The Cool Kids
Claire has apparently turned into a teenager, at least emotionally speaking. While dropping her off at preschool this morning, a bunch of her little friends showed up in the coat room while Claire was getting ready for class. Normally, Claire likes to stand and watch her classmates remove their coats, hats, mittens and boots before she ever gets around to doing the same. Seriously - usually three or four kids come and go before Claire's ready to head to class. Lucky for me, Starbucks employees aren't expecting me to arrive at a specific time each morning, so it's okay if I show up a little late to purchase my venti iced-mocha. Anyway...
Today, since she had about a two-minute head start before her pals showed up, Claire was ready to head to her casa at the same time as her friends (classrooms are called "casas" at JMS). I typically escort her down the short hallway to her casa where she gives me a brief hug and sometimes a wave before entering to greet her teachers, Ms. Maria and Ms. Lisa. But today her friends, Addison and Salil - who are buds that go WAY back to early 2009 - were holding hands in the hallway waiting for Claire and talking about Family Funfest (a fundraiser for Claire's school we're attending Saturday afternoon). So as soon as Claire joined them in the hallway, the three ran off to their casa. Claire didn't even stop to wave let alone give me a hug. She just ran off with her friends as if I wasn't even there. That's when Harry Chapin's "Cat's in the Cradle" started playing in my head. And while fighting back my tears, I made the long trudge up the stairs, out the door and back to my vehicle.
I leave to go pick up Claire in about 10 minutes, and I'm wondering which little girl shows up. I want my little 3-1/2 yr old girl back... the little girl who doesn't choose her cool little friends over me... the little girl who's proud of me and tells me stuff like, "You're a good cooker, Papa!" I might be 41 yrs old, but I'm still a cool kid. Right? On second thought, don't answer that...
Today, since she had about a two-minute head start before her pals showed up, Claire was ready to head to her casa at the same time as her friends (classrooms are called "casas" at JMS). I typically escort her down the short hallway to her casa where she gives me a brief hug and sometimes a wave before entering to greet her teachers, Ms. Maria and Ms. Lisa. But today her friends, Addison and Salil - who are buds that go WAY back to early 2009 - were holding hands in the hallway waiting for Claire and talking about Family Funfest (a fundraiser for Claire's school we're attending Saturday afternoon). So as soon as Claire joined them in the hallway, the three ran off to their casa. Claire didn't even stop to wave let alone give me a hug. She just ran off with her friends as if I wasn't even there. That's when Harry Chapin's "Cat's in the Cradle" started playing in my head. And while fighting back my tears, I made the long trudge up the stairs, out the door and back to my vehicle.
I leave to go pick up Claire in about 10 minutes, and I'm wondering which little girl shows up. I want my little 3-1/2 yr old girl back... the little girl who doesn't choose her cool little friends over me... the little girl who's proud of me and tells me stuff like, "You're a good cooker, Papa!" I might be 41 yrs old, but I'm still a cool kid. Right? On second thought, don't answer that...
1 comments:
Ahhhh...she's all growed up!!! sniff, sniff.... It'll be ok.
Michelle
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