Okay, so this post has actually nothing to do with pajamas, but it sounded catchy.  I promised I would report on the first day of school, so here we go…(and here comes the drama.)

As many of you know we have three children in three different schools this year.  Kinsey attends SOMS as she did last year.  But due to some elementary school redistricting our youngest two were set to be moved to a new elementary school.  The school board offered the 5th graders the opportunity to stay at Kenwood to finish out their elementary school career.  But all other children were forced to go to the new school.  We fought this of course.  Tatie’s teacher felt as though moving her would be a mistake being that she had just recently moved to the area and had just begun adjusting and because of Tatie’s skin condition, moving schools so soon would offer her another unnecessary adjustment.  (Kids can be cruel.)  We wrote letters, we called, we wrote more letters.  Finally we made an appointment to address the school board on the issue.  We were turned down for the last time on August 6th.  Heartbroken I called Tatie’s new school and asked when registration was being held and was surprised to discover that it was that very day!  I had not received any information to that regard and so I rushed out the door and to the school to fill out the necessary paper work.  When I arrived I was given a stack of papers to fill out and told that no Kenwood transfer students had been mailed any registration packets because their names weren’t in the mailer system yet.  I filled out the forms and Tatie was assigned her teacher and we left.

As the week wore on I had not received any further info in the mail from the school.  I had requested a meeting with Tatie’s teacher to discuss her condition and treatment during school hours and wanted to get that done before the first day of school.  Both Kinsey and Sydney had open houses scheduled for the following Monday so I called Camden (Tatie’s new school) again to find out the date of their open house.  I was told that the open house had been held the night before!  I was completely dumbfounded.  When were they going to let us know this tidbit of information!  Again apologies were made stating that Kenwood students (the ones, in my opinion, that were the most important in melding into the new school) were still not on the mailing list to get that information!  I demanded a meeting be scheduled with her teacher so that I could give her the necessary information on Tatie.  I left a message with the office for that teacher.  That call was returned on Tuesday.  School started on Wednesday.  We rushed to the school that very afternoon to speak with her and drop off Taties supplies.  At this meeting I was told the following:

“I knew the Kenwood students didn’t get the mailings.  I asked for a call sheet of my students but office told me that the list wasn’t finalized yet and I couldn’t call anyone.  I am sorry she didn’t get to come and meet the other students that evening.”

I could do little more after that statement then stare at her blankly.  The ridiculousness of the situation had grown to astronomical perportions.

I must take a moment to add that through all of this Tatie was excited to start her new school and very pleased upon meeting her teacher that day.

The first day of school went as follows:

Todd drove Sydney to school

I drove Tatie and Kinsey

A quick stop at the convenient store for bottled water and rice crispy treats for the lunch boxes.

and off we went. 

The drop off for Tatie and Kinsey went as smooth as silk.  I walked tatie in and she was immediately met by new friends and welcomed with open arms.  I dropped Kinsey off who was met by squeals and hugs from fellow pre-teeners.  And then I waited….

6 hours goes by terribly slowly when you are nervous. 

 I got in the car with a plan to pick up Sydney and Tatie.  With both schools getting out at 2:30 and both the girls being car riders some strategic thinking would need to come into play.  I headed out 40 mins early to be in the front of the line for Taties pick up and then I would leave quickly and speed around the block to Sydney’s school to be in the back of the line for her pick up.  not the most ideal situation, but better then the bus.

I was surprised to find that I was like the 10 person already in line at Camden for pick up at 1:55.  I waited and read as the minutes ticked by.  And finally 2:30.  The cars began to very very slowly move.  10 minutes later I arrived in front of the line and was told that I needed a car rider number to pick up my daughter.  I said, but no one told me that, and I need my daughter now, I am already 10 minutes behind in picking up my other daughter!  The woman told me she would have to ask someone.  At this point I am growing panicked.  Just around the corner Sydney is waiting for me to pick her up and I’m not there!  They told me to pull up and I did at which point I was met with another woman who told me I would have to park and come in and get a number before they would give me Tatie.  I said I can’t!  I am already late!  She told me again, more forcefully, to park. 

I hit the gas and flew into a parking space where I then slammed the car door and stormed up the sidewalk in extreme frustration.  The woman who had told me to park the took it upon her self to get in my face and tell me “You knew you were supposed to have a car rider number!”

At this point I think “snapped” would be a good description of what I did.  Steam rolled from my ears as I shot back that they had not told ANY Kenwood transfer anything!  Not about registration, not about open house, and NOT about Car rider numbers!  And I ended with a savvy “So don’t give me that crap!”  (Eloquent when I am mad, I am not…) 

She then ESCORTED me into the school to get the car rider number.  (Which consisted of a woman standing behind the counter asking what my daughters name was and then writing her name down on a line beside a number and then giving me the corresponding rear view mirror hanger.  The woman then scurried off to retrieve Tatie from the gym.

By the time I got back to the car and to Kenwood to get Sydney it was 2:45.  It broke my heart to see Sydney waiting for me alone with an office staff member on the curb of the school building.  I was late, trapped, and none of it was my fault.

I got home and called Todd.  Told him what happened and he suggested I call the principal of Taties school.  The principal had told us after hearing us address the school board earlier that summer that no matter their decision if there was anything he could do to help the transition to let him know.  So I called and left a message.  He called me back a mere 30 mins later and I related the story above to him. 

When I finished he said,”Is that why you used foul language with one of my staff members this afternoon?”

I replied, “I WHAT?  What did she tell you I said?”

He repied, “She said you called her a “B-word”.”  (Only he didn’t say b-word if you catch my drift.)

I then explained that her statement was ridiculous because I DON’T CUSS!!!  EVER!  not even biblical cuss words!  He didn’t believe me and we continued on with the conversation.  I, however, wouldn’t let it go.  I kept harping on her lie and eventually he began to believe me and told me he would be having a talk with his staff member.  (On a side note Tatie also got lost going to car rider line, being that they just released the kids into the school and assumed they would know where to go.  She eventually made her way to the office where someone helped her get where she needed to go.  That incident was also apologized for.)

The principal ended the call by saying that as far as he and his staff were concerned that today’s incident was water under the bridge.  I said thank you and hung up.  And then called Todd back to tell him about the conversation and my shock over this woman’s lie.  At which point Todd said it was not water under the bridge and they would have to earn our trust back.

I know what you are thinking…Why is Tatie still in that school?  If it were me I would have her out of there so fast it would make their heads spin!

And indeed I would agree with you…except for one small detail.  She is happy.

In fact Tatie is happier with this teacher then I have seen her EVER in her school career!  She lay there on the floor that evening and said, “Mom, I love school.”  If she were unhappy, if she weren’t enjoying every single part of her school day.  I would have her out of there.  But she is.  So I am stuck.  Its the office staff verses me in battle of wills till Tatie graduates the 5th grade (or they redistrict again *eyeroll*).  Tatie is completely unaware of anything that happened that day out in the car rider line. 

As for the other of my chitlin’s?  All three girls are running Cross Country this year.  WOO!!!  Kinsey is happy, Tatie is happy, Sydney is beyond happy as she was just named anchor woman for her school news show.  So all in all, despite the pile o’ drama.  Its shaping up to be a very good year. 

(When I told my best friend what the woman accused me of saying, she burst out laughing stating that they obviously didn’t know me very well.  Its good to have friends like that.  *kisses*)