I have to say, playdates can be so validating. It's a tremendous relief to be reminded you're not the only screw-up parent in town.
Which was the great thing about my playdate with Ashley, from Ashley's Closet, where I heard all about how she sent her husband off to take one of her children to school, only to be met by the teacher, who informed him that, because of parent-teacher conferences, there was no school.
I've done that too! Only it wasn't so bad for me, since as soon as I saw the empty parking lot, a gigantic lightbulb went on over my head, and I drove away before anyone saw me.
Last year, my oldest daughter had a truly intimidating kindergarten teacher - an authentic British schoolmarm, who - without intending it, I'm sure - made me absolutely shrink down inside myself whenever confronted by her. I vowed to impress this lady, and not make her think my daughter was the spawn of loopy, slovenly, amnesic Grateful Dead groupies.
Why did I care so much? Because I wanted her to love my kid the best, dammit!
Of course, that plan didn't work out great, not at first. I sent Erika to school without lunch a few times, and had to sneak disgracefully into the classroom at 11:00 with a paper bag from the local bagel shop. I also did the opposite, send lunch to school on the days I had already paid for her to participate in pizza day or nugget nosh. I sent greasy worksheets back to school spotted with remnants of the snack we had eaten while completing said worksheets. I forgot to send in my picture day form on time. You get the picture.
But it all turned out right in the end. We have a 15-person passenger van (because 11 people live in our house), and I volunteered to drive it on all class field trips. So Mrs. Levy loved me, and Erika, after all.
What's the worst you've ever looked in front of your child's teacher? Am I the only mom out there insane enough to care?
