Back to School

So the children are on their way back to school. Next week will be fine but this week has been a weird series of shuffling Helena in for her taster mornings (8:30-10) and then trading off with Daniel having his taster mornings (10:30-12) and then arriving home with two fried, overstimulated children while I have been carrying on like a madwoman, chatting with other kindergarten parents all of whom want to bend my ear because I am chairing the Kindergarten Activities Committee (gaaaah!). So someone wants to quiz me on the curricular relevance of the Lunches Around the World thing where parents make a meal from their heritage (presumably) and then serve it to the kindergartners with some flags, some music, maybe a map or a national costume or something or other. Curricular relevance? Who cares? They’re FIVE. It’s just fun to see someone’s mom in a dirndl or to attempt eating satay chicken. Then another mom (very cool just retired prima ballerina of the Pennsylvania Ballet) and I were trying to arrange a trip to see a rehearsal and I felt I ought to warn her that the teachers could veto the trip if they doubted its educational value and she was all up in arms about that! And other people are simply trying to find out what’s happening and the answer is nothing because I can’t stand democracies. I’m either good as Big Chief Stuntmother, Queen of All She Surveys or I can be a really good follower, just tell me what to do and I’ll do it. But power-sharing? No thank you. Hmmm. Kind of gives you an insight into the kind of parenting arguments that might occasionally rage in this household.

Anyway, I have been efficient. I have set up a meeting. I have emailed people. I have harrassed the principal for more information, like – do I have a budget or is this just a little freespending overprivledged Philly child extravaganza? (I probably do have a budget.) I am thinking Gengis Khan like thoughts of laying waste to whining and nitpicking. Arrrrrrr.

Just for a little relief from the tedious, overprotective, overdemanding parents all of whom think their kid should be doing calculus and bonsai, here is a picture of my children starting school. Aw. Don’t they look miserable though? It’s not true.

Helena felt much more like this:

She has ended every morning with a “I had a lovely morning” declaration before collapsing with her thumb in her mouth demanding carbs.

She is also asking for a “tiny baby elephant and a tiny baby tiger” for her birthday. I think she’s going to get a cat puppet.

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