Remember that essay "All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten?" The one by Robert Fulghum that included such gems as: "Say sorry when you hurt somebody," "Don't hit people" and "Flush?"
Don't you wish more people in public toilets would remember that last one?
I started thinking about the piece yesterday when I realized Esme is quickly learning another crucial life lesson in kindergarten: people are complicated, and nothing is really black and white so much as shades of grey.
In case you missed it, she confided to me the other night that an older girl on the bus torments her by making her do things she doesn't want to do. Namely, math problems. On the other hand, the girl (I'm calling her Susie), also lavishes Esme with treats and trinkets.
So, is Susie a bully or a buddy? For Esme, she's a bit of both. But yesterday, she was definitely more angel than antagonist.
Some background: Esme and her classmates get out early on "Wacky Wednesdays." Back in September, when I was still getting used to the schedule, I completely forgot the early dismissal and didn't make it to the bus stop one day to pick up Esme.
Luckily, our neighbor up the street walked Esme home. When the neighbor knocked on the door, I was slack-jawed and stupid. "Wait. What?!" And the girl was all like, "Duh!"
Schooled by a sixth-grader. It feels as bad as it sounds. I vowed never to forget again.
And I didn't. Until yesterday.
But dammit, the school confused me. See, Wacky Wednesdays were suspended during part of February to make up for the snow days. This month, though, they're back on.
Please tell me you're confused too.
I was engrossed in some bit of reading yesterday afternoon when I heard an unfamiliar voice on the porch. A kid's voice. Followed by a knock. I didn't answer immediately because, in truth, I was trying to ignore the person. I thought the Jehovah's Witnesses had returned to bug me. When they knocked on the door an hour earlier, right after I put the youngest three down for nap, they made the dog bark which made Tobias cry which pissed me right the H-E -double hockey sticks off.
So, I thought they were back....
Then I realized the kid was doing an awful lot of talking. "Do you know if there's a key under the mat?" she said. "You have a nice house."
At the same time, I recognized the sound of the bus.
OH FOR THE LOVE OF GOD!
I opened the door and saw Susie -- with her arm around Esme. She walked Esme to the door because our neighbor stayed after school for drama practice.
I thanked Susie profusely before she ran off, bounding back to the bus (which was idling at the corner). God bless the bus driver too who was crossing the street at the time to make sure Esme and Susie were Ok... and that I was home.
I like to call myself "Mother Moron."
Geesh.
I bought a pot of Gerber daisies for the bus driver and wrote a short thank-you note that I'm going to give her at pick up. Which is at 3:27 precisely, thank you very much.
As for Susie, we'll see what shade she was today.