Happy New Year

Well, there's my little nuggets on the first day of the 2010-11 school year.  I took a picture of Mr. C and 9 too, but that picture was taken with another camera an hour and a half prior to this one, and since at that time I didn't have my coffee.... or a shower.... or even my eyes open.... that picture will remain unviewed since it's simply too much to ask of me right now to dig out the other camera and actually upload two pictures.

I'm sure you all understand.

So this first day of school went much smoother than last year.  Last year I could've won an award for "Biggest Failure on a Mother's Part for First Day of Kindergarten Drop Off, Ever." I was telling a friend of mine the story today, and it occurred to me that maybe I should share it with you all.  You know, since I'm always up for letting the world know what a crazy moron I can be at times.

Here it is:  Last year PG started Kindergarten.  The night before school started we picked out her outfit, ironed it, and hung it on her door frame for morning.  We did a run through with her hair so we could avoid a.m. hair battles.   Her lunch was packed with a special note tucked inside from her dad and I.  The camera was charged, the car had gas, and my purse held an adequate supply of Kleenex.  Having taught Kindergarten and witnessed many a weepy mother sweetly bid their child goodbye at the door, I was looking forward to my own sentimental mommy rite of passage.

So, morning of everything was going great.  I got all children up, dressed, and fed by 7:30.  I myself was dressed in one of my more upscale mommy outfits (a.k.a jeans and a t-shirt) and armed with waterproof mascara.  School started at 8:15, so we left at 7:40.  That's 35 minutes early.  Smart right?

Nooooooooooooo.


After driving round and round the parking lot for 10 minutes, driving back out onto the street to unsuccessfully look for spots there, and then circling the parking lot again, I was in panic mode.  Kindergarten started in 10 minutes, I still had no parking space and worst of all, I knew that it was going to be impossible for me to change over from this stress mode to sentimental mommy mode. It was looking like I could kiss goodbye my visions of any sweet exchanges between PG and I as she embarked on her first day.


When we finally found a parking spot, there was 3 minutes left to the bell.  So I began yelling like a drill sergeant at the kids to "Get out of the car! Get out of the car! Get out of the car!"  I threw PG her backpack, hauled out the baby carrier for then-9-month Roo, grabbed J by the hand and proceeded to run like a mad woman towards the Kindergarten Yard.  In our haste, J tripped and fell, getting gravel stuck in his palm and both knees.  I was so focused on getting my kid to the gate that I just kept dragging his bleeding little self along, and suddenly there was a small Hispanic woman who witnessed J's fall running after me with her hands outstretched shouting "Pobrecito!  Pobrecito!".

And that's how we arrived at the gate: one wild-eyed crazed mother, one crying 3 year old with blood dripping down his knees, one clueless baby, and one bewildered Kindergartner.

Plus one random Hispanic grandmother.

The class was just heading through the door as we arrived.  The environment was no less hectic on the play yard with all the parents milling about and kids crying.  I managed to push PG into line so that she'd be the last one in.  I had just enough time to glance at her desperate confused little face before she disappeared into her classroom and the door shut behind her.

Then I realized that I hadn't told her goodbye, much less told her I loved her, or that everything would be okay, or that I was proud of her.

See?  Worst First Day of Kindergarten Drop Off Ever.  I take the prize.

So this year, I planned a little better.  We got there early and had plenty of time to walk (at a normal pace) to her classroom.   We hung up her backpack, I got her situated, I told her I loved her, that everything would be okay, and that I was proud of her.

Bases covered.  Whew.

On the way out of the school grounds, I passed by the principal who greeted me with a cheerful, "Happy New Year!"

What a dork.  But I kind of liked what he said.  In fact, I'm going to steal it.  Happy New (school) Year! To all my mama friends who have their babies going out into the world, may your children's year be filled with an excitement for learning and a wonder for the world.

And may the Parking Gods be with you.

You all have a good night!