Bad Judgement

The flyer came home from school, PTA Social: Make a Clay Tile With Your Child, Buy Books from the Book Fair, Spend $20 on Ice Cream. Knowing that Al was working late that night, I ignored that flyer, and the 2nd one, and the 3rd one. But then, Aly, Caleb, and AJ came home from school begging to go. Their teachers had convinced them how fun the party in the gym would be. I knew it wasn't a good idea, but wasn't strong enough to fight it. I have now learned, better to use the strength up front than later in the crowded gym trying to roll out clay for the school mural with four of your kids, while the two-year-old lays on the ground sucking on one of the clay tools. Not exactly socially acceptable, but he was quiet and staying in one place. I did have a brief moment of self-reflection, "Have I actually turned into one of those parents?"

Since I crave to be the center of attention, imagine my gratefulness to Jake who during our exit threw a five-star tantrum. I juggled the human molecule while mother-henning the other four to stay close. There wasn't a soul in the gym, in the parking lot, or just driving by on the street that didn't know we had come.

We did complete 3 tile pieces for the sky and each kid was able to pick out a book without destroying the book fair. I am not certain that I will scout those tiles out on the completed mural. No additional memories are needed of this excurison.