Thursday, April 26, 2012 at 7:38PM Lily after listening to part of the news: "So, there are people who are trying to make it illegal for gay people to get married? Nuns marry the church, are they trying to outlaw them?"
Wednesday, April 25, 2012 at 7:30PM Lily, age 11: "Mom, we had our first Family Life class today... it was deeply disturbing." (Family Life class is 6th grade sex education)
Saturday, April 14, 2012 at 12:59PM 
"Mama, how many white people live in the White House?" (Oh sweet Moses in a tuxedo)
"Meika, do you know what the White House is?"
"Yes, it is where president Obama lives with his family."
"Right, so he lives there with a bunch of other people who help him and have offices there. The White House is called the White House because it is painted white, not because only white people live there."
"Oh good. I am happy about that."
Friday, April 6, 2012 at 10:01PM Arriving home today where my eleven year old was supposed to have ridden the bus home instead of going to the rec center after school, I found that she wasn't there. Annoyed that she would have changed her mind I prepared a lecture on the importance of being where she was suppose to be so that I didn't worry, on the drive over to the rec center.
When I walked in several of the other kids immediately told me that Lily wasn't there, that she had gone on the bus home. "But she ISN"T home! I've already been there, she isn't home!" I had that sinking, alarming fear wash over me that every parent feels when they don't know where their child is. My brain froze. I didn't know what to do. What do I do?! Do I call the police now or should I do something else first?!
As I turned to leave, an employee at the center came out of an office and asked if she could help. Apparently she had seen me through the window between the rooms and immediatly recognized the look on my face. I explained the situation and she told me that Lily was probably still on the bus. (?) Still on the bus. This didn't compute because she should have been home hours ago. "Didn't the schools get out early for Good Friday?" I asked. She told me that no, they were on a regular schedule and being that the kids at the rec center had only just arrived 10 mintes before, Lily was probably still on the bus.
Still on the bus. Relief flooded through me and I thanked her for helping my confused parent brain in straightening it out. The schools usually get out early on Good Friday. The school I work at got out early, so you see why I would just assume. Thank goodness for observant, involved people! I am willing to bet that that lovely woman has no idea what kind of farce she prevented by being watchful and caring enough to get involved so quickly. I will be sure to thank her again on Monday.
I would like to think that I would have thought logically and checked at home again, and looked up the school schedule online, but I might well have just run to the car, grabbed my cell phone and called 911 in a cold panic, which at the very least would have been really, really, (sweet Moses in tap shoes, really), embarassing.
Once home, Lily does in fact arrive on the bus and when I grab her and hold her in a vice grip against me she is totally taken aback. "Mama, stop! What are you doing? I can't breath!" I explain what happened. "And this is why you should always be where you are suppose to be so that I know where you are!"
"But Mom, I WAS where I was suppose to be!"
"Yes, and now you see why that is so important!"
"I know! I WAS doing what I was suppose to be doing!"
"Yes, yes. I know." And I crush her to my chest yet again and kiss her fiercly on the top of her head.
"Mmmmgh! Maaaamaaaa!"
©2012 KKW
