Thursday, January 22, 2009

Next year... I'll be able to solve the nation's deficit.

I am no longer the youngest mom. I have always been the youngest mom at preschool, playgroup, and the PTA due to the fact that I married my college sweetheart and practically gave birth at his dental school graduation. Today, as I looked around during the sign-ups for preschool 2009-10 at two separate preschools I realized that there was a new influx of mothers.

I was registering my third child. My baby. My last child for the two's program at my children's preschool. Which is more like a glorified and organized play date to give mothers a well deserved 2.5 hours a week of sanity. I tried very hard to hold back my tears as four years of preschool teachers exclaimed "No way... you were just pregnant!"

I nodded my head, smiled, and took my place in line amongst the youngest group of mothers signing their first borns up for school. Some dressed in their Sunday's best, others pregnantly plump with their second, and a few carrying sweet infants bundled up. All very well manicured feeding their children organic rice bars over monogrammed bibs to keep them awake during nap time.

And then it hit me and I wiped away my tears. I looked over at the Feenster with her dirty lovie and un-sanitized pacifier minutes before she fell to the floor in an angry rage screaming "night-night now" and threw her pacifier across the room which landed a mere inches away from some toddler's polished Aster mary janes.

Oh my gawd... I hope she's not put into a class full of first borns.

Standing amongst the new mothers this morning at sign-ups, I remembered being in their shoes feeding my child organic snack bars with grand plans on volunteering at school every chance I got, and I realized that those children don't stand a chance around an overly confident and stubborn third child with older siblings who hoards her toys. We have until September to work on sharing, no? Moreso, I don't stand a chance on fitting in with the new mommies. What would they say about eating pop tarts in bed?

And then I got quickly over it because I realized all the free time I would have to myself next year. With 2.5 hours a week to myself, I could quite possibly solve the national deficit. I will have TWO HOURS to my lonesome self per week. Squeal. And when she's enrolled in kindergarten I could quite possibly run for Congress, or something.

49classy comments:

krissy said...

Oh dear. I would have looked like the trash can coming in because even with my one and only child, our lives were never polished or perfect. At.All.

That is way cool that you are writing for the Cleveland Post now. Good luck.

Chickadee said...

Congrats on your Cleveland.com gig! I can't wait to check it out!

Hailey said...

Yay for cleveland.com! Great post!

Fifi will be fine. She will teach all those first born children how to eat yogurt off of the floor with the dog, throw a paci, and throw the perfect fit. She will show the the REAL world. :-)

Can you believe in 3 years that all of your babies will be in "big school." Think of all the time you will have! Fun times!

TheScrappyMama said...

She is too stinkin' cute! My only kiddo is starting kindergarten in the fall and I'm already having heart flutters. Oy!

Congrats on your writing gig.

Kelley @ magneto bold too said...

When Boo was in kindergarten, I was STILL one of the younger mums.

And then my high school aged daughter came in...

(kinder is 5, high school starts at 12)

Most of the mums here don't start having kids till their mid 30's.

Unknown said...

Aww...2.5 hours to yourself on the horizon...how exciting!

And congrats on the writing gig, mama! That is SO awesome and so, so, deserved. Sounds like just the beginning of something amazing for you...best of luck xo

Flea said...

You make me laugh so hard? Have I told you that lately? Pray the Feenster is in with the first borns - they'll need her. How hilarious!

While working in preschool last year, I was SHOCKED at how young the parents were. Then grandparents would come to pick up kids, only a tad older than I am. Scary movie. You're still young, OHmommy.

Maura said...

Congratulations on the Cleveland.com news. That's great and I'm off to read!

Zoeyjane said...

So, what you're telling me is that Isobel's allowed to go to preschool, even being dishevelled, stubborn and over-confident?

Hmmm....

Glowstars said...

It doesn't matter who she's in class with - I get the feeling she's gonna rule the place!

Anonymous said...

I just read your post at Cleveland.com, and CONGRATS to you!!!

As for kids in school/young moms/tantrums?

I am by far the youngest mom, and probably always will be for both my kids. And even in the spit and shine days of motherhood, I never looked down on any kids acting out.

Krystyn @ Really, Are You Serious? said...

I felt like that with my first. Dirty paci, nasty lovey and all. Just wait until #2 gets to that age. The Fenster and Izzy would get along great (and Izzy is the first). Fifi will do GREAT! And, you will love your 2 hours.

And, that passport idea is really cool.

Jessica said...

Subscribed to your cleveland.com feed! Always looking for new ideas or just a kick in the tush to motivate us out the door on a cold sat. morning.

My sassy #2 needs some proper socialization! Maybe she and fifi can duke it out over the play kitchen and box of tutus sometime soon.

Meg said...

Congrats on your new gig! If you need a Toledo perspective there, look me up.

As for you being the oldest mom, next year will be my youngest 's last in elementary school. And there's been an elementary school in my life for the last eleven years. It hurts to think about it.

Karen said...

You will love your free time. And just wait until she's in kindergarten. You could be the first woman president what with all the free time you'll have. Or have a clean house. One or the other.

Angie @ KEEP BELIEVING said...

Becoming at mom at 29, I was never the oldest and never the youngest. Right in the middle.

I crack up at the "please don't let her be in a class of only first-borns" so true..

KEEP BELIEVING

GypsiAdventure said...

Nothing is ever quite the same after the first born, some how it gets easier and harder all at the same time and you can smile knowing that it will be alright, organic rice bars or not.

Congratulations on the new writing gig!
~K

Scary Mommy said...

I've always been the youngest at everything. Sadly, it's ending. But I am SO totally jealous of the free time. I can't wait for a few hours of that!

And Cleveland.com is awesome!! Yay for you!!!!

Blessings From Above said...

I. Am. So. Jealous! 2.5 hours to yourself next year? That is like the best gift ever.

I'm heading over to Cleveland.com. Congrats on the new gig!

3 Peanuts said...

It happens to all of us...I have a very similar post in my drafts on blogger. Kate IS in a pre-school class of firstborns and I think they my MUST think I am her slacker old Mom. I am the first to drop her off and the last to pick her up. I relish that time. Most of the Moms hang around and chit chat and they eve have breakfast dates sometimes. Are you kidding me....I am dying to get some alone time when she is there. I never volunteer or bring in snack. I did all of that 11 years ago and 8 years ago and I am So done. Plus, they make me feel ancient! They also do very elaborate b-day parties and talk about potty training constantly. I guess we were all like that but it is SO annoying now:)

Kim

Stephanie said...

If I could just get 2.5 hours to myself, I'd run for Congress!!! ;oD

Katie said...

That is too funny, I just enrolled my middle child for the Fall 4 year program, time goes by TOO fast!! BY the way, really cool about writing for the post!

Angie [A Whole Lot of Nothing] said...

Watch out! I bet she tries to feed the other kids and put her paci in their mouth. heh

Cynthia said...

We are on a waiting list for preschool:P I am keeping my fingers crossed for free time!
I am so not a maryjane mom:P

Tyne said...

Isn't there such freedom in being on the other side of the organic rice bars and polished mary janes? Your children are primarily precious b/c they have such a classy mom, not b/c they sport monogrammed bibs!

Anti-Supermom said...

Congrats on the wonderful new writing gig, I'm certain you will be great.

And Fifi, I can't believe she's big enough for preschool...

and how lucky for you to have 2.5 hours a week, alone.

Michelle said...

I can relate to your post today. My story is a tad different. While my two boys are in 5th and 8th grade, my almost 3 year old is in Mothers' Day out. Most of the children are first born and their mothers are younger than me. The children and the moms all look like you describe. My daughter, well, you can totally tell she's the only girl with two older brothers. A little head strong, won't share, runs and spits with the boys, you get the picture. And me, it's also a little hard because I don't have anything in common with them AND an added note, I also teach there as well. It's just so strange to see the difference.

Kari said...

Very cool about Cleveland.com! And, I am a young mommy but the only place I am THE youngest is at church! Everywhere else I am either right in the middle or the oldest...which is weird. Oh well! Thank you so much for visiting my page. I felt very special for a moment. Seriously, I clapped. I. am. a. HUGE. dork.

Tami said...

Oh I remember when my baby started preschool! Such a happy/sad day! Enjoy your 2.5 hrs of freedom. And congrats on your new writing job!!

Putting the FUN in DysFUNctional said...

You enjoy every minute of freedom, and I bet that thirdborn child will teach those firstborns a thing or two about the real world!

tiarastantrums said...

Congrats on your new posting digs!

My baby girl is starting her 2.5 year old preschool next week ~ she has been crying to go to school since her older siblings started in Aug. What shall I do for those two hours?? Me thinks I'll be lost!!!

Rhea said...

My Remy, who has a much older big brother, was in a class of mostly firsborns at preschool. I knew I was SO in trouble that year. ack.

Jessica said...

OhMommy, I'm sure Fifi will do fine -- she'll teach those others how things really work!

Congrats on the whole cleveland.com thing! How awesome is that?!

Jaina said...

Congrats on the new writing gig! I'm sure Fifi will do just fine ;)

Miss said...

Oh sweetie I remember being that young mom. It's super scary. BUT it sounds like The Feenster was the coolest kid in the room, hands down.

Miss said...

OOOOH! And congrats on your new gig!

Don Mills Diva said...

I LOVE that picture!

She is SO going to kick toddler butt.

Lynn C Mama to 3 said...

Wow... I am in trouble, because my first born starts preschool next fall and I don't do organic and that boy isn't wearing Mary Janes... or whatever the male equivalent would be. Can I pretend to have older kids at home???

Anonymous said...

I had tears to wipe away as we sat at storytime yesterday for the first time with my youngest little. My last FIRST storytime ever. Sad .. but invigorating at the same time.

Loving that you're on Cleveland.com too!

http://blog.cleveland.com/tracinghandprints/

Noob Mommy said...

I'm not sure how I'll respond the day I enroll Noob Baby for preschool. We are each other's only company and saving grace these days. However, being able to possibly cure cancer beside you as Congresswoman sounds like a good plan!

Clare said...

oh, this is so funny, i am so the first time mommy with high hopes. a lot of those things i have already given up on though:) haha!

CC said...

My little girl just started preschool this week. My husband will have 5 HOURS per week to himself.

Lucky, lucky him!!!

Unknown said...

Is it ok that I already feel this way with only my second? But those hours when I get a break... priceless! ; )

Momo Fali said...

This is so true! My daughter was so perfect, prim and proper and my son is the kid who eats prim and proper children for snack.

mpotter said...

fantastic! enjoy your hours of YOU TIME.

the mama bird diaries said...

How do our babies grow up so fast?! Enjoy your future time off. :)

Emily said...

OHMommy, after preschool director said no my little guy couldn't go two times per week I convinced her that he at least neded to be with other 3rd children. Didn't want him to be the only one in mismatched hand-be-downs.

Laura said...

It is funny - with my boys in school each morning I started to bring my younest to a play group that I LOVED when the boys were young...but now, I do not get the same "thing" out of it as I did when I was a new mom... now I am a vet...now I sometimes have no patience for moms of one or two to whine and complain...

it is funny how our precption of thngs and how we seek "peer support" changes as our kids get older and as we have more children.

Amy said...

It's the same way with me and Kathryn. I am not the youngest mom with her BUT I do have a teenager I am more than willing to let babysit for her friends! And next year, when Alli starts high school, I fully intend to be the MILF.

 

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