Sooooooooooo.............
Yeah. It's been almost a year since I've written in here. Whoops. Sorry. I got into a funk. I'm trying to ease out of it so I can be entertaining once again. I'll try to do better this year.
We have hit a pretty major milestone in this household and I felt I needed to share. Today was KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION! I've talked about this day for years. YEARS (Toddlerhood is not my strongpoint)! It is finally here.
Even though I was extremely excited for this day, I was also extremely anxious. My anxiety peeks its head out for silly things. I grew up in small town Iowa. For the first six years of my schooling, I went to a two room school that was associated with our church. I have no memories of any type of "registration." In sixth grade, I started going to public school in town. All I remember of that is a long line, standing in the band room, and going home with the ever popular Warrior homework planner thingie. I had NO idea how things work in fancy smancy Washington and for some reason this gave me a lot of unnecessary anxiety. Maddie's teacher was very patient and put up with my "million" silly questions like: "Do I just show up at the school? I go to this school right?" Anxiety or not, today was the day so I put on my best Leeroy Jenkins face on and started the day.
The kids made the morning pretty easy. I actually got up when my alarm went off and took a shower. Mad got up, ate her breakfast, and basically did most of her morning routine on her own with little prompting from me. Dexter woke up about 20 minutes later and I was able to get him dressed without much struggle. While Dex was devouring the dinosaurs in his oatmeal, I ran upstairs to get ready. So I pulled on my mom uniform (yay for yoga pants), strapped the ladies up in my Bosom Restraining Apparatus, threw on a tank top along with my short sleeve hoodie thing (because after all we don't want to scare children now do we?). I was about ready to call it good when I thought, "Hey! I should wear the new shoes I just bought." So I grab a pair of socks and quickly throw on my new shoes. They are nothing exciting. Just cheapie canvas shoes that were on uber sale to replace my Chucks. I love my Chucks. Love them! But they hurt me. Sometimes when I wear them, I feel something sharp and it rubs off the skin on my foot. I can't feel anything when I rub my fingers against the inside of the shoe. This only happens when I'm actually wearing the shoe. It is annoying to say the least. My other option was flip flops but I have been seeing this meme a lot and I have not done my "Baby Feet" treatment yet this year. New shoes it is.
The kids are nearly ready. I pop into my office to gather the necessary paperwork for this magical moment. I revel in the fact that I'm so organized. Each child has a folder with their important information in it. I grab Maddie's folder, open it.....and there is nothing in there. What. The. Hell. I manage to maintain and not lose it as I shuffle around everything trying to find Maddie's birth certificate and shot records. I find them in Dexter's folder. Hmmph. So much for organized. I quickly log in and start to print off our utility bill for proof of residence. We have lived here since April 2012. I just realized that not only is my name NOT on the bill, but my husband's name is spelled wrong. This is taking entirely too long. I grab the folder that has our lease in it, along with the utility bill, Mad's birth certificate and shot record. Between all of this, I should be fine. Yes? YES! Let's do this!
So I drop Maddie off at preschool, ask her poor teacher again just how to do this, and set off on my merry way. On the drive to the school, I keep thinking that I hope the entrance is marked or something. Knowing my luck, I would just bounce right into a classroom or gym, Dexter would decide to throw a massive tantrum and we totally get kicked out and asked never to come back (yeah blame the "Very Worried Walrus" book from my childhood for this way of thinking).
I pull into the school parking lot. Hmmm. No huge "KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION" signs. Now I imagine someone calling the cops for me lurking around the building trying to find out where I'm supposed to go. I have Dex with me though. Hopefully I look more like frazzled mother and less like crazy child stalking psycho. With that thought, I hop out of the car and happen to look down at my shoes. Maybe it's just the way my yoga pants rest on top of them, but I totally look like I'm wearing prison slippers. What. The. Hell. Target!
Well at least I know what to wear while watching the new season of Orange Is The New Black.
I momentarily think about driving home real quick and swapping out for flip flops (talons be damned), but get Dex out of his car seat instead. I'm Leeroy Jenkins today damn it.
I slowly walk up to the building, deciding that the door under the name of the school would be my best bet. A mom and her little boy was leaving as I was walking toward the door. I ask her if this is the door to the office. She says it is. HA! I win. Anxiety you lose. The rest of this is cake. I almost start running/dragging Dexter to the door.
A Very Nice Chick (or VNC so I don't have to type so much) points me to the sign in sheet! I eagerly sign in and grab the packet of paperwork. I sit down in the chair directly by the table, but VNC points out that they have a table in the hallway with paper and coloring instruments so Dex would be entertained. "Oh good," I say, "Whatever keeps him out of the way." VNC replies, "Yes because we have no tolerance for children getting in the way here. It's only a school after all." And she winks at me. Awwww. Sarcasm. I can feel at ease here. I manage to keep from jumping over the desk and hugging VNC and find a spot at the table.
Dexter is in heaven. He goes right to town with markers and draws me a little toddler masterpiece. He pulls out a Sharpie and I start to think "What kind of mad house is this?" but he is content so I start the paperwork.
All is well and good. It is SOOOO weird putting Maddie's name down. So weird. I fill out most of the paperwork with ease. Name. Address. Phone Number. No health concerns. Piece of cake! Then we get to the part I always dread. Shot records. This isn't really a big deal but my mind turns it into one of those life threatening Jigsaw puzzles from the Saw movies.
Hello Renee.
I would like to play a game.
To your left is your daughter's shot record that has been filled out by the nurses administering the shots.
To your right is the official shot record form that is kept by the school.
To complete this task, you must transfer the information from your form to mine.
Be careful. Some of the abbreviations do not match up.
For an added challenge, your 4G will not be working in this area. So you will be unable to google which shot is which. You must rely completely on your tired mom brain.
Filling out this form incorrectly could mean complications in sending your child to school. Meaning she will be with you 24/7....FOREVER.
Good luck. The clock is ticking.
Apparently, I'm not the only one who struggles with this. There are a couple other moms at the table who are fighting the same battle. We pull together and figure it out. :) I love those mom bonding moments.
As an added bonus, I see my neighbor walk in as I'm finishing up. I totally forgot her daughter would be starting this year as well so Maddie will know at least ONE person. Yes! This day is full of win...prison shoes be damned. She asks me if we are signing up for morning or afternoon. I blurt out, "All of them! I mean we are going to front the big bucks to do full day." Neighbor smiles. I smile. Smiles all around.
I go back to VNC and hand her my packet. I apologize for errors with the shot record. She asks if she can make a copy of my version of the shots and Mad's birth certificate. She confirms and everything looks accurate. Take that Mental Jigsaw! Take that Crappy Meddling Anxiety! I win!
I ask a few more questions, while holding onto an unhappy Dexter who wants to dart back to the markers, and then practically skip back to the car.
MY DAUGHTER IS REGISTERED FOR KINDERGARTEN!
Eeeek!
And no one even noticed my creepy prison shoes! :)
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