June 08, 2004

DOING THE SCHOOL RUN

My very good friend is off the island and she asked me to pick up her kids this week. #1 is at Mona Prep and finishes at 2:00pm, #2 is at St Andrew High and finishes at 2:15pm.

Today was the first day, and I guess it was all about establishing the procedure. I had never been into Mona Prep before, if I have then I don't remember. Luckily it's not a big school. I made sure to wear a red top so I would be easily spottable. Went and twirled around the courtyard for a while. No sign of child #1.

What I do spot are several wee ones, running, oblivious to the fact that I am there. And then the next problem was that they are so far out of my radar, that I actually walked and bumped into one! I held on to her and said sorry a thousand times.

Went upstairs to #1's classroom. She's not there. A braces-filled mouth tells me to go look in the Lunch Room. I do. She's not there. I come back into the courtyard and feel like a lost child about to cry. Nah....there must be a science to this. So I spot a teacher to ask her if there is an intercom or something like that. She said no. I told her who I was looking for, she asked me if I looked in her classroom. Yes, she's not there. Then she walked off!!! I kid you not. The teacher was NOT in the least bit concerned with my plight.

I go to who I should have gone to before....a group of Grade 6 kids.

"Hi, do you know #1?"
"Yes, she's under the tree"
I look, I don't see her. One says "no, not that one, the other one. Oh, look in the lunch room"
"I did that already, she's not there"
"Oh, then she MUST be in the Art room"

Bingo! there she was. Collected her accoutrements, and then we had a chat about the places that she is likely to be, so that tomorrow will be easier. So now I know the rules.

Off we drove to St Andrew, where child #2 was spotted within a couple minutes. I got from her as well the likely places that she might be so tomorrow, if she is not where I found her today, I can find her.

But I must say that I thought the traffic would have been worse. I seemed to have timed it well, so will try and maintain those times for the rest of the week.

I tell you, this having kids thing is not easy at all.....I lift my hat to those who have.

Posted by yamfoot at June 8, 2004 11:27 PM
Comments

Mich, when they are yours you can threaten them with an assing if they are not at a spot you select when you arrive... ask the Doc, that one works! :-)

Posted by: Mad Bull at June 9, 2004 07:12 AM

Apparently Mad Bull hear 'bout de yute me have a hide inna country...him a de Godfather, so him mus know! :-)

Anyway, I remember in my late Prep School days I was one of of those boy pickney who used to like playing marbles at school. One day after school I was absorbed in a game, I was trying to win a 'gulgie' (a big marble) with my ordinary one. So, it was probably a twice or thrice once affair for me to win. Meaning I would have to hit the other guy's marble two or three times in order to win it. (Hope you don't feel I'm insulting your intelligence....just not sure if you know how marbles go...sorta like me and cricket! :-)) Anyhow, I won the gulgie. Little did I memba seh mi Modda was a wait pon me to carry me home and drive back to work.

There I go, see her waiting and run to the cyar saying, "I won a gulgie!"...feeling all proud of miself. Well, needless to say, I got an assing akin to what Mad Bull referred to above. I never kept Mummy waiting again.

Posted by: Dr. D. at June 9, 2004 08:40 AM

True, True. If they are to be picked up they must be in a pre-designated spot. I find what you are telling me...ingredible! Does their mother have to walk up & down for them daily? If yes, that person could not be someone who is using their lunch time to collect children. Major time wasting that.

Posted by: gesmith at June 9, 2004 09:31 AM