How NOT to Meet the Principal......

It's a Monday.  And if the morning routine is any indication of how the week is going to go, I want to call a REDO. 

Here's how it all went down. 

Wake kids up, no one is happy and they are moving slower than molasses on a cold day.  Give up on trying to dress the 3 and 2 year olds and tell them its ok to drop off their brother for "big school" in their jammers.  Get them all fed, then pack up in the silver bullet...aka silver minivan.

Get to school, walk to lunchroom where we drop Big A off, and speak to him about his 2 days of being on yellow and not wanting to see that again.  Tell him to behave and walk to the big kids at the stage.  (The 5th graders walk the kindergartners to their classes)

With my 2yr old on my hip, I sneak in the door of the lunch room to make sure Big A is doing as I told.  In a split second, my 2yr old has pulled the fire alarm on the wall behind me!  It takes another 3 seconds for me to comprehend what he did and the alarms to go off. 

I get the attention of the teacher with the microphone on the stage and tell her it is a false alarm and my child pulled the alarm.  She announces it to the kids and teachers, who are now out of their classrooms and in the lunchroom.  I'm now hanging my head and mouthing "I'm sorry" to the teachers. 

The principal announces over the PA that someone has pulled the alarm.  Then he shows up and I walk over to him and tell him what happened.  Apologizing profusely.  He did not look happy!

I grab my 3yr old's hand and we walk out of school and back to the car.  As we are driving away, the fire trucks show up with sirens blaring to the school.  Of course they have to check it out.  Did I mention its the day after 9/11....wonderful timing!

Kids in jammers, me with no makeup on......wonderful impression we are leaving on the school and parents!  I want to cry, but I just shake my head and call my husband to vent.


Jump forward 2hrs and I am now dropping off A2 and A3 at preschool.  The entire ride over A2 is telling me she doesn't want to go to school without me.  I try to reassure her, but fear drop off is not going to go well.  It's just one of those days.

A3 heads into class, no problems.  A2 is not happy.  She cries the instant I hang up her lunch box and backpack on her hook.  Sobbing on my shoulder.  This is not like her.   She loves school, crafting, and her friends.  The director sees her crying and tries to redirect A2 into class.  The teacher finally picks her up and takes her to the reading rug.  I leave listening to her sobbing. 


Sitting back at home now, taking it all in.  Exhausted from the range of emotions.  Hoping the day will get better.  Praying that the diet coke and donuts I treated myself to will perk me up.  Praying I'm not alone as a parent........