Did you know tomorrow is Watermelon Day? Neither did I until my son announced it at dinner and then informed me that he told his teacher we would bring two watermelons.
Welcome to May madness also known as the Motherhood Olympics for all moms (and dads for that matter) with school-aged children. From the thrill of victory to the agony of defeat, May brings it all.
I remember when my oldest was in kindergarten. I think it was when she didn’t get the calendar award – an award for doing whatever asinine activity written on that day – that I realized, “Hey, that’s not her fault; that’s mine. I can’t help it that I didn’t want to learn to juggle or count the number of cans in our closet on that particular day. Don’t punish her!”
As I saw the other mothers clap and smile and straighten their backs and slide me dirty looks as their children accepted award after award that they had no idea what it meant, it dawned on me, “Wait a minute … This is an award’s day for moms!”
And then I thought, “And I am a loser!”
Now to be fair, my daughter walked across stage several times in her pretty yellow dress which I still remember though it’s been 20 years ago, but no thanks to me at the time.
Two kids later, and I’d like to say I have it all figured out, but the truth I’m still competing. Fortunately, they’ve passed kindergarten and have the ability to amaze their parents by achieving awards despite us!
May is a month filled with chorus concerts, Boy Scout banquets, end-of-the-year parties, softball parties, honors day, cowboy day, field day, crazy hat/sock/hair day, dance recitals, tennis parties and band concerts. My job is to simply keep up with it all and know when to send watermelons because, sadly, closing ceremonies will be here before we know it.
Welcome to May madness also known as the Motherhood Olympics for all moms (and dads for that matter) with school-aged children. From the thrill of victory to the agony of defeat, May brings it all.
I remember when my oldest was in kindergarten. I think it was when she didn’t get the calendar award – an award for doing whatever asinine activity written on that day – that I realized, “Hey, that’s not her fault; that’s mine. I can’t help it that I didn’t want to learn to juggle or count the number of cans in our closet on that particular day. Don’t punish her!”
As I saw the other mothers clap and smile and straighten their backs and slide me dirty looks as their children accepted award after award that they had no idea what it meant, it dawned on me, “Wait a minute … This is an award’s day for moms!”
And then I thought, “And I am a loser!”
Now to be fair, my daughter walked across stage several times in her pretty yellow dress which I still remember though it’s been 20 years ago, but no thanks to me at the time.
Two kids later, and I’d like to say I have it all figured out, but the truth I’m still competing. Fortunately, they’ve passed kindergarten and have the ability to amaze their parents by achieving awards despite us!
May is a month filled with chorus concerts, Boy Scout banquets, end-of-the-year parties, softball parties, honors day, cowboy day, field day, crazy hat/sock/hair day, dance recitals, tennis parties and band concerts. My job is to simply keep up with it all and know when to send watermelons because, sadly, closing ceremonies will be here before we know it.
