Some Days Are Just Like That

Yesterday I had the opportunity to say the Serenity Prayer a lot. The first time was in the doctor's office with Katie and Andrew for their annual well check-ups. Their doctor no longer will see more than two kids from the same family at the same time, so I was already a little perturbed that Nicholas had to go the next day (Pete's taking him this time). Our appointment time was 8:30 and by 9:20 we were still in the room waiting for the doctor to come in. I was growing angrier by the minute because I did not want the kids to be counted absent from school and they have to be there at 10:00 or they will be. Katie and Andrew brought things to keep them busy, but they started complaining about the wait, too. I said the Serenity Prayer several times until the doctor finally showed up and the whole check-up for both kids only took fifteen minutes. They arrived at school around 9:55, just in the knick of time.
The next challenge of the day occured while I was in the carpool line waiting for the kids to get out of school. Most of the time I am first in line (sometimes second). I would much rather wait in the heat than have the kids stand around after school for a long time waiting for me, so I take my crossword puzzle and book to help pass the time, or make phone calls to friends. Well, I was first in line until ten minutes before dismissal when a mom in a big suburban drove up and weaseled her way into the small space in front of me. Oh, how I wanted to get out of my car, march up to her window and give her a piece of my mind. How dare she cut in front of me when I had been waiting nearly an hour sweating like a pig! But, again I said the Serenity Prayer and was able to refrain from my urge to act out.
When we got home from school and the kids started on their homework (which they have to do right after school in our house), Nicholas did NOT want to do his. Personally I can't believe how much homework he has as a first grader. Things have changed since Andrew was in the same class. I'm talking two or three worksheets a day, spelling homework, reading vocabulary and memorizing a poem to recite to his teacher! That alone is cause for the Serenity Prayer. Anyway, poor Nicholas had had it with the whole homework thing yesterday and he burst into tears of frustration and wouldn't let up. Nothing rips a mother's heart apart more than an upset, sobbing child. I consoled him enough to get his homework done, but Nicholas had several more meltdowns that evening. The whole thing was exhausting.
So exhausting, in fact, that I didn't have the time or energy to cook dinner, which leads to the next challenge of my day. We went to the drive-through at Dairy Queen to order our dinner. After I had placed our order, I was driving up to the window when a guy in a brand new red sports car zoomed right in front of me and cut. 'What's with all the cutting today?' I thought, when I really wanted to get out of my car and give him a piece of my mind. The kids went ballistic as they complained about the gall of that young, selfish kid. I said the Serenity Prayer again, but by this time I was spent. I could not refrain myself from honking at him (at least I didn't get out of my car and go to his window to chew him out like I wanted to do). Anyway, when I honked, he flipped me off. Luckily the kids didn't see, but I couldn't believe it. When I got up to the window I asked the girl why he had cut (he drove off without getting anything). She said he claimed he had given her a hundred dollar bill, but she had given him change for a ten. She also said that wasn't true and we both agreed he should have gotten out of his car and gone in, the selfish, lazy...AHEM, never mind.
After all of these challenges yesterday, I was exhausted and climbed into bed at 9:00, wanting to end the disastrous day. Some days are just like that. How are you today?

First Day of School

This is how Nicholas wanted to wear his hair to school on his first day of school.

But I convinced him to comb his hair right at least for the first day (and I thought girls were the only ones who worried about their appearances). Despite that minor kink, the first day of school went great. Usually traffic is horrible as parents come out of the woodworks and everyone is trying to find a parking spot so they can walk their children into their new classes on the first day. Pete and I decided to leave a little earlier than usual, since we were going to the new location, which is farther than the old school. Traffic flowed smoothly as policemen directed us into the parking lot (the new school is on a very busy street that is usually 50 mph, but has been reduced to 35 mph by the school, along with the school zone speed limit of 20 mph during peak hours). We eased right into a parking spot and proceeded to drop off each child in their new classes. Of course, Katie didn't want us hanging around too long. She sat right down and got busy. Last night, she had organized all of her supplies in utter joy of a new school year. Andrew walked right in and was glad he could sit by all of his buddies. Since he and Katie are in the gifted and talented classes, they have the same kids in their class every year. Last, but not least, we dropped Nicholas off at his classroom. He walked in with confidence and sat by the prettiest girl. That would be our Nicholas!

When I picked them up this afternoon, things were a little more confusing. I arrived an hour early so as to guarantee I would be one of the first cars when my babies came out of school. I was the first for a while, until people started arriving closer to dismissal and then things went haywire. I was blocked in by another line of cars for kids being let out at another location and ended up having to get out of my car and go and get my children. Nicholas saw me first and ran over to me without telling his teacher goodbye. She looked down and he wasn't there, so she panicked and thought she'd lost him. She went back to the class to look for him and then came back out and saw him standing by me. Bless her heart- I know she nearly had a heart attack by the look on her face! Thankfully, Katie and Andrew had her, too, so we know each other well. Nicholas said the best thing about school was that he met a lot of new friends. Andrew said his day was fine, too, but a little "easy". Katie LOVED her first day. She had a lot of homework that is not due until Friday, but she did it all when we got home.

I am so grateful that I have such a sensible, level-headed husband. When I think of all the time I wasted worrying about the kids going to the new portable school, I feel kind of silly. I was ready to send them to a new school, but Pete kept reassuring me over and over that everything would be fine. And it was. Thank you Pete, and thank you God!