Yesterday was the Easter party at Ada and Jasper’s preschool. School Parties and I just don’t get along. There are so many reasons. Let’s explore: I have six children. Would you want to run any errands with six kids? Neither would I. When the kids are in school I have four hours to get all kid-free errands/fun stuff done. Private, child-free time is precious and holy around here and I don’t want to squander it watching my kids decorate cupcakes. Especially since each holiday means that I have to go watch four kids at two schools decorate cupcakes (yay for middle schoolers being too old for that kind of stuff!)
I dropped Ada off at Mrs. C’s classroom, then dropped Jasper off at Mrs.S’s classroom. Jasper was having trouble saying goodbye because he is madly in love with me and can’t bear goodbyes (totally true). So I sat down at the playdough table and tried to get Jasper interested in the rolling pin. Mrs. C. came running in and this was the conversation that went down:
Mrs. C :”It’s Ada’s Easter party today!!!”
Me: “Uhhh. Have fun with that . . . ” (I’m racking my brain trying to remember if I signed up to bring anything. No, I specifically remember NOT signing up for anything.)
Mrs.C: “She’s supposed to bring an Easter basket and twelve eggs with candy inside!”
Mrs. S: “Yeah, you were supposed to bring that for Jasper too.”
Me: “Do I have enough time to run to the grocery store? “
Mrs. C: “Yes, we’ll be hiding eggs after we do the chocolate fountain.”
A chocolate fountain at a Preschool party.* Let’s just think about all the ways this is wrong. As you can imagine it was a fiasco; hands in the chocolate, pencils in the chocolate. All the while a mom was wailing, “one fork for dipping, one fork for eating!”
But I got to the grocery store, bought 24 eggs, two baskets, a pile of candy and had everything stuffed and turned in within 15 minutes. Yes, I am a wonder. And yes, next time I will read the emails from the teachers and write down the info on my calendar.
On my way out of the school I stopped by the principals office. “Do you think that next year you could have a class for parents who just don’t care? A class where there are no parties?”
I didn’t stick around to see the horrified look on her face.
*I’m not even going to address the over-the-top excess that chocolate fountains at a preschool party signify. What happened to cookies and punch? On one hand there is all this sugar and fancy stuff and on the other hand you have all these parents with their allergy and food dye craziness. Can’t we just all go back and start over with nice, plain, delicious food? Whoa, I’m starting to sound like Jamie Oliver but without the cute lisp and British accent.
Amen sista! I was more into all the class parties when my oldest kids were little. Now they are just one more thing to do. I feel kind of guilty admitting that, but since you paved the way…!
Oh I hear ya! I am SO sick of school parties and random reasons for us as parents to send random stuff to school. This week is Teacher Appreciation at my kids school…seriously there is a list of stuff to bring/wear/do for every single day. Not to mention the $7 for the t-shirt that my 1st grader MUST have for their field trip/zoo day/field day. If he doesn't get one….the estimation jars, mystery bags, and bag books are killing me!
I say we create our own school! ; )
I totally feel for you. It sounds a little ridiculous.
At least preschool makes life exciting.
I remember when I was in grade school and there were only two times a year that you could bring food to a class party, and it could be homemade. When my youngest brother was in grade school all of that was out. They had class activities and you were then required to bring things but it all had to be store bought, and individually wrapped. There was no more homemade treats allowed.
So my kids are not yet in school, but I see all the stuff that everyone else has to do for EACH of their kids and the kids of the classroom, AND teachers, now I am kind of wishing that I had more time before we jump into all of that.
I can hardly believe that the preschool had a chocolate fountain! That is nutty, but on the other hand I am really impressed with your multitasking skills to purchase,stuff, and deliver the needed supplies to the kids in such a timely manner. I don't know how you do it. You must have had a lot of practice.
hahaha that's even funnier hearing it the 2nd time. i'm so sad i had to miss it. ok, i'm not sad at all. 🙂 i can only imagine the look on the principal's face. too bad she didn't go for you idea – i'd totally be in that class with ya.
I feel the same way about school parties. Sometime between my first and my last starting school I just lost interest. Completely.
I have been known to make morning runs to get things I forgot for the kids' classrooms.
Chocolate fountain at a preschool party? That is CRAZY. Our school doesn't allow any food at all to be brought in (which doesn't help my disinterest, I would be willing to donate some cupcakes to the party).
That is just crazy, a chocolate fountain for a preschool Easter party? It's hardly a good idea for elementary or middle school kids…or even adults!
I'd just love to hear the principal relaying your comment to everyone else….I'm sure you completely terrified her!
I chose my kids Charter School because they don't allow treats unless it;s related to the curriculum, just to get out of parties…Is that awful?
I also preface every year with," I don't need to feel need or involved with my kids education. If you genuinely need help, please don't hesitate to call, otherwise let all the Mom's who's ego's are wrapped up in this have their turn.
Is that awful too?
chocolate fountain in preschool? that's just plain crazy.
I don't think preschoolers should have a chocolate fountain in their classroom if I can't have one in my bedroom.
Who is Jamie Oliver??
I was totally with you until I got to the end. I am a parent with “food allergy craziness.” I have an anaphylactic child who could die from eating peanuts. If you think the parents are neurotic, they should be, because kids die from accidental exposure to food allergens, primarily at school, every year. I assume you do not have a child with a food allergy, and I am happy for you because I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. We are diligent, not overprotective. Please consider revising your post to show a little compassion for those who are not as fortunate to have allergy free children as you are. Parents with food allergy children and parents who will only feed their children tofu-based foods are not in the same category.
If there are serious food allergies, I am completely supportive of that. But when I wrote this post there were at least three kids in the class who had never had any allergy testing whatsoever; their parents expected everyone to make food that was egg-free/dairy free/peanut free because maybe the kids were allergic. It’s as if parents are trying to shelter their kids in yet another way. If they’ve been tested I have no problem; it’s the parents who jump on the allergy bandwagon for little or no reason that completely irk me.
Sorry for sounding insensitive. I’m glad allergies are not something our family has to deal with. But I’m starting to think that maybe we need to start providing doctors notes to separate people with serious allergies like your child from the people who merely think that gluten free is cool.