One of the few perks of spawning your children 14 months apart was made clear to me today…KINDERGARTEN ROUND-UP!  For those of you who are not familiar with the term, it goes by many other names across the nation, which I discovered last year when my eldest daughter went through this rite of passage.  But because we are in Kansas and apparently have an affinity for livestock we like to purdy it up!

The perk aforementioned was that Munchkin #1 didn’t have school today (since she is in kindergarten) so the classroom could be open for the new kindergarten class (Munchkin #2’s class) to visit and meet the teachers and explore the rooms.  (Our last Kindergarten Round-up!)  M#1 volunteered to be an “Ambassador” for the newbies, so she could boss show her sister the ropes of kindergarten.  This was great, so I didn’t have to cough up the dough for a babysitter!  This grand experience was going to occur after an elegant lunch planned by both girls at McDonalds – topped off by complimentary ice cream and perhaps some frivolous playtime. Not my first choice, but it’s a special day.

So the morning was planned out perfectly:  first M#2 was to go to gymnastics and M#1 was to pick up a friend and head out for a couple hours at Chuck E Cheese (GAG!, excuse me I couldn’t hold that one back) accompanied by the Mom-of-Year, moi!

We were awakened by the birds, the girls jumped in my bed giggling and talking about the big day and how excited they were. There was even time to make pancakes from scratch (Bisquick…I cracked 2 eggs for Heaven’s sake!) and yummy noises, laughter, and silliness was heard at the breakfast table instead of the normal, “Come on, stop playing with your food.  Look at the clock.  Are you going to school in your pajamas again?”  Stress free and loving it!

The girls ran upstairs after breakfast and put on their clothes and came down proud of their choices.  A fashion parade erupted followed by applause, then more laughter!  They bounced into the van without all the heavy backpacks and lunchboxes, just with smiles on their faces and plans in their hearts.  It felt like summer vacation and I started to ache for that first day of freedom for them.

We dropped off M#2 at gymnastics and drove past the elementary school knowing we would be there that afternoon, but first the big mouse had to be visited after picking up her friend.

Knock, knock, knock. (nothing)

Knock, knock, knock.

A surprised mother comes to the door and says, “Hey there.  What are you doing?”

I said we were there to pick up her daughter for Chuck E Cheese.  M#1 jumps up and down looking in the door for her friend.

“She’s in school,” she whispers like she has head lice.  “Round-up isn’t until next week.”

“OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” I think. “Don’t cry, don’t cry, don’t cry, it’s totally Mommy’s fault!” I say dragging M#1 into the van.  Oh, no she’s crying…make it stop! My fault.

The next 5 minutes is a blur of apologies, driving in reverse, running, and calling mommy silly names – and this is just me doing the name calling!

“Our last Kindergarten Round-up…not if Blondie has anything to do with it!” I mumble as I 2-wheel it into the school’s visitor parking place.

“Come on M#1, Mommy has to get HER tardy slip while you go to class.  This one goes on MY record!”

Then I exhale giving her a chance to talk. She had stopped crying and in her sweet voice she asked, “So we’re doing this again next week?”

“Oh, I sure hope not!”

(©Hatton, 2012. All rights reserved.)

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