Mother of the Year

This morning was a normal, rainy, gloomy morning.  Cale's backpack was ready, complete with the checks I stayed up writing and the homework he stayed up late finishing safely tucked in his folder in his backpack.  The kids were eating the breakfast of champions (cereal, milk and a banana) and I even had the neighbor girl's breakfast ready for her.  Her cereal was getting soggy though, I thought as I wondered where she was and why she was so late coming over. I try to call her mom, no answer.  Then Eric says he sees our neighbor Lisa leave, with all her kids. Hmmm, ODD!  So I try to call again, no answer.  I keep on with my morning, calling both of Elizabeth's parents, no answer, before I leave a little bit grouchy message that I was leaving for school.  Jenna and Cale get into the car nicely, and since we had the time, we went in the direction of daycare and not school.
Still normal, we went into Ann's to chat for a few before we headed to school. And here is where my official entry for Mother of the Year begins (sorry Shonda, you have competition for this prestigious award)...
Me:  Cale, time to go. Tell Sissy and Annie bye.
Ann:  Where are you taking Cale?
Me: Umm, to school!
Ann: There's no school today!
Me: What?  (long pause) Ooooohhhhh, there's not school today!  I guess I'm leaving Cale here!
Ann: Well, that's what I was planning on!
Me: Ooooohhhh, that explains why Elizabeth didn't come over!!!


WOW!!!  Now, let me remind you, I am a teacher at heart and have giggled at numerous parents for dropping their kids off on non-school days.  I have been upset and irritable at those who don't read the newsletters and calendars. And today, I was THAT mom!!!!!  Now, let me defend (if that's possible) myself with the following...

• I make the monthly calendar for Cale's classroom. Mrs. H sends me all the dates and I put it together in what I think is a pretty cute format for all the parents to print and oogle over all month long. I DO THAT!  I made a cute little text box inside the April 25th spot that says NO SCHOOL in bright spring colors.  What I am trying to say that I DO read the calendars and the memos and the newsletters, but this may only be implicating me for a crime of stupidity, instead of a defense!!
• One of the checks I stayed up last night writing for school was for the school carnival. It said on there, return by April 25th.  See, they forgot there was no school on April 25th when they made that form!  I am not alone!

I have since communicated with my dear neighbor Lisa, and she has confirmed that Elizabeth will be coming over in the morning, because there is school tomorrow.  I really hope Cale enjoyed his totally bonus day off of school today!!!  Thanks Annie for keeping me straight, and Lisa, just delete those voicemails.