The Awesome

This is my handsome child, Milo.  It used to be difficult to get him to not smile adorably every time there was a camera in front of him.  I thought I would have at least a couple sweet little school pictures before he decided that he was too cool to smile.  So I hung onto these pictures so that he could return them on retake day with a big smile on his face.  The portrait company says that if you are unhappy, just return the pictures on retake day.  And if you don’t like the retakes, return those for a refund.  But if you hung onto the pictures and your kid ended up being sick on retake day?  Outta luck.

When I sent the order form for Milo’s pictures, I noticed that there was an option to pay online and then just send the order form with a payment code.  I thought that this was preferable to sending money in an envelope with my six year old.  I had to have been the only parent ever to take advantage of this option, because all parties involved were completely stumped about what to do.  I got a phone call from the school telling me that Milo brought an envelope that was supposed to contain money, but didn’t.  Then I got an email from the company telling me that they didn’t end up receiving the order form.  Nevertheless, Milo came home with his lovely portraits in his backpack.  Today, I got some more portraits in the mail.

I had already decided to just keep the portraits.  At least his nose wasn’t running.  He hadn’t cut his own hair the day before.  Also his mom didn’t fluff his bangs into the fanciest imitation of cauliflower she could.  But I dunno.  Maybe now I can call them up and say, “uh, I just got these terrible pictures in the mail and retake day is already past… So how ’bout my money back?”

Today was an early out day at Milo’s school.  For an afternoon kindergartener, early out means go to school early in order to get out early.  For me, the mom of the afternoon kindergartener, it means having my entire day’s routine completed by the time I normally would be starting.  It’s cool.  I’m just sitting here wondering what to do with myself.  I mean I know things that I could be doing, but hey, writing on my new blog seems kind of not a useless way to spend time.

Our school does not have a PTA, like I always knew schools to have.  They have an HSA, which stands for Home School Association, which makes everyone think Association of People Who School Their Children at Home.  Nope.  Just a PTA by a different name.  The HSA does little class parties and lots of fund raisers to raise funds for their little class parties.  They collect dues from every single parent to pay for their little parties, and if they host a big party, they charge admission.  They ask for volunteers to provide the food for their parties.  I grew up with the perception that the parents who participate in these associations are the hope for America.  These associations are how parents show that they are involved in the education of their children.  Okay.

On early out day the HSA pulls together what they call Bagel Day.  They serve the kids bagels on early out days.  It seems to be a pretty well liked tradition.  A few days before the last early out day, I sent an envelope containing $1.25 to school with Milo so that he could have his bagel too.  I learned last early out day that these bagels are actually not special at all, like you would think they would be for that price.  Today I sent Milo to school with a bagel that I bought myself for $.42.  An Einstein’s bagel, served just the way he likes it.  Plain.  But I could have served it toasted and with jam, if I wanted to.  Yes, I just spent the past two paragraphs ranting about $.83.  Get your hands out of my pockets, HSA!!  I’ll volunteer someday when I have time, if it sounds interesting to me!!