I know, how could anyone forget Andy? Well, I can apparently. Today his school let out early and I just plum forgot about it. I'm pretty sure I thought about it last night at some point, but it exited my head with some of the sinus infection I keep blowing out of my nose.
They waited 20 minutes for me to show up and then they called. And to make matters worse, they had been let out early today so that the teachers could attend a required meeting elsewhere. Which means no one in the building to stay with my kid while I haul hiney from OKC Southside. And it's unacceptable to even ask if they can just hide him in a bush outside the school until I get there (like when the UPS man leaves a package under your doormat).
So, in tears, I make my way to his school. How crappy it must feel as a 6 year old to know your mom just didn't show up. All the other moms showed up. No one else gets left behind. And the tears just kept on coming.
Finally I get there. I'm barely slowing down and they've got Andy primed to hop in the car. I grab that kid, squeeze him tightly, blubbering an apology. And he says:
"Hey, did you go to McDonalds and not get me a drink?"
Sigh.
But don't worry, I've been told twice tonight "I can't believe you weren't on time. Don't do that again."
I can take breaths now and smile a bit about it. And I'll probably yell "knock it off" tomorrow when I've heard about it for the 15th time. And I can now chalk this up to a good learning experience for the OCD child - life isn't always dependable and to go with the flow.
But the crap part is - I never forgot to pick Rachel up. I never forgot to send her in jeans for Jeans Day. I never forgot snacks. I never forgot to send a dollar in for Dollars for Dodos (or whatever the novelty charity was that year). I never forgot to look at the calendar just to make sure when school started back after Christmas break (that's fun, because then you get a Friday newsletter emailed from the teacher and you're all "oh, there was school this week?"). And I forget stuff all the time with Andy. And yes, I know it's not that big of a deal, but...
If it's going downhill, what am I going to do to Paul? That poor kid better start working on his survival skills now 'cause it's not looking good.
take a deep breath, you got where you needed to be, and we got where we needed to be and that line about hiding him in the bushes was just plain funny.
ReplyDeleteRemember when I was late picking YOU up at St. Eugene? I will never forget the trembling chin and huge silent tears drizzling down your cheeks. Never did THAT again. I can still call up that horrible guilty feeling I had when I saw you standing out there all by yourself - waiting - waiting.
ReplyDeleteAnd see, I don't remember that incident at all...so I must not have been scarred for life. That's good to know. You're not just making that up to make me feel better?
ReplyDeleteUmmm...a couple of questions for you to put it in perspective. How many other children where you caring for when Rachel was by herself (one!). Note: she was by herself. Two...Did you have a husband to take care of too? Nope. That in itself is exhausting and I know your husband... so kudos to you! You are still a great mom! Don't beat yourself up. There are tons of moms who have done the very same thing. REMEMBER...I locked Ella in my car in the rain and had to stand outside beside it getting drenched while I waited for the firemen to come rescue her. I refuse to believe this makes you a bad mom, because I would be one too and I will not accept this! :)
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