I don’t belong here.
I’m not sure when the evening went from a fun family outing to this dreadful realization. When I read our school newsletter last month, I dutifully marked tonight on our calendar: New Family Orientation. After all, the noisy boys are starting Kindergarten, so we’re a New Family. It fits, right?
Wrong.
It turns out that New Family Orientation is for Really New Families. Like families that just moved from Texas and their kids are going into fifth and third grade New.
Of course, by the time I figure this out, it’s too late. The noisy boys happily join the other kids on a tour of the school, and the principal leads the parents to the LRC for a meeting. I find myself following, thinking maybe we can just fly under the radar and nobody will even notice that I’m an idiot. And then baby b. starts to screech. Loudly. So my husband continues into the LRC, and I make a quick exit. On the walk home, I mutter positive self-talk like, “How could you be so stupid?” and “I am such an idiot.” Happy to be home, I unbuckle baby b. from his stroller and reach for the door. It’s locked. So is the back door. And the porch door. A few weeks ago a neighbor was burglarized, and I’ve been neurotic about locking everything ever since.
So back to the school we walk. Back into the LRC to try to inconspicuously get the keys. And back home again, to consider all of the ways I’m failing as a Kindergarten Mom. And Kindergarten hasn’t even started yet.
Incidentally, my husband found the meeting quite helpful since he missed Kindergarten Round-up. And the noisy boys had a great time.
Once again, it’s just me.
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15 comments:
O-o-o-h LlamaMomma, I so feel your pain! When I enrolled my eldest in school, many moons ago, I felt like I was always a l-i-t-t-l-e bit outta the loop. If there was a Wed. nite parents meeting, I showed up on Thursday. We had one early pick-up day each week at 1:30 p.m., so guess who showed up to pick her daughter up at the usual time of 2:45? You get the idea... Of course, a lot of it was because I was rabidly sleep deprived by the Other One who is two years younger---sound familiar? Yes, I once showed up to the doctor's office with two sick kids in tow, only to have the nurse whisper: "Your blouse is on backwards..."
Be that as it may, I am proud to say the eldest just graduated high school, is happy, healthy, amazingly well adjusted and off to college with a full scholarship. See? It all works out in the end!! Just remember that when Baby B. goes off to Kinder someday, YOU will be the wiser one that knows all the ropes and you'll be watching all the other bleary-eyed first timers do things wrong!!! On that day, maybe God will use you to extend grace to some poor, confused parent, and that will make the hard times worth it. (Well, some of them anyway :))
Oh- I feel your pain! It reminds me of the time I drove Josh to kindergarten on a day that they had a field trip... We were running late, so I decided to run him to the school in my pajamas and just stop in the drop off lane and watch him walk to his classroom. We pulled up to the school to discover that they were supposed to be there 1/2 hour early that day (a notice had come home, but I had forgot). All the students, teachers, and parent chaperones were lined up at the curb ready to board the bus as I pulled up in all my glory!
Somehow Josh has turned out OK in spite of my mis-steps. It must be God, because it sure isn't my stellar parenting skills!
Marmotmom -- Yes. That's it. I'm always just a l-i-t-t-l-e bit off. I finally figured out the preschool thing, and now we're on to new horizons! Twin B. still reminds me, "Mom? Do you remember that time you forgot to send a lunch on picnic day and Mrs. E. gave me teddy grahams and a juice box? Why did you DO that?"
Frazzmom -- I would have LOVED to see that. Hilarious!
And the fact that all of your children are educated and not ashamed to speak to you is a tremendous encouragement to me.
I would have assumed the same thing, that "New Family Night" included Kingdergarten families. I'm glad the rest of your family had fun.
Seeing the blog title I thought you were talking about this song
ellen -- Okay, so it's not just me! Thank you!
wilyhacker -- that is one of the funniest videos I have ever seen.
I have days like that when everything I do seems to be lefthanded, and that can get to you. Though I just try to stay low, knowing that surely I have some growing to do through it. Though many times it's more like just hanging in there, and waiting on God for his help or for this low point to pass.
But you do have your hands full, to be sure!
I think you lose part of your brain with the birth of each child, so it's not really your fault...
You crack me up! Glad you are hip-deep in all of it and can laugh at yourself—and let us share in the laughter. You are a great mom!
I love it when you put a little slice of something from MY VERT OWN LIFE up on your blog....although I have three girls, no boys. But still...you make me feel like I'm not alone. Thanks
Okay thats VERY not VERT...sorry.
Ted -- yes, I suppose you're right. And I'm certainly being stretched right now, which is a good thing!
SP -- I like that! Let's go with it...
23 -- As long as I keep laughing, it's all gonna be okay!!
Jenny -- I didn't even notice the typo until you pointed it out. And I used to be a copyeditor. There is something deeply disturbing about that...
and here I'm thinking... how lucky for those "new parents" who had somebody there who didn't just move or transfer. Somehow, your mixup allowed them to meet somebody who at least knows the neighborhood & can quickly walk (twice!) to the playground, let alone has community connections outside the school.
mamatoo -- Yes. This is true! And, actually, it's nice to know who these new families are. I've had several opportunities to talk with "new" moms to the neighborhood because we accidentally went to this meeting! Maybe it's not all about me after all? ;-)
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