In “celebration” of school starting back up for many of you, here’s a little throw back for ya. Not one of my best moments as a mom, but it sure makes for a great story. Just don’t make this mistake.
(This post was originally published February 27, 2012 and updated In August 2022.)
The school year had just started and still we were having the debate over what the question, “Are you up?” means. Yet as we left the house I was feeling like a rockstar mom. There was no fighting. We had good lunch snacks in the pantry. No one got hurt. No one was crying. No one forgot a science project.
The drive to school even went well. I remember thinking how nice it was to have the kids listen to music without arguing over which song. Dropped them off at school. Fifteen minutes later, my phone rang. It was my daughter.
Alaine needed cookies for a class party – that morning – and had forgotten to tell me. After debating, I decided to teach her responsibility and told her I could not leave work to handle this request. I explained she would have to remember next time and give me more notice. She pretended to understand. I pretended not to feel guilty – all while telling myself I was doing the right thing. And truthfully, the last time I took cookies to school, it didn’t go so well. So I was really doing her a favor.
What happened last time? Oh I’ll tell you.
It started when I ruined a batch of homemade cookies at midnight after arriving home from a business trip. So I decided my friendly grocery store bakery would be my solution. I raced to the grocery store after dropping off the kids. Bought the cookies and a few other things the family needed. My Mother of the Year application was looking pretty good. I dropped the bag of cookies off at the school just in time. Yes they were still in the store-labeled plastic container with price tag and all. But I did it. Another checkmark on my list.
That night I gasped in horror at what I’d done.
I searched the house and the car before realizing I’d left a package of my husband’s razors in the bag – with the store-bought chocolate chip cookies still in a plastic container with the price tag. The road of multitasking had taken an ugly turn. I considered remaining anonymous, but since those razors were expensive, I opted for the opposite and sent out an APB to the school room moms acknowledging my embarrassing oversight. After twenty-four emails, an interview with the principal, a polygraph and a few odd looks, I eventually got the razors back.
So I don’t think anyone wants me to bring cookies to school anymore. Not only did I teach my daughter responsibility, I saved her embarrassment.
Proverbs 31 details the qualities of a virtuous wife and mother. I aspire to be that but verse 15 mentions providing food for her family yet it doesn’t say anything about taking cookies to the school.
She’s up before dawn, preparing breakfast for her family and organizing her day…When she speaks she has something worthwhile to say, and she always says it kindly. She keeps an eye on everyone in her household, and keeps them all busy and productive. Her children respect and bless her; her husband joins in with words of praise: “Many women have done wonderful things, but you’ve outclassed them all!”
Proverbs 31:15 and 25-29 (The Message)
It was always poster boards at my house. The request usually came in about 11:00 pm when one was needed. I salved that problem by laying in a supply of poster boards and put them in the, just in case we need one, spot in the house.