The Story of the Open House at Our Elementary School

This evening we attended the open house at our elementary school, a time when kids get to meet their teachers for the first time, and explore their classrooms before school starts the next day.  We bring our school supplies so that they don’t have to be dragged onto the bus early in the morning, and spend a bit of time playing on the playground and chatting with people we know (which always gives me a fair share of anxiety because I am TERRIBLE at chatting).

YaYa has been looking forward to the open house at school.  She was chomping at the bit to unpack those school supplies out of their packages and into the backpack.  She took time and care to get everything in there exactly like she wanted it.  Even though she is sometimes a messy person (like her parents) she does like to start things out in an orderly fashion with structure.

Mr. SP was NOT looking forward to the open house.  In fact he has spent the last week entirely denying that school will now be starting.  He did everything he could to avoid packing his backpack, washing his face, cleaning his fingernails and changing into a clean t-shirt.  I won’t even tell you about the agonizing experience we had learning to tie shoes.  (I finally resorted to bribing him with a chocolate chip every time he ties his shoe when we are practicing, and that actually works . . . it’s all about motivation, I guess.  It didn’t help that Squirmy was bopping him over the head with a plastic sword while he was trying to concentrate on tying the shoes).  Mr. SP does not relish transitions.  He does not like new experiences.  He does not like surprises, and quite frankly, he does not really like working with other people.  But, I know his teacher and she’s awesome, and I think when he gets settled into his routine he will be just fine.

At the open house, we visited YaYa’s room.  It was a quick and streamlined affair.  We visited Mr. SP’s room and got him settled in.  YaYa was helping at the name tag table, so the rest of us headed over to the playground.  We were fortunate that Dr. Peds had the day off, and was along.  Extra hands are so helpful.  While I was standing next to the playground watching all the happy commotion, Dr. Peds wandered over to the exterior wall of the school , where there was an empty trash bin.  Inside the empty trash bin was one item, a rusty old shovel with a narrow sized spade, and an old broken off jagged handle.  His eyes started to gleam.

Dr. Peds:  Hey!  Do you think they are throwing this great shovel away?

Me:  Uhm.  Probably, dear.

Dr. Peds:  This would make an AWESOME shovel for the kids!  Do you think I can just take it?

Me:  I do not think that is a good idea.

Dr. Peds:  But it’s a great shovel!

Me:  It’s a broken shovel.

Dr. Peds:  But I think I could fix it up.

Me:  Well, you can’t just TAKE it.  Maybe they are going to use it.  Maybe it’s just sitting in the garbage can for storage.

Dr. Peds:  No one stores a shovel in a garbage can.

Me:  Well they might.

Dr. Peds.  I think I’ll just walk it over to the van.

Me:  You can’t do that!  You have to at least ASK someone.  And what are people going to think if you just take that shovel out of the garbage can and walk away with it?  They are really going to have some questions.

Dr. Peds:  Well, who am I going to ask?

Me:  You could introduce yourself to the principal and ask her.

Dr. Peds:  Who is the principal?

Me:  We have a new principal this year.

Dr. Peds:  So, I should just go into her office and say, “Hi, I’m Dr. Mason.  Could I have this broken shovel, if you aren’t going to be using it?”

Me:  I’m sure that would make a terrific impression.  Maybe you could come back after the open house when it’s dark.

Dr. Peds:  And that is going to look so much better, some guy getting out of his car in the dark, and taking a shovel out of the trash can and driving away with it.

My friends, I’m a bit relieved to report that we left the open house without any broken shovels, at least to my knowledge.  Dr. Peds has not yet left the house to check the garbage cans at school this fine evening.  The kidlets are in bed and the morning will dawn nice and early with a flurry of activity and hopefully no missed buses.