*Last month I had the epic realization that I need to take a few most of the things off my to-do list, and one of the ways I’m saving time and sanity is by re-sharing some of my favorite older posts. So today I’m reposting something I wrote at the beginning of the school year- BUT WAIT! There’s a special “Poodle Skirt Update” at the end of the post, so even if you read this one nine months ago, you totally want to read it again to see how it ends.
When I originally wrote this, I was reflecting on how awkward I feel as the mother of a second grader- I just don’t feel like I “fit in” with the other school moms. Nothing brought out my feelings of ineptitude quite like last year’s sock hop-the epitome of Mom-Fails. I am chagrined to say that although we sort of learned from our last-minute mistake after the 1st grade sock hop, we still had an 11th hour Wardrobe 911- literally the night before the big event on Tuesday. As a teaser, let me just say, The best decision I ever made was to marry a man who possesses the exact opposite skills that I possess. Wait until you see how he came through for me this week:
My Awkward Return to School
OK, fine, so I’m not actually the one returning to school in my family. My daughter, who turns seven in two weeks, is starting second grade on Monday. Like many other parents, I feel that strange mix of bewilderment that summer is nearly over, a twinge of sadness, and more than a tiny wave of euphoria. I am beyond ready for my daughter to be back in school.
But this means that I need to be prepared to morph back into School-Mom-Me. I’ll be honest- I haven’t exactly found my footing as the mother of an elementary school student. We are very happy with our daughter’s school; they have an excellent academic reputation and a highly involved group of parents. Which is where my extreme awkwardness comes into play- I sort of feel like I am in seventh grade whenever I set foot on the property.
I attended my first ever PTA meeting last year, and the experience unleashed a flood of of discomfort and insecurity within me. I am not a Room Mother, nor will I ever be. I do not prepare homemade snacks for school parties in the shape of caterpillars and ladybugs. I do not volunteer in the classroom, and I have never been on a field trip. I also don’t have long, flowing hair and designer clothes, like many of the hip mamas who arrive early for school pick-up. Much of this has to do with my status as a part-time working mom. (Except the hair and fashion part- I have no excuse for that.) I teach music classes every morning of the week, which is precisely the time of day when volunteers are needed, class parties happen, and field trips occur.
When the PTA volunteer signup was sent home the first week of the school year, I made sure to sign up for a few tasks that I thought would work well with my particular skill set. Also, I didn’t want to be known as a complete slacker. I signed up to do the yearbook page for my daughter’s classroom, due to my enjoyment of photography and love affair with my fancy camera. While it was much harder than it looked, I learned a lot about digital design and was pleased with my work.
I signed up to help with the talent show, because of my musical background. I figured maybe I could help with auditions or rehearsals, but instead they had me scheduled on show night to sign people in and hand out programs. As it turns out, you only volunteer for the talent show if your kid is going to be in it. Duh. The other parents kept politely asking, “Which one is your kid?” “Oh, none,” I replied lamely. “I just signed up to help.” Another volunteer fail. I also signed up for PTA Reflections, a contest that includes writing and music- perfect, right? (Oh, and ahem, I totally won that contest with a short story when I was in high school. Just sayin’.) They never even contacted me.
I feel like a bit of an imposter whenever I cross over into the parking lot, to be quite frank. Maybe this has less to do with the school, and more to do with the fact that I just feel like I am faking my way through motherhood, not to mention adulthood. I still eagerly await the day when I will feel like a Real Grown-Up. But I do have a hard time interpreting the secret code of elementary school. It has always been hard for me to tell what is a big deal and what isn’t. For example- is it important that my daughter wear red on School Spirit day, or is that sooo kindergarten-ish? Will she be the only one not wearing a Broncos jersey on game day? Does she care? Do all parents take off work to come to the class parties and performances?
The one event that completely blindsided me last year was the sock hop. Parents received a handout informing us of the big event, and letting us know that the kids may choose to wear poodle skirts or T-shirts and rolled up jeans, and parents were welcome to attend. Poodle skirts, I scoffed. Who the hell has a poodle skirt? As it turns out, every single girl in the first grade, minus three kids, had a poodle skirt. Izzy was the only one in her class wearing rolled up jeans at the sock hop. I was able to witness this, as this beloved school event was one of the few activities that occurred in the afternoon, when I wasn’t teaching.
But let me back up a bit. Prior to our discovery that Izzy was one of three non-poodle-skirt-wearing first graders, we’d had a discussion about the sock hop attire. Izzy didn’t seem concerned about her lack of poodle skirt. Until two days before the event. At which point she went completely ballistic. My hapless husband spent several hours the evening before the dance driving around to local stores and making phone calls. Meanwhile, I paced the kitchen, wrung my hands, and snapped, “We should have taken care of this weeks ago! What’s wrong with us?” When I finally told Izzy it was a no-go, shit hit the fan.
I am grateful to admit that I no longer recall the exact words that were exchanged in that moment, but I do remember this: it was ugly. It ended with each of us crying in our bedrooms after a vicious shouting match, likely consisting of me throwing out my standard, “Mommy is doing the best she can!” and “There’s nothing we can do about it now- move on!” and “For crying out loud, you have got to stop freaking out and calm down?!?!” (shouted at an ironic decibel and pitch)
I felt like the worst mother ever: I had let my daughter down, and I had failed to infer the importance of wearing a poodle skirt to the sock hop. Once again, I didn’t speak the right language. I had allowed my child, my child, to be subjected to ridicule and identified as an outsider. I was devastated. In fact, I was so humiliated by my failure that I called my husband in tears the morning of the dance, and begged him to come to the sock hop with me so I wouldn’t have to stand alone when pointing out my jeans-clad daughter to the inquiring mom next to me. To his eternal credit, he came along and stood by my side.
And you know what? Izzy didn’t care one bit that everybody else had a poodle skirt. She danced her heart out, completely oblivious to her nonconformist party attire. I was the only one who cared. I was the only one who felt uncomfortable.
As a sidenote, my mother, from whom I have inherited my tendency to overreact and worry about things (bless her) immediately called her seamstress sister after the sock hop debacle, who had a custom-made poodle skirt ready for the second grade sock-hop within weeks. Thanks to the expandable waistline, we should be all set for poodle skirts for the rest of Izzy’s elementary school sock-hop career. At least I can cross that potential failure off my list of worries.
Aunt Jane’s handiwork. Better her than me.
In the meantime, I’m going to try to savor the remaining days of summer, and remember how much we all enjoyed our respite from the school bus, homework, spelling tests, and stressing out over the school wardrobe. I’ve got to get my act together in preparation for the upcoming school year. Who knows what programs, parties, field trips, and secret handshakes will be part of the second grade culture? Here is my vow: I will try to keep things in perspective, get involved when it is appropriate, and forgive myself for not being able to be the perfect Room Mother. I will try to be more comfortable in my own skin- after all, isn’t that what I’m trying to teach my second grader?
It was a good summer.
Second Grade Sock Hop Update
So. As mentioned, my uber-talented Aunt Jane came through for us last year, providing the poodle skirt that would serve for the upcoming 5 sock hops mere weeks after last year’s debacle. We hung it in the laundry room to prevent it from being tampered with, and in the weeks leading up to the sock hop, repeatedly commented that we’d need to have Izzy try it on so we could adjust the waistband. (Aunt Jane made it large enough to last through 6th grade, and the elastic waistband enabled us to cinch it to accommodate her teeny seven-year-old waist.)
When do you think we decided to do this fitting? That’s right- the freaking night before the event. Have I mentioned yet that I suck at sewing, crafts, and couldn’t sew on a button if my life depended on it? I located the safety pin in the elastic, took it out, and attempted to cinch the elastic band tighter and repin it. Instead, I somehow managed to pull the entire goddamn elastic out of the waist.
Clumsily I tried to stuff it back in, but it was clear I was getting nowhere. Feeling my temperature rise and my heart begin to pound, I shooed my children out of my way and raced downstairs. My husband was on the phone with this dad, so instead I panicked and texted/called my two seamstress-y friends. One of them assured me that she could help fix it when she returned home in an hour. I calmed down, but felt irritated with myself that instead of lounging on the couch I’d have to get dressed again to go fix the stupid skirt. “Maybe the husband can help me when he gets off the phone, but pfft, like he can do anything about it!” I scoffed to my girlfriend.
I think you can see where I’m headed with this. Not only did my husband’s blood pressure remain stable, (unlike mine) he headed out to the garage and returned with a wire cutter, a coat hanger, some other unidentifiable (by me) tool, and some tape. That’s right- he MacGyver’d the damn elastic waistband back in and saved the day.
MacGyver meets the Poodle Skirt.
Needless to say, I felt a bit sheepish at having dismissed his elastic-repair prowess as being even lower than mine. Clearly, I’d underestimated him. So, hubby, this is for you: Thank you for being calm in a crisis, being level-headed enough to problem solve, and being handier, craftier, and more reliable than anyone I’ve ever met. You were a great choice.
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This post is part of Finish the Sentence Friday.
This week’s sentence was, “The best decision I ever made was…
Next week’s sentence is,”I have absolutely no interest in…”
Your hosts:
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Janine at Janine’s Confessions of a Mommyaholic
Kristi at Finding Ninee
Kate at Can I Get Another Bottle of Whine?
Link up with us below, and share your favorite posts with #FTSF!
Ladies and Gentlemen, Stephanie will now read her piece for LTYM 2014. 🙂
Aw, shucks. Hey, are we even allowed to do that? I think our fifteen minutes of fame hath already come and gone. 🙁
You’ve ver nicely summed up all of my fears about our first forays in the elementary school world next week as our oldest starts Kindergarten. :::cries:::
We can commiserate on Saturday when I see you! 😀
Oh you are such a good mother and seriously I don’t know where I would even begin to look for a poodle skirt and didn’t even think they made them anymore. But having read and know you for time now you seriously do only the best you can do and love you for it. Also so glad it was a good summer and still can’t believe how big Izzy is getting!! Here is to a great year in the second grade for her 🙂
Thanks Janine! You always make me feel better!
When mine first started elementary school, it took me a while to find my footing as well. Over the years, think I have happily landed somewhere in the middle of slacker mom and crazy overachiever mom. Now that I have kind of found my niche, my oldest is heading to middle school and I have to start all over again!
Oh, by the way – maybe this will make you feel better. Last year, when the 3rd-5th grades were doing a musical performance at one of the evening PTA meetings – a performance in which my oldest should have been wearing a poodle skirt – know where she was????? At home with my in-laws because hubby and I were IN PARIS!! I almost felt guilty that she missed it, but not really. 🙂
HA! That does make me feel a little better, Lisa… 🙂 Thanks for that!
Oh, man. I have one more year to go before school. I’d been freaking out about the other kids this whole time; I never even thought about the other parents! I can’t stand other parents!
Heh heh… yeah… I hear you. Good luck with that…
Oh, I’d be reacting the same way. I’d be in tears. I’m so uncomfortable with appearing like an outcast or being on the outside, just not fitting in that I’ve had several situations where I’ve gone home crying. It’s kind of funny in a sad way that I felt like a loser at a party and then feel like a loser for revealing that I felt like a loser.
Au contraire- you are a WINNER for revealing that you felt like a loser. That always makes me like people more, personally…
I’m so glad you’re back. I missed you. And honestly, this post has me crying. I’m not talking about tiny little sniff and watering up. I’m talking streaming down my face. I think it’s that I relate so well to your feelings of inadequacy when it comes to the other moms at school. For me, I feel so out of place because I’m so freaking OLD. Then when it comes to volunteering, I actually did volunteer for Tucker’s class this past year but it turns out – they don’t really want the parents there much due to the nature of the class. Oh and on the day of the school party? I brought store-bought cupcakes. Because I’ve never made real cupcakes in my life. Seriously.
Izzy rocked the rolled-up jeans by the way. You’re awesome. I’m so glad you had an excellent summer. Also, when’s Izzy’s birthday? Mine’s the 22nd. How cool would it be if we shared that day?
That makes me feel so much better, for real. I’m sorry you are crying, but I am so glad I’m not the only one who feels consumed by feelings of insecurity. I love your comments. And Izzy is the 25th. Are you a Virgo, too?
Our PTA is an odd thing- it’s like the same small group of people do everything and if you are one of the ones who can only help with a few of the events, they look at you like you have 12 heads or something.
I know there are perfectly wonderful and warm ladies on the PTA, and I’m sure they would be surprised to hear that they are intimidating… but there are also some seriously clique-y people, right?
Stephanie! Second grade was MY grade! I’ve never read a mom’s perspective on it. I loved this and it scared me a little for our family’s future. I hope you have a great start to the year and I’ll let you in on a teeny secret- in my neck of the woods, spirit days (wear red on Friday…) were a thing between principal and teacher. If everyone in my class wore red then I didn’t get the stink eye because I was participating in a school thing- if a kid didn’t wear red or whatever it was, I thought nothing about the parent because, clearly, spirit days get old fast. Those principals. 🙂
That is so interesting, Jean! I always love it when I get a teacher’s perspective on my school-related posts! And hey, thanks for the insider tip! 😉 You are awesome…
OMG! This is so going to be me in a few short years. I would have no idea where to get a poodle skirt. Plus, I would resent having to find a poodle skirt. I am not looking forward to things like this, because I am doomed to failure. Doomed. It’s so funny. I haven’t even gotten to this period in my life, but your post made me feel like I was right there! Damn you! 😉
Ugh, I always hate giving people a preview of crap they haven’t gotten to yet. 🙁 May the poodle-skirt force be with you! If all else fails, shoot me an email in five years and I’ll get Aunt Jane on the job for you!
Oh Stephanie… The mere fact that you worry and ponder about this is clear evidence that you are not a “mom-fail.” I love your line about feeling like an impostor, as if everyone else has it figured out. It reminds me a bit of how I felt starting high school, when the seniors seemed SO COOL and had it ALL FIGURED OUT. And then when I became a senior I realized I didn’t have it figured out and that those cool big seniors just put on a good act…. I try to remind myself of that when I feel intimidated by the parents who just seem to KNOW the system and what’s important in school…. They maybe feel like an impostor, too. (right? please say right!)
And I’m with you on the poodle skirts — my daughter’s school does a 50’s celebration on the 50th day of school, and we got the same note. Really? poodle skirts? My daughter did not wear one, either, if that’s any consolation.
Here’s hoping we’ll be real grownups soon 🙂
I know you are totally right about the perspective. I am sure even perfect-looking celebrity moms have their hangups, right? But it does feel good to get it off my chest! I think many of us have that fake-grown-up thing going on. I guess if we all stand up and shout, “I feel like an imposter!” maybe the feeling will go away. (P.S. Why does spellcheck not acknowledge the word imposter? Hmmm…)
Oh this will totally be me in a couple of years. I already feel like an outsider with the preschool mom crowd (I am one of the few working moms, and possibly the only full-time worker), feeling all disheveled and stressed as I rush to drop off my son and they hang around the parking lot until it’s time for them to go for coffee or a walk together. Also: I totally feel like I am faking this adult and mom thing. Does anyone actually know what they’re doing? And finally, Go Broncos! 🙂
I am thinking that perhaps you are right- nobody feels like they have this thing down. I always feel like my own mom MUST have felt like a pro, but maybe she has forgotten that she felt these same feelings of inadequacy and faking it… Thanks for reading and commenting!
When Lucy was in JK she was one of only 5 JK girls that didn’t have a cheerleading outfit to wear on school spirit day. I honestly couldn’t believe that people would spend $50 on the uniform to wear for ONE DAY…but they did. Lesson learned. I will say that I was WAY more upset about it than she was.
I don’t look much like the highly coiffed and fashionable moms in our carpool lines or back to school meetings. But I’m old and don’t care. It works for me.
But I can’t WAIT for school to start next week so we can get back to our routines. CANNOT WAIT!! —Lisa
Oh I know, me too! The stress is a small price to pay- BRING ON SCHOOL! And thanks for sharing your perspective- I always appreciate it!
Oh, my gosh, I loved it!!! I’m going to send this to Aunt Jane, who will circle the OK Corrall and call it “all good.”
Thanks Mom! Hope she likes it, too!
The others have really said it already, but I’ll say it again. Underneath whatever exterior we present to the world, we are all dealing with the same issues: fear of not being good enough, fear of not fitting in, feeling different. It’s my sense that this is just part of the human condition, though sometimes we feel it more than other times.
I worked for a while on a helpline for parents, and somehow that also led to other people talking about things with me – my conclusion: every parent worries that they aren’t doing a good enough job. One friend of mine, who sadly is no longer alive, had very bright kids and seemed proud of this, so I took her to be a confident parent. Once my younger daughter was upset that she hadn’t done as well in a test as my friend’s son, even though he was younger. When we were talking about this, my friend said, “Yes, but she’s so good at making friends, and that’s probably the most useful skill of all.” You can probably guess that this friend didn’t find it easy to chat to just anyone – and so she saw herself as lacking there.
You write about thinking your mom felt like a pro but that maybe she didn’t. I’d guess you are correct! I used to think that my parents thought they’d got it right, but as we’ve all got older, I’ve learned that this is far from the truth. In fact, my father is nearing the end of his life, and still worrying about things he did “wrong.” I’ve been saying much the same to him I’ll say here: it’s so easy for us all to focus on what we don’t do well, and yet there are 1000s of things we do well every day. Any little thing you don’t get “right” is far outweighed by all the kindness and love you give out. (And even though I don’t know you very well, it’s obvious from your blog that you do give out love and kindness.)
Wow, Yvonne, thank you so much for such a thoughtful comment. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate that! I really do agree with you about how we all have similar insecurities underneath the surface- hard to remember sometimes!
Man, I totally don’t feel like a grown-up. I was at a wake last night with my sister and we looked around realizing all of these “ladies” were our age. I was wearing Tom’s and dark jeans… these ladies had on these little skirt suit thingies. And make-up, that will never be me. Never.
And the meltdown…well, things happen. I dragged my son 10 feet at the zoo today.
See, that last line? I always feel so much better when I read stuff like that…
Totally! My husband and I always joke that we are just playing house and are pretending to be real grown ups. Dylan hasn’t even started school yet but I already missed bus orientation and cried for an hour because I assumed he was already behind. Parent fail! I don’t know what language everyone else is speaking but I am speaking yours – loved this.
I love that you cried over missing bus orientation- I would have totally done that, too. And thanks for the “speaking your language comment”- much appreciated! 🙂
My son started nursery school last year and I was super surprised to learn all of this shizz starts that early. Sign up for holiday party. Volunteer to be a classroom parent. Can I chaperon the older kids’ field trips? It’s like if you don’t work a full-time 80-hour week, no one believes that you truly don’t have the time. And try explaining to the other parents that you teach online. Yoi.
Preach it! I totally agree. It started much earlier than I thought it would!
This made me chuckle….since I am reading it from both perspectives: Mommy who often feels like I’m faking it and not really a grown-up anyways AND actual real-live elementary school teacher.
Although I can totally relate to the feeling inadequate part (every single time I went to one of my sons’ preschool events, I felt completely out of place….was I really the ONLY working mother who didn’t bake cupcakes with perfect decorations on top?!?), I was actually surprised by the elementary school mom part, and honestly, it made me realize that maybe parents of my students could use some more explicit guidance on occasion (as in: sending a letter home that tells them how important the class play is and to definitely try to make it to that one, but implying that the mid-semester awards are a school-required formality and take all of 10 minutes, so just save your time and come to the end of school big awards if it’s tough for you to get out of work).
As for the whole sock hop debacle…yeah, it’s usually US who care about most of that stuff. I am still beating myself up for missing my son’s preschool mommy breakfast….he, on the other hand, didn’t even notice.
I always love reading comments from moms who are also teachers! Such an interesting perspective- thank you so much for sharing! I agree that parents may benefit from having some things spelled out for them!
This was precious! When my oldest started out – I tried to do it all – volunteer/PTA/Poodle skirts. Guess what? He’s 13 (and never wore skirt, btw) and remembers nothing of what I did! Number four is in kindergarten – and I am blissfully unaware of the PTA’s calendar! He’s just happy when I show up as mystery reader.
I married a MacGyver, too – and he has saved my A** more times than I care to admit!
Ha! I’m so glad to hear I’m not alone, Allie! 🙂 It sounds like you have great perspective on things now- I hope I keep learning!
Oh wow, what a story! I guess I have all of this to look forward to when my daughter gets to that age! I’d never even heard of a poddle skirt or a sock hop before though … I guess they haven’t arrived yet Down Under 🙂 I totally sympathise with not being crafty or able to sew … i would have done exactly the same thing and pulled the entire elastic out of the waistband! But good on Izzie for not caring that she was the only one without a poodle skirt – what a cool kid! I sympathise about not feeling like you fit in with the other school mums. When I first became a mum, that was the least of my worries and the very last thing on my mind. I never realised how much of a big deal it would become! I feel obliged to make friends with my son’s friends mums so that he won’t be left out of parties. It hasn’t helped that we’ve moved house and schools umpteen times though! Love the detail on the skirt though … that must have taken hours to make!
I bet it didn’t take Aunt Jane as long as it looks- she is such a pro! And consider yourself lucky for having missed out on the poodle skirt/sock hop phenomenon. You aren’t missing out at all! 🙂 🙂
Ummm ok, I need this poodle skirt. I don’t even care if I don’t have anywhere to wear it, I just need it. Maybe just to wear it while cleaning the house…such talented work! The detail! I went through a poodle skirt obsession many moons ago… I love the picture with the girls, “Poodle Skirt” and “Not a poodle skirt” lol.
Just for the record, school moms are overrated…I don’t fit in with the preschool moms either and I think it’s because I’m way cooler than they are. Take my advice, as long as your kid is happy and growing up a great person, screw the rest.
You are so right, my friend. And yes, it’s one hell of a poodle skirt!
that is one AWESOME poodle skirt! I worry about being an outsider when my son leaves daycare and goes to public school. I work fulltime and know most of the moms in town don’t. Then on the other hand I am so glad I don’t have to deal with them.
I fear all the future shouting matches and school related freakouts Dino and I will have.
I’m with you- I’m sure I have many more episodes to come in the next 15 years! 😉
Your husband rocks. And I’m the last day of Leo. Seriously he ROCKS. And I’m still inadequate as a parent, waiting for the day I’ll feel like a real grownup.
You and me both, sister.
Your husband is 100% amazing!!! Also… The poodle skirt thing!? Good god. The more I read about school age kids the better home schooling looks! Kidding. Sort of.
I hear you. That would be one of the biggest perks, in my opinion….
I’m pretty sure I won’t fit in with those PTA moms. I’m not trying to have a defeatist attitude, I’m just saying I’m definitely not one to make cutesy snacks for my son or anything like that. I can’t believe kids were mean to your daughter just because she didn’t have a poodle skirt. So silly. I’m glad your husband literally stood by you & I do love her skirt too.
You are NOT alone, my friend. Read this post: http://www.perfectionpending.net/2013/02/27/rule-following-mamas-raise-your-hand/
We don’t own a poodle skirt either. Those kinds of things drive me crazy. And, I am so uptight about fitting in myself, that I frequently project that onto the things my kids do. I am always out of the loop with what is going on at school, and am frequently throwing things together last minute. Sigh. I have a feeling there is a whole secret group of women that are like us that never go up to the school and also throw crap together at the last minute. I should try to find out who they are and start a support group. 🙂
And, your husband is awesome. Mine is totally calm under pressure (I totally think he should have done emergency medicine) and that is amazing that he came through for you! Loved this post because it was all new to me.
This was awesome! Yay Aunt Jane and your husband.
By the way, I was a room mother when my oldest was in Kindergarten. Have NOT made that mistake again and never will. I’m happy to volunteer here and there–but room mom? No. Not for me. It’s way too hardcore at our school.
I like your line “failed to infer the importance of….”. It was funny, but also true in its own way. I am often guilty of not valuing others’ needs when I myself find them silly. Which, as the cynical person I am, is often. And, also… AWESOME poodle skirt! Wish I were talented in that regard in any way shape or form, but… nope. Well… no, still no.
My son is grown now and lived past all my less than perfect mother blunders throughout his school career. I remember feeling just the same way you do. All your daughter will remember is how much you love her and how much fun you have together. Bravo for hubby! He has some truly valuable skills. 🙂
LOVE the update on the poodle skirt! Dang Mom… You are an overachiever there!!
Totally with you on the lack of sewing skills front. Case in point: It’s the end of grade one and my daughter has to appear at the last Brownie meeting (taking place THE NEXT DAY) with her badge bedecked sash. You know that sash they wear that has all the earned badges lovingly sewn on? Not one badge is sewn on yet. In my defense the leaders left the badges to the last minute so it’s not like I’ve had the entire year to do this. BUT. Like you I can’t sew to save myself. When I was 12 my grandmother asked me to help her sew her stockings garter (yes! true!). My part of the job was to sew one end of elastic to the other end. Her comments five minutes in? “Don’t worry Kelly. You have other skills.”
OK fast forward to the Brownie Badges. With a hearty “I can do this. I can.” mentality I sat down in my fave chair and went to it. After two hours I managed to sew on all 12. It was hell but I did it. No they weren’t evenly spaced and yes the stitches were loopy and uneven but I did it. I was so proud. Then I stood up. Horrors. I’d somehow managed to also sew my jeans to the sash. In several places.
I felt the same way when I would go to PTA meetings, not to mention the craziness that the private nursery school our first son went to. Beautiful women, perfectly dressed. I did my best to keep up, and then I just embraced my Pinterest Fail self! The problem is, my mother was president of the PTA and my sister is now one of the perfect PTA moms whose kids always have the perfect costume, and she brings in the cupcakes like flowers, or tree frogs, or anything else a class could need. I could feel sorry for myself and stress out, but I have learned to fall back on one of my true talents, getting the right person to help me. Aunt Sandi and grandma have made sure my kids always have the right costume and the right cupcakes!! I love that your husband fixed her skirt, and OMG, she looked adorable!!!!
How I loved the “addendum.” Shawn has read it, hasn’t he? I’m going to make sure Aunt Jane did too.
I love this post! I remember it from this fall!
WOW that poodle skirt is GLORIOUS!!! I am so impressed!! Husbands that can keep their cool and MacGyver their way through a sewing emergency are worth their weight in gold! 🙂 –Lisa
I think it’s a rule that women like you and me (and I mean that in a loving way, but we both share many of the same personality traits) marry husbands who are the yin to our yang, the calm to our storm, the MacGyver to our whatever-is-the-opposite-of-MacGyver. Clearly you followed that rule!
OMG. This post is about my life. From the constant sense of inadequacy when dealing with parenty stuff to the sense if shame over inability to identify what constitutes a big deal at school and what doesn’t. I would also leave the fitting to the last minute. Oy felt like reading something that didn’t happen to me by sheer mistake. I heart you for beong you and for making me feel better about me.
This is totally my life as well…and may I just point out that the chick in the purple isn’t even wearing a poodle skirt, it’s a tutu!