How to make me feel like a bad mommy

Yesterday, I had to run a workshop from 9.30am. I had forgotten to get the eats for tea, so I had to stop off at the shop before work to get them. In order to save time, I asked Hannah whether she could go into class with James. Usually, I walk all the way into the class with her, and usually, she's very clingy and doesn't want to let me go. Yesterday, though, she was so happy to go on her own: grabbed her bag and a bag of paper for recycling, held James's hand and proudly waved goodbye to me.

I watched them skip into school together, waved once more and then got into the car with Jonah to drop him off at his school. On the way, I was feeling quite smug: my two older children were old and responsible enough to see each other into the school grounds. I even hummed to a song on the radio.

Until my cell phone rang.

"Hello, Mrs Dunlop?"

"Yes?"

"It's XX here from XX Primary."

Oh no, not again.

"Hannah's had a bit of an accident."

Pause while I almost crash the car.

"She said her bag was too heavy and she fell over. She's bruised her forehead and she says her knee is a little bit sore. We're giving her some apple juice and she seems to be calming down."

"Ok, so she's in the office now?"

"Yes, we just thought we'd let you know. Bye now."

And she hung up before I could ask to speak to her.

Sigh. I'm not cut out for this working mom stuff. Poor kid: the first time she goes into school on her own and she gets an egg on the head to celebrate.

**
Woot: I've had an entry for my contest! I'm going to be away from tomorrow until Saturday afternoon, so feel free to enter in my absence. I've also set a post to go up on Thursday. We'll see if it works.

Comments

[Nina]

Cute story!
Don't you love when they let go and find their independence. Of course one day mine is independent and the next he is attached to my hip. Someday....

[Crazy Jugs]

How's your dad? I read your earlier entry and thought that was so sweet when he said that you were a great daughter... Made me smile. You sure have had some major stresses in your life recently. Hope you are doing well.

[Elizabeth Channel]

The healing properties of apple juice!

Your story reminds me of my 5-year-old who collapsed in the hall (undiagnosed hypoglycemia) during one of the first weeks of kindergarten. The school called to tell me of the "collapse" and then 5 minutes later to say he seemed fine. The heart does race during those five minutes!

[Cathy]

I hope she's ok now, how is she?

Mine loves the independence too when she lets go while we are walking. The funny thing is when she stumbles and comes back to me crying, I always ask her how the experience was?

Hope she is doing well.

[Tena]

Apple juice equals cure all for kids!!!
Hope she is having a better day now!
{{{{ gentle hugs }}}}

[Michele]

Funny story. While I always appreciate the "just thought we'd let you know" calls from the school, I always feel a pang of guilt that someone else had to let me know!

[Stephanie]

Poor thing. Glad to know she's okay though. I agree with you sometimes I feel like I'm not cut out to be a working mom.

[brandy101]

haha, juice as a cure for what ails ya!

You did fine and apparently, bruise or not, Hannah did great, too!

[mrsbear]

If juice is all it takes to calm her, she'll be okay. She might have fallen even if you were there, so don't feel too terrible. ;-)

[Jennae @ Green Your Decor]

It's official! Thanks to your story, I will be walking my daughter to her classroom every day until she graduates from high school. Or until she becomes a mouthy teenager who I can't wait to drop off.

[angel]

aw neen... it makes me think of the few occasions damien fell off the bed as a baby...

[Melany]

Poor kiddo. How was she when she got home? My boys walk themselves in to school. Also very proud of them (even though I do slowly drive around the school to make sure the youngest gets to his class lol)