Making Fun of Something Always Comes Back to Bite You in the Butt

I shouldn't use the word "butt" in a children's blog.  I should be ashamed of myself.  Clearly, getting busted by Miss "I love my Blue Blockers" Lyons in first grade for saying "butt" on the playground taught me nothing.  Neither did making fun of "carpool" at my first teaching job.  This isn't carpool in the way of "take my kid to school with your kid and I'll pick them both up."  This is carpool where you get a number for your car, and that number is assigned to your kid.  Your kid stays in his/her seat or in his/her classroom until that number is called.  Then s/he (runs) walks quietly and slowly down the hallway to the front of the building where a teacher is standing there waiting to tell him/her that s/he can leave to go to the next teacher on the sidewalk until that teacher escorts him/her into the car.

Guess who has a number for her car? 

That's right, folks.  Hadley's preschool does carpool.  I was explained how it worked for some time on Tuesday when Hadley and I went to a "Popsicle Party" for the kids.  Another mother, who has kids in the school (one of which will be in Hadley's class), took the time to explain it to me.  She was very nice to tell me how it all works because this is not a process you just "wing."  Oh no.  Carpool is a monster.  If you don't know what you're doing, you suffer major consequences.  Hadley needs to be sitting on the right side of the car because that is the side the teacher will pick her up and put her back in. Make sure you have your number hanging from the rear view mirror.  DO NOT place it on the dashboard because no one can see it there.  What? You don't have a minivan with automatic sliding doors?  Well, that will just add about 7.453 seconds to the whole process, thus slowling down the rest of the group.  It's OK.  Just get there a few minutes early and maybe teach Hadley how to open the door herself so that she can help with the process. (I'm being a little dramatic, although, I did make a joke about automatic sliding doors and found out later that the mother I was talking to drives a car with said gadgets.  So I'm starting off on the right foot.)

I understand why carpool is in place.  It's just so easy to make fun of. 

No more disrespecting.  Let's move on to how psyched Hadley is to start school.  Oh my goodness, we should've found a full day program for the child.  She is so ready for school it is unbelievable.  On Tuesday, I told her we were going to a party at her school.  Here's how the conversation went after that:
Hadley: How long will we be there?
Me: It will be about an hour.
Hadley: Are you going to stay?
Me: Yes.
Hadley: Actually, Mom, I think it'd be better if you didn't stay.
Me: I have to stay for this one, Hadley.
Hadley: Oh, alright.  But don't talk to me.

Rock on.



Here's a view of the back of the school.  Three playgrounds, a shaded sandbox, and under that weeping willow are a couple of picnic tables.  Not to shabby, if I do say so myself. 

Hadley thought this playground was pretty cool. 

I look at this picture, and I feel like I'm not dealing with a preschooler.  She seems older then that.  This picture looks more similar to the way I looked the day I got my driver's license.

Hadley's looking into what might be her classroom.  We weren't sure.  She was intrigued, however.

It went downhill after this picture was taken.  I told her it was time to go and she threw a fit.  She immediately started to cry and scream.  She wouldn't get into the car.  She hit.  She kicked.  It was a mess.  And the rest of the day she was all, "Woe is me, I wanted to stay at preschool but mean ol' Mom made me leave."  She asks everyday when she's going back.  Unfortunately, for the next couple of weeks she only goes for an hour.  So I get to look forward to telling her it's time to go again.  It's gonna be great.