THAT would be a reality TV show that I could really get into! All the pettiness of "Dance Mom's" with the annoyances of "Real Housewives..."!
Unfortunately, however, this isn't a new TV series. It's my life!! I'm 1/2 of the room parent team in my son's First Grade classroom. Now, why we need 2 room parents for a class of 9 students is beyond me! But, that's how it worked out. But, I'm getting ahead of myself. Let me start at the beginning...it adds to the entertainment value!
This all began last year, when my son started Kindergarten. Ok, well, I actually think it started when my son began Pre-K at his school. This mom, lets just call her Little Miss Perfect (or LMP for lazy typing purposes), happened to be 1/2 the room mom team for my son's Pre-K class (if you haven't guessed, her son...just 1 of her now 4 children...is in the same class as mine). She did a great job, and since I was the "new mom", I didn't expect to be involved the first year.
Well, Kindergarten orientation came around. I was talking to the teacher, and asked if she had chosen anyone to be the room mom yet. She said that she hadn't chosen anyone, so I said that I would be more than happy to HELP whoever she chooses. It wasn't my intention to actually become the room mom, I just wanted to be a part of the team. Well, to my shock, the teacher asked me to be the room mom! The ONLY room mom! There were 16 kids!! Of course I started to freak out a bit...but that's another story!
Anyhow, I went to LMP to let her know that I was asked, because I was looking for some help and some ideas (one of her other children is older, and had already been through this teachers class). Well, she turns around and says to me, "Oh, well, I guess that's ok then. I'm room parent for my daughter's classroom, so I guess I'll just focus on that". Uhhh...ok, then. Needless to say, she wasn't a lot of help throughout that year, and every time she made something for a party she had to try and outdo me! For the Easter party she told me that I didn't need to buy things for Goody-bags, because she had bought extra and made them up already! And she was always the last to let me know what she was bringing, or to donate money for a gift!
By the end of Kindergarten, I had told my husband that there was no way I was going to volunteer to be room mom again. It was just too much trying to deal with all of the parents (the lazy ones, the dramatic ones, and the ones who wouldn't do a single thing no matter how much you asked!), and while I loved the kids, it just wasn't worth it. However, I said that if I was asked, I certainly wouldn't turn it down (that would just be rude!). And, it was beginning to sound like I was going to be asked to be room mom. One of the parents, who happens to be a teacher at the school, highly recommended me to the First Grade teacher...the Kindergarten teacher raved about me...and I became known around the school for my treats and the effort I put in.
Enter LMP! School hadn't even been out for 2 days when I got a message from her telling me that the First Grade Teacher had asked HER to be room mom for next year, but, since she would be having a baby in September (yep, this would be child #4!), would I mind working WITH her as a team?? Disappointment hit, I thought for sure I was going to be asked again. But, I sucked it up and said that I would love to help out in any way that I could. I got over it, and left it there.
Well, Teacher Meet and Greet day came, and there we all were in the classroom. Me, my Husband, my Son and young Daughter, the Teacher, and LMP and her brood. I had just seen the cutest recipe for back to school treats (LOVE LOVE LOVE Family Fun Magazine!!!), and asked LMP if she had any plans for making a treat for them, because I would love to do it. She said that she hadn't thought of anything yet, so I took that as "Sure, go ahead an plan on that!". As she's walking out of the room, Mrs. Teacher turns to her an says: "Oh, Mrs. LMP, I was going to ask if you would like to be room mom for the year". Wait, what?!?! Did I just hear that right?! You're just NOW asking her to be room mom?! To which LMP responded, "Oh, I was already Planning on it! I even asked Debbie if she'd like to help me". Again, what?! I was told by her that she was ALREADY asked to be room mom! My Piss Buttons were hit...and I then realized that this was going to be a competition!
If I thought THAT was bad...then I was in for a shock the next day! I got a message from her telling me that she had just bought all the fixings for that fun recipe that I wanted to make for the kids for the 1st day of school. Oh HELL no! This just went from competition...to WAR!
Now, here we are...rapidly approaching Halloween. You know what that means, right? Halloween Party time. I LOVE the Halloween Party! I love seeing the kids in their costumes, I love the fun treats you can make, and I love putting together the goody bags for them!! It's just a lot of FUN! I had my recipes picked out for what I wanted to make, I had my fun treat ideas ready for their goody bags...and then I talked to LMP.
SHE doesn't want to do goody bags for the kids ("It's all a bunch of stuff that the kids don't play with. And most if it is so small anyway, and since you have a young child, you know how it is with putting little things in their mouths, blah blah blah"). Instead, SHE will make each child their very own Oreo dipped Caramel Apple to take home. Really???
Oh, and as far as what I can do to "help"..."You can take care of the craft. After all, that's the HARD part". Really? Really???? A craft for 9 children aged 6 and 7 is NOT the hard part! It consists of foam and stickers, because that's all there's time for.
Will the Caramel Apples be a hit? Will I go ahead an make my goodies for the kids anyway? Will my craft consume all the time she needs for the kids to play the game she comes up with? Stay tuned for the After Halloween update...oh, and don't forget to tune in for the Christmas Party drama (which, by the way, is HER favorite party!)! I can hardly wait. (There REALLY needs to be a sarcasm font!).
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