Wooden cutout flowers, paint, stick on jewels, pipe cleaner, and a pencil
(plus I used my power drill to make a small hole in the center of the flowers).
Voila!

Well, lots of things.  But today, I’m going to give in and actually tell you by posting a rare rant in my blog.

Bito’s public school and Cupcake’s private preschool are currently running the same fundraiser that all the other schools in the DC Metro area are no doubt running.

I hate that my children are little salespeople that are sent out to raise money for their schools.

And yes, it’s really me that is doing it because I’m not about to let Bito and Cupcake hawk the products of this company, even if their schools will receive 50% of all sales profits.  I’m not about to put the burden of raising money for their schools on their little heads.

I get angry reading the info sheets that come home with thick envelope of the latest fundraiser.  I’m afraid my kid will be the only one who doesn’t sell something and therefore, won’t receive a “prize.”  I don’t want Bito and Cupcake not to get some cheap little toy that everyone else will get because they sold one, ten, a hundred or a zillion items.  I don’t want my child to be sad because they don’t get to attend the Ice Cream Social because they didn’t bring in $xxx amount of orders.

And so I dutifully ask neighbors and family members if they’d be interested in supporting Bito and Cupcake.  I send out emails with the online codes that can be used for out of area friends and family.  I half-heartedly tout the awesomeness of the products in an effort to get some orders.

I don’t like it.  I feel guilted into getting some orders so my kid won’t be sad he/she didn’t get some little toy or a scoop of ice cream.

And while I’m on a rant, let me just say that what really burns is that this fundraising has to be done in the first place, especially in public schools.  This is my children’s education, for crying out loud!  Supposedly it’s an investment for the future of the country, too, right?  Why are the schools forced to to get money in such a fashion?  There is something wrong here!

Sadly, this will be a part of my life for the next twenty-some years as my three children progress through school.  The Husband and I are committed to public education and will do what we need to do.  You’ll probably hear this rant every September from me.

And if you want to order anything…let me know.

Not quite sure how I feel about this because my emotions change on a moment-by-moment basis.  Elated, thrilled, sad, nervous, melancholy, excited…

I am pleased with the school and he has a great teacher.

I am sure he will do great.

Will I?

I’m not sad or anxious in a, “My baby is leaving!” sort of way.  Instead, I am afraid my sweet baby boy’s exquisite self won’t be known.  Yes, I freely admit that as his mother (and the person he has spent the most time with in his entire life!), I think he’s truly awesome.  He’s a complex one, my Bito.  It takes some time getting to know and appreciate him, and that process can be difficult.  But oh, how I love him and want him to be known.

I trust that his teacher, whoever he or she is, will see my child in a different light.  I’ve experienced this when I was a teacher, with my students.  Parents and teachers see the same child with different lenses.  I hope Bito is the one who introduces himself to his teacher–not me.  I know I can talk about my son until I am blue in the face, but I also know Bito’s behavior and personality with others is different than what he is with me…so I hope he “unfolds” himself to his teacher on his own.  I want to be a part of the school/home relationship but not overstep my boundaries by “showcasing” Bito to his teacher.

I wonder if my experience as a teacher will help me nurture a good teacher-parent relationship, or just make me bad at it?  I know it’s a partnership, but it’s my first time being The Parent in this partnership!

I look forward to seeing my son Bito the Student.  I look forward to seeing him from his teacher’s lens.

…

(Am I doing a good job of giving myself a pep talk?  Am I being realistic?  Will I look back on this post in six months and wonder what I was smoking??)