ending the day with mel-o-drama

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Yesterday proved a theory I had long suspected to be true.

I’m the worst mother ever.

Yes, dear blog readers, it’s true. I simply suck at the motherhood thing. I don’t even think I get an A for effort.

My #2 son (#2 in birth order not in preference) wanted to participate in the reading fair. He finished reading Eldest (which is an 8th GRADE level book and only about 1 million pages long). #2 was quite proud, seeing as how he is only 8 YEARS old. (as he should be)

So, as usual with the Francis Family, we waited til the last minute to do our readng board. He and I worked on it together, me all the time thinking “I’m the best mother ever.” The board looked fantastic. He was so proud.

The next morning, I send him off to school and let him know that I will bring the board up after school for set up (as the instructions read) Again, I’m thinking, “Wow. He’s so lucky to have me as a mom.”

Fast forward two hours. I call the school.

School: Best school ever, may I help you?

Me: This is #2’s mom (in birth order, not preference) and I’d like to know if I can come by at lunch to set up his reading fair project.

School: Um, Ms. Worst Mom in the World, set up was yesterday. The judging has already been completed.

Me: @#$!

School: Poor #2 son, (obviously in preference and birth order). You are the worst mom ever.

I dread the rest of the day. I dread the phone call I know I’m gonna get that afternoon.

Sure enough the phone call comes.

#1 son (in birth order not in preference): Mom, he’s in his room crying.

Me: (sound of heart shattering echos through the building) Crying or pouting?

#1 son (in birth order not in preference): Heaving.

Me: @#$! I’ll be right home.

I call my friend Andrea on the way home near tears myself. Nobody wants to let your child down that way…and I felt like I had just crushed him. I had come up with some good ideas on how to make it all better. (most of them had to do with groveling and bribery) I had already decided that we would just save his most excellent poster for next year’s fair. Andrea said I should tell him that we weren’t a day late, we were 364 days early.

I got home, and hugged my boy tight and said those exact words. He started laughing and said that was a good idea. Then he asked if I could take him to eat cheese dip.

Cheese dip makes everyone feel better. Even the worst mom in the world.

12 thoughts on “ending the day with mel-o-drama”

  1. Aww…Aww…

    You know, anyone who’s a parent has “slipped up” that way, so don’t beat yourself up. Someday, you’ll both laugh about it (after you’ve written the check for his therapy). JUST KIDDING.

    I’ve done similar things, and like you, I’ve found that bribery and humor are great healing tools. 🙂

    Give yourself lots of points for all the work you did to help him.

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  3. Oh no! Sorry, sweetie!

    But seriously, everyone screws up. And cheese is WONDERFUL…it makes everything feel better. (We’re going out to Melting Pot tonight, in fact.)

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  4. Awwww..I can’t stand things like that. Connor could care less, Casey will be the one in therapy for this if it happens to her. That was a good solution to the problem. I’ll put that in my memory bank in case.

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  6. I think cheese dip could probably cure pretty much whatever ails you.

    I don’t think you’re a bad mom! How were you supposed to know you were a day late? Don’t stress. These things happen.

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  7. Ah Mel, I feel your pain. Nothing’s worse than mommy guilt. Sounds like your little guy is great if he happily went with your positive spin on the situation. Say, what’s cheese dip anyway? Sounds delicious. Is it anything like fondue? I can eat a vat of that stuff. If not fondue, please share the recipe.

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  8. oh well at least he’ll have something to share in his later years with his therapist. Being a ‘good mother’ sucks.
    (from the mother who forgot to go and hear son #1 give ‘the winning speech’ on antidrugs day- who was kind of ‘there’ but sitting in the car park writing!!!!)
    you are a great mum-the cheese dip answer proves you know your kid

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  10. Oh, you poor thing! I’m sorry. But really, Ellen’s right. Every mom screws up, and the fact that he laughed about it with you just shows what a great kid you’ve got there!

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  12. Aww, big hugs, Mel! We’ve all done it and I’m sure we’ll all do it again. Sounds like he recovered well, though. 🙂
    Shannon

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