Julie Stauffer

Yesterday, kind of spur of the moment, we decided to go for a family outing
to some Texas History sites to which we had never been. Dh, me and 5 kids
(11, 8, 5, 3 and 2) took off.

First place we went was a living history center with lots of old cabins,
etc.. We were pretty much the only ones there. Initially, the kids balked
but as we went, unguided from building to building, the kids able to walk
inside the cabins and see how they were used, climb the stairs to see in the
sleeping loft, etc., the excitement began to build with the kids running
(not in an obnoxious, unruly way, but in a joyful "isn't this fun" way) from
building to building, pointing out interesting items, talking about how they
were used, making connections to things they had seen before. As we were
leaving we stopped in the little shop and the old lady docent talked with us
and the kids about the museum, where she was raised, demonstrations they put
on, etc., Kids rated the place as "cool".

Second place we stopped was a small museum with everything behind glass.
Again, we were pretty much the only ones there. The kids were having a good
time looking at the different things, making comments or asking questions.
The 3yo pointed to an antique toy and asked if we could buy it. This
apparently sent the docent off her rocker. She came running across to the
kids, calling for them to stop what they were doing and proceeded to lecture
them that museums were places for LEARNING, they needed to focus on LEARNING
while they were there. We kind of rounded up the kids and went outside to a
large wall-like monument with metal ramps and stairs going around to the
backside. The little guys took off running to see what was behind the
monument. Again, here comes the docent yelling she doesn't allow people
back there so I round the kids up explaining it was against the rules to go
back there. Then the docent says they can go back there as long as they
FOLLOW HER IN AN ORDERLY MANNER. The kids are willing and begin to follow
her. The 3yo walks about 2 steps in front of the lady and she starts
snapping her fingers at him telling him to get behind her.....to go down
some cement steps in an amphitheater. what a nut. I had had it and the
kids were looking at her like she was nuts....so we just left....with the
docent still hollering at us about how the kids have to LEARN about being in
line at some point.

Later we stopped at Dairy Queen for some icecream and we all teased each
other to make sure we were LEARNING, not just enjoying ourselves.

I hope the kids aren't permanently put off museums now LOL.

Julie