Geeky Talks
It was the Miss America pagent of the Mini-Van
LB stared preschool today. Since she’s mastered two-year-old speak (read: “NO! MINE! I CAN DO IT MYSELF!”) and knows the alphabet, can recognize her name in print, and counts to twenty, we thought it was time to put her in a program to show off her mad skillz. I mean, preschool is the alpha-mom thing to do, right?
Of course it is. But apparently so is owning a mini-van. Already I’m behind.
After struggling to be on time to an event for the first time in months, we arrived only ten minutes late. Which, really, is very impressive.. to me… that is. I pulled in to her school and was confronted with a sea of mini-vans of people who are able to be on time. The caravan, the toyota, the “not really a van but totally a van” van. My rugged Xterra felt trumped by an extra seat and sto-and-go cargo space. Now we were late and unhip. The day hadn’t even begun.
My outgoing child became clingy and unsure. She withdrew. She glanced around in trepidation. Was Mommy going to leave? Would I be forced to take a nap here? Will there be fish crackers? I could almost see the wheels turning in her mind. She wasn’t letting go of me but she wasn’t crying, either. I take what I can get.
After a ten minute transition period where a dozen other moms eye both of us never saying whether or not they truly approve, LB became comfortable enough to allow me to let go of her hand. She became engrossed enough in circle time that I was able to whisper to her “I’ll be back, sweetie. You stay here.” and slip quietly out the door for an entire thirty minutes of one child bliss.
Next week she will go to school two days for two hours each. She’s excited to be in her “big girl” school. Mr. Flinger is excited to attend her October field trip. We can’t wait to see her in the Christmas pageant. But today, as I packed her bag and watched her walk out the door, I realized we aren’t that far away from being those people: the ones with the kids in school and the sanity we had years before. For now, though, I’m going to enjoy the sleeping 3 month old on my chest and the daughter who ran to me when I picked her up. It won’t always be this way. One day, we might even have a mini-van.
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Darling pic of LB! My daughter starts preschool next week too. We’ve got Open House tonight, so I’ll miss Girls Night In! No minivan here either…
I’m so glad it went well (mini-vans aside)! It doesn’t get better than no tears. Trust me—I know as I’m still hoping to not see tears very soon (had another rough entry into school today).
Will be missing GNI but hope you all have a great time!
Aww! Bittersweet day. I’m glad she ran to you—that’s the BEST.
What a cute picture!
Did you burn rubber after you dropped her off?
Lil’ Whiskey started preschool this week, too! 3.5 hours a day, 3 days a week.
And we’re getting the minivan this weekend.
{sigh} That’s it, isn’t it? We’re no longer hip, huh?
Wait. This is US. We were NEVER hip
How sweet! Nice dress LB.
I feel your non-minivan-driving pain. My little sporty sedan looks like an odd duck in the sea of minivans at pre-school each morning. I can’t imagine the other-mommy-looks I’m going to get in a year or so when I trade it in for my dream car - a Saab convertible.
I have to admit that I do understand their usefulness I just don’t want to drive one and can’t seem to talk the husband into it either.
great….it’s 9 in the morning and I’m already holding back the tears!
You will so enjoy those two hours two days a week, and so will she. And I understand on the minivan parade. Although I used to have one, it was the wrong kind. Around here the Honda Odyssey is the cream of the crop and we just had a lowly caravan without stow and go seating. Now I drive an almost wagon and I love it. Enjoy the one-child time you will be getting.
Toyota Echo here!LOL!
Let me tell you there’s a whole new box of crap that comes with the school years! Oh the frustrations with the system that doesn’t work, the parents who haven’t parented have their spawn sitting beside yours, The freaking stupid Allergic reaction rules that they can’t actually define for you, so the wording become Nut aware instead of “Free”. Oh and how I could go on… Others have survived apparently I guess I will too.
Sorry This is your blog!LOL!
Imagine pulling into the sea of minivans driving an old beater of a crew cab dually truck that has the turning radius of a sherman tank, so everyone watches you trying to park a truck the size of a small planet.
My big kiddo started kindergarten on Wednesday. Aaah, 6 hours and 19 minutes of one kid 5 days a week!
“I realized we aren’t that far away from being those people: the ones with the kids in school and the sanity we had years before”...
I have one in school and that one keeps me busier than the other ones! Field trips, homework, cheer practice….it just gets more and more insane everyday.
As exhausting as these days are for you, they are the ones you actually have more control of. Not trying to burst your bubble, I’m just sayin’.....
That’s a great picture…where are the handprints on the door? Did you just clean them or are they always that way?
*giggle*
YaY! I guess I didn’t know you had an xterra! Do you know that is what I drove until this third baby made it impossible to acommodate all the car seats? The thing is, you have to kill these other moms will kindness? I cannot tell you how many limpwristed handshakes I received after forcing myself on many of the moms in my girl’s classes last friday. It has to be done. I am a force to be reckoned with bitches! minivans be damned!
Dude, I join you in rebelling as an SUV drivin’ mom! SUV MOMS ROCK!
She looks really cute. I’m glad it went well. You’ll be glad to have some sanity time!
And those organized, on time moms? Once in a blue moon I feel that way and then I pinch myself.