Thursday, September 27, 2012

Lessons With Libby

There are so many things I like about Meg starting school. Watching her run, not walk to her classroom every day. Hearing her talk about her school friends and how none of them like to share. Watching her become more confident, and more compassionate with every day that she is in class. Realizing that maybe we haven't done a half bad job raising her.

Yep, all of those things are really great.

My favorite thing though?

It's given me an absolutely fabulous new way for me to mess with my husband.

For those of you just joining us, my husband is a high school administrator. For years I have listened to his stories about the overprotective parents, the parents who push their kids too hard, the parents who do not pay attention to what their kids are doing, the parents who think their kids can do no wrong, the parents who are waaaay too permissive, and the parents who are just all out nightmares.

And now? I get to pretend to be all of them.

The other day Meg came home with sand in her hair. She told me a little girl in her class had thrown it at her, and that she had then been made to apologize and help Meg clean it off. Okay, no harm, no foul, move on. That's how I reacted internally. This is how I reacted when Ryan got home:
ME: We need to call the Millers (not their name).
RYAN: Who are they?
ME: Their daughter threw sand at Meg today. I think we need to call them and discuss the situation.
RYAN: Libby, please don't be this person.
ME: Do you think it's because she's black?
RYAN: For f@*k's sake lady! Are you serious?!
See how much fun it is? Okay, okay. So, the classroom has this stuffed bear that goes home with one of the kids every weekend. Meg was VERY disappointed that it wasn't her turn yet last week. We sat down and talked about it; how her turn will come eventually, and laid out some preliminary plans about all the things we will take "baby bear" to do. Then Ryan got home.
ME: Meg didn't get to take baby bear home. Miller (again, not the name) did.
RYAN: Well, she'll get a turn eventually.
ME: Maybe we could call and see if we could just "visit."
RYAN: Are you doing this again?
ME: Or maybe we could just go over and take it.
RYAN: Please stop.
ME: They haven't met us. We could pretend to be Jehovah's Witnesses. Then BAM, we bust in and grab the bear.
RYAN: Can I at least get in the door first before you become that parent?
ME: OH! And then all the kids in class will be mad at Miller. And then Meg can say she found baby bear in a trash can and she'll be a hero!
RYAN: Wasn't there a vow about not doing this at our wedding? 
I'm kinda giving it a break now, because I want there to be an element of surprise. After all, if I use up all the crazy now he'll get immune. And then what kind of reaction will I get when I ask about SAT prep courses at Parent Teacher conferences? Or ask if we should throw a rager after 3 Pre-K graduation?

It's gonna be a great year!

7 comments:

LL Cool Joe said...

Oh no please don't turn into none of those mother's! :D

Let the fun begin!

Anonymous said...

This is so hilarious. Just think, Meg is only in preschool, you have years and years to keep doing this...

Amanda said...

Oh the fun that will be had when Baby Bear comes home with you. Let's just say that Corduroy will have his retribution.

Jen said...

Oh, this must be such a joy. I wouldn't be able to pull it off for laughing about it, but I'd love to attempt it. Fun for years to come.

P.S., glad she's loving preschool.

Becky said...

Um, I love this post. Also, I'm admitting to you (and not in a place where hubby will see it) that I totally do this to him, too. (Hubby is an elementary PE teacher) It's so much fun to mess with him this way. But, you may have a point, it shouldn't be overworked, otherwise it will lose it's effectiveness. Thanks for the tip ;)

Rassles said...

I hope it doesn't turn into one of those things where like, if you pretend you're brave you become brave, but instead of bravery it's with sucking.

I really can't see this happening to you, though. You're too cool.

G. B. Miller said...

Hopefully if you play your cards right, Meg won't eventually go "MOM!" whenever you decide to go pleasantly off the wall. :D