student. I looked up his name on the master list and found out what group he was assigned to. Then looked at our information packet and figured out what rotation and breakout room he would be in. I confidently walked down the hall of the conference center and entered the meeting room.

This is where it got interesting. As I entered the breakout, I asked the faculty advisors to see the student. He popped up and came right over to me. He looked a little confused when I said his parents were here and just wanted to chat for a moment but he followed right along. The 8th grader and I were deep in conversation when we entered out field office.

Here is the conversation that followed.

Lauren: “Here he is!”

Father: “um no, that’s not our son!” (The father stood there looking confused and losing trust in me as a program coordinator while the mother and Tania burst into laughter).

My face burst into the hot red feeling that happens when you get embarrassed and I sheepishly looked at the students name badge. Sure enough, it was the wrong kid! Oops! We left to walk back. And taking my master list with me this time I retrieved the correct student.

In the end, the parents got to see their student and we all had a good laugh. How can parents trust me with their students for four to ten days at a time when I can’t even read a list or name badge correctly?