Having been out of the dealings of public education for many years, I had forgotten the hidden things that I just don’t like until the month of October was upon us. See, in September, schools are getting the kinks out/trying to figure out a rhythm, a flow for the year. I have been excited about two of the three teachers involved and the third is open to our feedback and input, which is helpful given that we do believe in the “in-your-face, make-my-presence-known” model of parenting. As I might have shared when the decision of traditional school was made, I have taken a sorta backseat in this experience. My husband is off every Monday and spends each Monday at the school, volunteering, observing in any capacity. He is also the member of the PTA and will be going to his first big meeting today. (Oooh, it is going to be good…I have to put that in a separate entry tonight). I greet them every day when I pick up the kids and try to keep my attitude positive, but I gotta work on that.

See, there was a day last week as I pulled into the parking lot of the school that I will never forget. The weather has been unbelievably hot and many parents are walking their kids home from school and taking advantage of the beautiful weather. I saw a few parents carrying a large white and red envelope, but my subconscious wouldn’t let me focus on what this meant. I parked the car, saw a few more parents with the same package and a rush of negative emotions filled my entire body. I know what that is. I had forgotten. Why are they doing this to me? I think I’m going to throw up. What was this package that caused my heart to race, my head to ache and my stomach to quake? You know what it was…that d*&n FUNDRAISER packet. UGGGH!

I paused before I got out of the car, so that I could practice my fake excitement when the kids come running to me telling me about the assembly where some company rep gives away some candy, tells the kids about these impossible gifts if they sell a gazillion items and how much fun it will be to call everyone we know and stick ‘em up for some candy. I…I was speechless. Me, of all people. Speechless. I slowly walked to the door to pick up my kindergartener, but before I even reached the door, my second grader comes running up to me, excitedly waving the evil package, “Mommy, Mr. Money told me I can get a Wii. We have to hurry up and sell this stuff!” All I could think was let me get home before I scream! My fourth grader, the true cynic/skeptic/too-real realist, approaches me with moderate excitement, “Mommy, do you think that we could go door to door, take this to church and call our family because I at least want the decoder watch. That’s cool!” I’m asking myself, Why? Why? If tax dollars are not enough, then show me the allocation of funds, show me where the money is going and then I’ll pay for you all to have a professional grant writer on staff, so that yall could leave me and my family out of your money issues. I dislike fundraisers so much that I…well, you get what I’m feeling.

Next, we have the other F-Word. Field Trips. Since I’ve homeschooled, I have always accompanied my children on field trips and they are such a key component to a whole educational experience, but when you have 5! kids, the last thing you want is to have field trips on the same day and you have to choose which one you want to chaperone. Can you believe that the first field trip of my children’s schooling lives fell on the SAME DAY? I just couldn’t believe it. I was frantic. I called friends to see if they can pick up the baby from day care because I wouldn’t be back in time. I asked my husband to take off Friday instead of Monday so that he could go to one and I could go to the other. And do you know when I asked them which one wanted me to go with them, they BOTH said ” I wanted to do this first one on my own. Just want to see if I can handle it. You can stay at home.” WHAT? I was…I was once again speechless. I wasn’t sure if I was hurt, sad, proud or just confused. I was looking forward to the pumpkin patch. It’s nostalgic since our homeschool group has gone every year and we spend all day doing hay rides, drinking apple cider, finding the biggest pumpkins in the whole patch. Wow.

I didn’t let it be known that I had any feelings about it. I was excited when they came home and told me about their first school bus experience. “Mommy it was bumpy.” “I can’t believe they don’t have seat belts. I was scared.” “Mommy, the bus was so loud that we had to scream just to talk to each other.” I complemented my second grader and my kindergartener on their courage. I don’t think they knew that I was wishing I had pictures, wishing I could have experienced at least one of the trips ( the second grader went on a hike at a state park…that seemed so cool. They came back with a ranger packet and everything.)

On the brighter side, having 5 kids also give you many opportunities and Baby Bear (since he’s almost 3, grown enough to go in the refrigerator, get the orange juice and pour it in the cup without any assistance OR permission…we’re changing him from the BBB, bighead bigcheeked baby) is going to the Farm today. Just him and the mommy (and his nursery school class, of course). He’s been making farm animals at school, signing Old McDonald. I’m looking forward to it. At least he isn’t old enough to tell me to stay home, well not yet anyway.