No rest for the weary: I chaperoned once when my daughter's class spent a few days and nights on a Wisconsin farm. Turns out I was no match for the five first- through third-graders in my room. They finally got to sleep around midnight. Like the children, I returned home exhausted. So when a reader called to ask if she should head to Italy as a chaperone for her daughter and some classmates, my muscles tensed. (Chalk it up to flashbacks.) She had only five days to decide, and the trip would cost her $4,100.
I knew what I would do. But I tried to be judicious, realizing that such a decision depends upon the individual. Would she take delight in seeing the world through the wide, excited eyes of youth, or feel ripped off when the schedule deprived her of a leisurely morning cappuccino?
As the reader said, "I don't know which should play a bigger role, the destination or the situation." It's an interesting conundrum. If you've been a chaperone on an international trip, we'd love to hear about your experience.
To chaperone or not
Is traveling the world with youth tiring or terrific? Tell us about your chaperone experiences.
March 20, 2014 at 8:03PM
It’s too soon to tell how much the immigration crackdown is to blame.
