I received an email last week that I’ve been waiting for all year. I knew it was coming, but just didn’t know exactly when. Luckily, I was sitting right in front of my computer when it popped into my inbox. POW! The email! I knew I had to act instantly, respond that very moment. And that’s exactly what I did.
Here’s part of the email:
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Hello all,
I am writing to let you know there is a field trip scheduled…
There are 7 chaperon tickets available. If you can please respond in the affirmative if you would like to go I will set one aside. In the case that more than 7 people respond we will draw them out of a hat.
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Yes, the email from B’s Kindergarten teacher notifying us of the single field trip they will take that year and requesting chaperones. I’ve been down this road before and I know that first to respond gets a seat on the school bus. Usually first 2-3 parents. This is the first year I’ve been able to go on the bus with the kids because in years past I’ve had J at home and couldn’t take him with me. But THIS YEAR it’s open season for chaperoning. B is fully aware that I went on the bus with J’s class already. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not trying to hit up every field trip. Just one each and done. Fair’s fair. And for Kindergarten only having ONE chance, I knew I needed to get it.
I hit send so quickly on my response that gmail literally said I received his email “0 minutes ago.” I’m in. Phew. I didn’t actually read the email closely so I figured first to respond is in. Nope. I re-read. We could draw from a hat? NO!!! I watch the emails come in from parents at rapid fire speed, one after the other, saying they want to go. Yes, yes yes. Everyone wants in. Uh oh.
While I’m watching all the emails flow in, I get a text from another mom:
Mom friend: “Are you going on the field trip? I don’t want to go but I’m afraid J is going to be mad if you go and I don’t. He knows I went on [his younger sister’s]…”
Me: “I really want to go but I’ve been watching parents write all day that they want to go and then he will have to just pull names from a hat. Ugh. So now it will be a lottery so u can always tell J not everyone could go because that’s what going to end up happening.”
Mom friend: “I actually don’t really want to go. I just don’t want my kid to get pissed at me!” Love it.
At pick up, I asked Mr S. “How many want to go?”
“12 so far.” Damn!!!!
Dripping with sarcasm but with a thick layer of dramatic truth, I say, “Ok, so when you go to do the ‘random’ lottery [and I make the bunny ear quotations in the air to drive the point home that he should rig the lottery], just put B’s name right on top so he won’t be heartbroken for the rest of his days.”
He laughs I think with a bit of trepidation. He’s also probably the most honest soul on the planet so my efforts to rig the process in my favor are certainly wasted.
The next day, I get another text from my mom friend: “I actually asked Mr. S to lie and say that my name is in the drawing if J asks. The s**t we do for our kids. Lol.” Ok, I personally love that she did this. A whole new level of respect.
Me: “Omg so funny because I told him to rig the lottery and put B’s name on top so he wouldn’t be heartbroken.”
I enter the gym for Kindergarten pick up and B comes flying over to me and practically knocks me over with excitement, smile ear to ear. Much different reception than I usually get. There’s all this chatter among kids and parents. I’m so confused.
A mom says to me, “You got it!”
“Got what?” I can’t figure out what’s going on because, believe it or not, the field trip wasn’t top of mind.
“The field trip! You got picked!”
“NO WAYYYYYY!!!!!” I lift B into the air to celebrate the big news. I’m still confused though because I refrained from telling B anything about the field trip, lottery, anything, until I knew for sure what I was dealing with. Apparently Mr. S. did a live lottery with the kids that afternoon.
“Mommy, I was so nervous because I was almost the last name picked. I couldn’t wait to tell you!”
Yeessssssss!!!!!!! We got it! Life can go on.
Now I have to go on this damn field trip.
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