*Cross-posted from MommyWorks*
I have until 9am to get to work every morning. I start at 9 and finish
at 4. I finish off the day with an hour of work at home. A relatively laid back deal compared with most other working
moms, I know.
We're all usually out the door by 7.15. I drop Jonah off at his school
and then we're on the road again by 7.30, on the way to James and
Hannah's school.
We get there by 7.50ish. I usually walk J & H to the gate and kiss
them goodbye and I'm in the car again by 7.55/8. Then it's the long
haul to work, which can take anywhere between 40 and 55 minutes in the
traffic.
Last week, we received a notice from the primary school saying that
winter uniform trousers must be pre-ordered from the school shop. The
school has recently changed its entire uniform, so we're required to
spend a small fortune kitting out the kiddies for each season. It's not
as simple as that, though: you have to bring your children to the shop
in order for them to try the stuff on and ensure it all fits.
The school shop is open twice a week, between the fantastically
convenient hours of 8 and 8.30. Seriously: who has time to fart around
at that time on a weekday? But, because I'm conscientious and because
I'm leaving soon for 2.5 months, I decided to suck it up this morning
and go to the shop. I told James to go his class, tell his teacher
where he was going, and meet me at the shop. I took Hannah to her class
and told the teacher where we were going. By this time, it was 8.05.
We did the trying on and the ordering and were out of there by 8.10. I
said goodbye to them and decided that, because I was making fairly good
time, I should go to the secretary and ask about violin lessons, in
which Hannah recently expressed an interest.
I waited for the secretary to get off the phone for a further 5 minutes
or so. She didn't. Eventually, another staff member asked whether I
needed help and I told her why I'd come. She referred me to another
secretary's office, just outside the door. I walked over there and was
told to wait while this secretary finished what she was doing. She kept
me waiting for a further 5 minutes. In the end, she told me to write a
letter stating that Hannah wants violin lessons.
I then started the trek to the back gate where my car was parked. I got
there, only to find that it was locked! I walked around to the front of
the school and then walked alllllllll the way around the outside of the
school to my car. By now, it was 8.25.
Don't you just love how schools operate? Everything within working
hours, and you have to be late for work in order to be involved in your
child's education.
Screeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.
