I just dropped off my youngest child for his first day of preschool this year. Last year we pulled him out of a religious school for several reasons, including, well, religion. I wrote about that here: rlsaunders.wordpress.com/2011/12/06/boogers-for-jesus/ I’m sorry I don’t know how to make a prettier link to it like a fancy, serious blogger would.
So this year he’s going to the same charter school that my daughter attends and loves. LOVES.
The little guy is using the same backpack and the same shoes that he used last year (they looked like clown shoes a year ago). Oh, and he’s using the same toilet habits, too. Some of the younger parents were weepy today because they were leaving their babies at school for the first time. Me? I was the oldest parent there, and I’ve done this too many times to even fake sad. The only thing I felt anxious about was the mortifying thought–and genuine possibility–that my son will come out of the preschool bathroom with his pants down and yell, “Teacher! I’m done!” a la “Lucy! I’m home!”
http://www.wavsource.com/snds_2012-08-19_1379303454069823/tv/i_love_lucy/home.wav
This morning when I was going down the list of school day reminders (use your inside voice, be patient, share) we got to DO NOT ask the teacher to wipe your butt. He appeared to give it some serious consideration, then said, “Okay, well…no thank you about that choice.” It was very polite.
Alright, kid, learn the hard way.
Say what you want, or judge silently. I don’t care. I mean, it’s not like we haven’t been working on it. Wipe. Pull up pants. Flush. Wash hands. But a parent’s concern about butt rash too often overtakes a parent’s concern for timely self-reliance in the bathroom. So yeah, I still do an inspection, and sometimes (okay, almost always) I am compelled to pull out the baby wipes and redo his work.
Am I nuts? Am I alone? Be gentle. Because I really am trying, and I’m sensitive.
R.L. SAUNDERS 