One of the best parts of being a teacher was that you never knew what question was coming next. Kids will say or ask the darndest things.

Before one of our school hiking trips to the Walker Living Campus, at the Woodend Conservation Area, we were getting psyched up to head out onto the trails when a student raised a hand.

"Mr. Gunning... do we have to wear boots? Can't we just wear shoes?"

Now, if you've ever walked a muddy trail after a good rain, you already know the answer.

"Boots," I replied. "You'll be glad you wore them."

The student wasn't convinced.

Apparently, shoes looked way cooler.

Fast forward a little while...

The trail had become a muddy obstacle course. There were puddles everywhere, slippery hills, and plenty of places where one wrong step could send you sliding.

When suddenly...

One carefully chosen step turned into one spectacular splash.

Let's just say someone's clothes looked a lot different after that hike.

The boots? They would have helped.

Moments like that reminded me why I loved teaching. Kids see the world differently than adults do. They genuinely believe their idea is going to work, even when every grown-up in sight knows exactly how it's going to end.

That's the spirit behind William and Thomas in my I Told You So! series.

Their plans usually begin with complete confidence.

The ending?

Well... that's another story.

As a teacher, I was lucky enough to witness hundreds of moments that made me laugh, shake my head, and think, One day, that belongs in a book.

Some of them have already. Some are just waiting to be told.

Have your kids ever ignored good advice and learned a lesson the messy way? I'd love to hear your funniest family story in the comments!

— Mark Gunning

Children's Author | Retired Teacher | Collector of Kid Logic