Thinking I would save time and creative thinking skills, I signed up for last Friday, the day after Valentines. There would be sales at the supermarket bakery and I would be able to choose from an assortment of cookies or cupcakes. Yes, I took the easy Special Snack day.
Except..........I forgot. Not just forgot to go and pick up the reduced Valentine snacks. No. I completely forgot.
In fact, I didn't remember until 5 p.m. when I was shutting down my computer at work. My heart fell to my stomach. I opened my calendar on my Palm but I had not set a reminder....... snacks for 21 kids..........
Oh the guilt and shame, and if anyone can heap on the guilt for themsleves, I can. I was just imagining my daughter and her disappointment. She had reminded me all week and I kept telling her not to worry because I had. it. covered.
I started to project the blame, why didn't her teacher call me? why didn't Anna call me? They just had a Valentines day party they didn't need anymore snacks this week. We should have kept our meeting at work instead of taking it to Applebee's then I would have remembered. Aaaggghhhh!
I called my husband who after listening to my sob story replied, "So you are trying to blame her teacher?" I hung up.
On my way to pick up my daughter I had a fabulous idea. I called the church and asked them to send my daughter down to the front desk so I could rush in and pick her up. Part of my shame avoided. (Pathetic, I know. Chicken, oh yea baby)
When I got there I rushed in, all frazzle like, signed her out and grabbed her hand scurrying out the door. Immediately I heard about how I had forgotten special snack, that her teacher asked her when I was coming, that my daughter had asked to call me, that she was told to wait just ten more minutes, that I never showed up, that everyone was mad at her, that.........
It had to stop! I took both her hands in mine, looked right in her eyes and asked her to please forgive me. I was so sorry and that I will try harder next time to keep my commitment. She gave me a hug, put her hand on my cheek and told me it was okay she knows I didn't mean to forget.
I wonder if her teacher and classmates will touch my face and hug me when I have to face them?
I absolutely love the blog and heres the reason. It's real. The best of intentions sometimes fall through the cracks, but I think where we gain our strength is in our ability to deal with a good intention gone bad. You my sister not only did the most absolutely perfect thing I could ever imagine by admitting your mistake and saying I'm sorry,you also raised a pretty fantastic and forgiving daughter. It's easy to see where she gets her goodness.
ReplyDelete-Tree
I am not sure how I got here but being me, I had to comment :)
ReplyDeleteI have done the very same thing. My guilt practically caused a stroke. I went through the same 'they should have reminded me', 'why didn't they send a note home earlier in the week' etc. Then stroke #2 happened when I opened my son's bookbag that night and THERE WAS a note..UGH! I still remember this like it was yesterday and it was at least 10 years ago! I know, I am pathetic.