Friday, August 14, 2009

First day flubs – yes, “flubs” is plural

As many of you know, Jack started Pre-K on Thursday. Where we live this is an all day, every day thing – just like grade school.

Jack was excited to attend a new school and he did great with me dropping him off and leaving him there with perfect strangers.

His problems started later in the day (probably around the time he started getting tired because he is use to sleeping until 9:30/10:oo in the morning).

At about the same time I published his letter, the phone rang. When I looked at the caller-id, it said it was the school. My initial thought was, “You have got to be kidding me. It is the first day and I can’t believe they are ALREADY having to call me.”

On the other end of the line was indeed Jack’s teacher. Luckily the call was not to inform me that he had misbehaved but rather to ask me to bring him some extra shorts and underwear because apparently when he was “peeing standing up” he accidentally dribbled on himself.

So, I woke Beau up from a nap in which he had just fallen asleep, and I headed to the school with new shorts and underwear in hand. Because we live in a small town, everyone knows not only your name, but your business as well. So it should come as no surprise that as soon as I walked in the door, the receptionist said Jack was in his classroom and I could head on back.

The door to the classroom was open so I stuck my head in. The kids were getting ready for naptime, but the primary teacher and Jack were missing. The teacher’s aid quickly informed me that they were probably still in the bathroom and so I turned around and started to head back in the opposite direction.

At about the same time, Jack’s teacher comes more-or-less running down the hallway and says in a rather frantic voice, “Don’t panic, we’re looking for him now.”

HUH?

My little Jack was missing. They thought he was still in the bathroom, but could not find him. Teachers, teacher aids, administrators and secretaries were all frantically roaming the hall in search for my “lost” son.

Amazingly, I remained calm. Maybe that makes me a bad mom. Maybe I should have been panicked or  at least worried…but I knew my son and I knew he was fine – he was either lost, or hiding (if it was the latter, I would kill him later).

After minutes of searching, the receptionist sent out an “All Call” over the school intercom. It was at this point I started to feel a little antsy; again, not because I was worried about him but because I was worried that once his name went “Public” he would have to live with it for the rest of his life and we, his parents, living in a small town, would have to hear about it forever.

Because God is good and did not want us to suffer from that type of humiliation, at the exact same moment the receptionist was about to mention Jack’s name, someone yelled out, “We found him!”

Apparently Jack was in his classroom the entire time, hiding in a tent with a bunch of other kids. Although I had previously thought I would kill him if he was hiding, I  couldn’t fault him for being where he was supposed to be.

Now all I can think is, “His poor teacher…what a way to start off the school year, knowing that you have lost someone’s kid and now knowing that she has to put up with him for the rest of the year.”jack playing at open house for web

13 comments:

5 Miles Past Empty said...

OH my! I can't believe you remained calm! Good for you! When Levi disappears I get freaked out! That is the one thing I cannot handle. Funny post though, thanks for sharing!

Amanda
(i think I am posting this from my second blog, so you may not recognize it...)

ThatsBaloney said...

LOL - so glad this story ended well. I hope this is the worst thing you encounter all year!!

Claire said...

Oh, Melinda! What a day to start school. A very similar thing actually happened on Grace's first day of kindergarten. Drop off was fine, and we did all the usual 1st day of school things. Then at pick up, we were supposed to pick Grace up in front of the school, in the kindergarten line. It seemed like 500 kids were there, except no Grace. The teacher looked at Jason, then her eyes got huge and she ran off. A few minutes later, she came out, carrying a crying Grace and apologizing profusely. Apparently, Grace was in the bathroom in their room when they all lined up and went out to the front. She came out, and was completely alone in the room. She was a little nervous for the next few days, but soon got over it. It definitely wasn't what I had planned for the first day, though. Hopefully, Jack will forget all about it. Actually, hopefully the poor teacher will forget all about it. I think its worse for them than the kids!

Unknown said...

Oh my gosh Melinda! This made me laugh and laugh! And I loved your response. Overeacting is so overated : )

He is so cute. I can't believe he is in Kindergarten. Oh my gosh.

~Tom~ said...

I give you credit for not going off the deep end as most parents would. I am glad they found him where he should have been. Remind me never to play hide-n-seek with him! lol

@nnie said...

wow, i have to admit that would freak me out. you are such a great, calm mom, especially for the first day of pre-k!!! Wow! on the 2nd day of kindergarten, Luke was stung by 5 yellow jackets, and I was crushed! Great pic, by the way.

Drew said...

Love this! Our first day is coming. I'm crossing my fingers that I don't get "the call". What I love most about this post is that after the ordeal you pulled out your camera and got a picture of him. That's commitment! :)

Dawn said...

I would have been freaking!!

His poor teacher! It probably gave her a heart attack. Not being able to find him is one thing, but not being able to find him when his mom is there is completely worse! LOL!

Hope the rest of the year is smooth sailing!

Drew said...

I'm sorry about posting about bubble wrap! If it makes you feel any better, I haven't seen an entry with it in there yet! So, I say, "Go for it!" :)

the Provident Woman said...

What a cutie!

missy said...

found your blog on facebook!!!!
love your header....very cute!!!!
and what a cute little guy!!!!

Debbie said...

I feel for you and am kinda laughing at the same time! The thought of him in that tent is too funny. A very auspicious start for the teacher.

Elaine at Matters of the Heart) said...

Oh goodness, what a first day. Glad it all turned out well. He is such a cutie, loved that picture.