Kid Chaos After School
Photo Credit: Grace Gamba
Left: Mac Brunk, Kody Barton, and Tom Barton riding thier scooter through the halls
November 9, 2011
Brandi Vinger, staff writer
After school it is common to see little kids running through the athletic halls and lobby of GSHS giggling and having a good time. Kids like Tom and Kody Barton are known for showing up after school to hang out while their parents work. Other kids include Treese’s daughter, Swanson’s sons, and Mac Brunk.
Mother/ Athletic Trainer Marni Barton jokingly said her boys spend most of their time, “running around like chickens with their heads cut off,” but they also watch movies, look at books, play on the computer, find other kids to play with, and love to scooter while they’re at the high school. Kody said his favorite thing to do is play angry birds.
Marni says it’s a benefit that they get to come to work with her after school, because she gets to spend more time with her boys and doesn’t have to work a second job to pay for a babysitter. “I don’t have to miss out on them growing up just because I’m working,” Marni said.
Eight-year-old Tom and four-year-old Kody have been coming to the school since they were eight weeks old. Marni said, “They don’t know any different, and they love it.” She said they also get more perks, because a lot of the student body knows who they are, like when the homecoming parade goes by they are sure to get plenty of candy. Also, the boys have been doing the football camp that is meant for grades three through six since they were two years old.
Kody said he likes the all the high school students because, “They say I’m nice,” especially the other Kody’s (Cody Derby, Kody Fox), because they have the same name. Marni said, “They love hanging with the high schoolers. They just see you guys as big friends.”
Sometimes it can be tough when both her children and job are competing for her attention. She says it’s funny because on practice days they will do their own thing but on busy game days they think they need their mom’s full attention.
“When we fight, then it is a time out,” Kody said. According to Marni, Tom and Kody don’t get in too much trouble; it’s usually just the normal brotherly fighting. One time they did get in trouble for being respectful on the scooters, but haven’t had a problem since.
When the end of the day comes around at about 6:30 the kids and their parents all go home, until the next day begins. Marni says Tom and Kody feel cool to know so many high school kids, “They’re like eh, those are my buddies!”
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