Luckily, I am able to move my schedule around in order to be able to drop-off and pick-up Macy each day. The school district is charges $55 per month/per child. Think how costly this gets for families who have multiple children in school. Therefore, families are going to any length to rearrange schedules, carpool, to invest in the help of family members in order to get their children to and from school each day.
The lines are long, as well as the wait. The first few weeks, I was sitting in lines for 1 hour at drop-off and over 1 hour at pick-up. The wait is getting shorter thanks to the great organization of our elementary school, parents who just refuse to wait, and more kids riding the bus. I am still waiting in lines about 30-40 minutes in the morning, and about 20 minutes in the afternoon.
As I sit there waiting, I see parents doing quite interesting things! Here are some of the things that I have seen in the parking lot over the last 6 weeks.
1. Sleeping- Yes, multiple parents sleep daily. I have often thought about it, but I could just envision myself with my mouth wide open, catching flies, and everyone watching.
2. Reading- This is what I have been doing everyday! I am currently working on a Nicholas Sparks book, and am almost finished. I can't wait to start another new book!
3. Texting- Nowadays you see texting almost everywhere you go. I am just glad I am seeing texting when the cars ARE NOT moving!!!
4. Running- I have seen quite a few parents who wear their running clothes, park their car, and take off for a run! What a great idea! If you are going to waste that much time each day, you might as well workout! Three days a week I have Big Mac with me...I guess I could strap her on my back and head out....okay, maybe not!
5. Dancing- Don't worry, it's not the parents dancing...although the dad who sat next to me last week was jamming to some loud music, and was making it a point to make sure I saw....so weird. There are two girls who get out and dance next to their van daily. They seem to be doing some sort of dance like the cupid shuffle or something. It's pretty entertaining!
6. Extreme Couponing- Yes she was! One mother was standing behind her car with her giant couponing binder. She was cutting and sorting. She spent an entire 40 minutes working on it, and I still don't think she finished!
7. Chatting on the Phone-It's funny to me how people aren't even aware that if they sit with their windows down and I sit with my windows down, I can hear every word they say on the phone, curse words and all!
8. Yelling at Their Kids- I am not kidding! There is a mother that I seem to get by quite frequently. She screams at her kids nonstop. Last week I heard her son make reference to his father, who must not be present in his life often, because Mom made it clear to bash Dad in front of this child, as well as his siblings. It was enough for me to give her death stare!
9. Eating- Parent bring snacks and magazines. Just like my brother used to do in college. I had class with him once in college. He brought donuts and magazines during class each day, while I sat taking notes and paying attention. He got A's, I got C's....go figure!
10. Walking their Dogs- I have seen it on numerous occasions. People unload their dogs, sometimes more than one, and take them for walks in the field next to the parking lot. I think Tucker would enjoy that, if I could only get to ride in the car without shaking, panting, and drooling!
Enjoy your weekend! Last weekend, when we had plans to head to St. Louis, we were stuck home with 2 very sick little girls. Macy was diagnosed with Strep on Monday, and was not improving as the week continued. She was sent home from school on Friday with some respiratory issues, still had a fever, and our doc finally changed her to a second antibiotic on Friday. We finally saw some improvement by Sunday, and as of Wednesday she was pretty much back to normal. McKenna had been struggling from a long-lasting sinus infection that was causing her to vomit. She then spiked a fever on Thursday night. She is too on antibiotics. She too started feeling better on Wednesday. Therefore, we are just praying for healthy girls this weekend so we can get out and enjoy the great Fall weather!!!
