(I work at a summer camp that has a “carnival” near the end of the week for the kids. My supervisor is carrying a giant bean-bag toss board out of storage with a little roll of tickets sitting on top. Another coworker comes along.)
Supervisor: “Hey, can you help me with this?”
Coworker: *takes the tiny roll of tickets off the very heavy board and runs off* “I help!”
(I am at summer camp and everyone is unpacking their things.)
Girl #1: “My mom labeled everything. She even labeled my band-aids.”
Girl #2: “Maybe she doesn’t want anyone taking your box.”
Girl #1: “Yeah, but don’t you find this kind of excessive?” *she empties the box to reveal each individual band-aid is labeled…*
(I am at summer camp and everyone is unpacking their things.)
Girl #1: “My mom labeled everything. She even labeled my band-aids.”
Girl #2: “Maybe she doesn’t want anyone taking your box.”
Girl #1: “Yeah, but don’t you find this kind of excessive?” *she empties the box to reveal each individual band-aid is labeled…*
(I am camping with several members of my extended family and their children. I’m talking with some of the cousins near the fire pit during a marshmallow roast.)
Cousin: “I’ve cracked the code. Any time a sentence begins with, “Look, Mom,” or, “I’m a genius,” that’s my cue to intervene.”
(At that moment, one of her sons runs towards the fire pit with a plastic bottle full of marshmallows taped to a tree branch.)
Cousin’s Son: “Look, Mom! I’m a genius!”
Cousin: *to us* “I’ll be right back.”
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(I work at a summer camp. On Wednesdays, most of the older children have permission to go off-site to a swimming pool; the younger children stay onsite for sprinklers and water balloon games. Group One has all of the kids who are five and six years old.)
Me: “Okay! We’re all out of water balloons, so we’re going to start free play soon. Group One boys, go change out of your bathing suits.”
(I turn around to speak to a coworker, and when I turn back, I see that most of the boys have gone inside to the bathroom–except for one completely naked five year old standing on the deck. I spin back around, trying not to attract the attention of the other campers.)
Me: *hissing* “[Male Coworker]! [Male Coworker]!”
Male Coworker: “What?” *sees child* “OH! Hey, buddy! Buddy! Let’s go to the bathroom!”
(He hurries over. The kid looks up, beams, picks up his clothes, and sprints towards the bathroom. I look at my coworkers, who are all cracking up, and sigh.)
Me: “All right, Group One girls, now you can all GO INSIDE to change IN THE BATHROOM…”
