The Harris Family

It’s happened. The day I have feared since the 2nd day of kindergarten. Another year has gone by. No more little kindergarten playground. No more safe little padded play area. Separate from all the big kid giants that inhabit the rest of the school. Now my kid is the giant. Forced to play on the big playground. Forced to spend all day in the school, forced to eat lunch in a great big scary cafeteria!

Well… maybe not exactly forced. OK she was possibly accepting of the idea… ok ok… shut up she was crazy excited.

This year her teacher (Mrs McMurtrey) seems super nice! Not like other teachers whom in the past I have wanted punch in the back of the head. Ooops did I type that out loud? She seems very warm and cheerful, sweet and patient. Actually the kind of person you might think is a big faker and is making fun of you behind your back when you walk away. The kind you give the side eye to because WHY are they being that nice? Maybe I should punch HER in the back of the head! But I won’t, that’s not nice. And she is an elementary school teacher and THAT is how elementary teachers SHOULD act… in my opinion. They should be nice and warm and sweet. And not tell your child to relay messages to her parent when that matter should stay between teacher and parent. That’s all I’m saying man.

 

Wait what? What was I talking about? Messages… teachers… 1st day of school! That’s right, my bad.

 

So I had this deal worked out with the small child. She gets to wear what she wants… have her hair the way she wants… eat what she wants before school… hang out with her friends before class. And in return mama gets to take some pictures. No complaining, look and me and pretend not to be so revolted by the camera your face looks like it is going to melt right off. Sounds easy enough right?

 

Well at least I held up my end of the deal. She picked her clothes. She wanted to wear her hair down, I wasn’t allowed to touch her with any hairbands or clips. And after a nice breakfast of honey nut cheerios we were out the door.

 

But it was toooooo briiiiiiight to smile for any pictures. She squinted and glared and rolled around in agony until I put down the camera so she could run off to the playground.

 

Hurrrrry up moooom!! My face… it’s… starting to… melllllt.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I knew I should have insisted on that ponytail…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At least marble obliged me.

Oh hi senorita pouty puss!

 

So I had to do what any good mom would do.

 

 

 

Stand back and pretend to not be taking pictures. Yeah! And then when she least expects it. WHAM sneak attack!

 

Hey what was that clicking sound? Quick hide the camera!

 

I even sneak attacked the teacher. I know she probably would have posed for a picture had I asked. But I always feel bad. Maybe it’s because I don’t like people taking pictures of me. And no matter how I try to pose or get ready I always hate the way I look. And then if it’s not my picture how am I ever going to see if it turned out well? I’ll have to wonder forever. So I think it’s much more humane to sneak attack and for them to never know it happened.

 

So that was pretty much the first day of school. Except for one minor incident involving a backpack she thought was lost, but turned out to be right next to her the whole time. A small freak out and a few tears when she was rushed into line and she couldn’t see mom and didn’t know where the backpack had gone. But we quickly straightened it out, tears were dried and we headed on confident in our day…

 

Well… she was confident. Mommy was left a scared, broken heaving mess of emotions and tears as her baby walked away. What am I going to do without her all day?

 

Hey… mom… uhh… why are staring at me like that?

 

Don’t ever leave me Marble.