One of my favorite things about Kindergarten, other than all the awesome songs I’m learning secondhand that are teaching me how to spell my colors, is driving carpool.
And let me tell you, people around here take their carpool seriously.
I first heard about the importance of carpool from my labor and delivery nurse at the hospital. Actually, that’s not true. It’s been well documented that my labor and delivery nurse was a minion of Satan and she wouldn’t even let me get an epidural, much less offer helpful transportation tips.
Truth be told, I used to think some of the moms were being a little overly dramatic (something that I NEVER, EVER AM!) when they went on and on about making sure your child was in a carpool. I heard horror stories about the long lines for single child pick up and dismissed them as suburban legends.
However, I decided a carpool wasn’t a bad thing. I mean, who doesn’t want a few mornings a week where you can just stay at home in your pajamas as opposed to driving your child to school in your pajamas?
So my friend Julie and I decided that we would establish a carpool of two. Our reasons for this were two-fold.
1. I drive a Volvo. I can only fit one other child in my backseat.
2. We knew we’d always be running too late to pick up an additional child.
Let me tell you that carpool has been the hand of God in my life. People weren’t kidding about the single child pick up line. I wonder how many mothers have been driven to stash tequila and a stack of US Weekly’s in their glove compartment due to the extensive wait to pick up their child?
Carpool is saving me from a life of wasted time and bad tabloids.
Not to mention it has a high entertainment value because the conversations between Caroline and her friend S. are priceless. Take this gem for example:
S: “There’s this girl in my class who is REALLY BOSSY, like SO BOSSY. But she told me I was bossy and I told her that I’m not bossy, I just like to tell everyone what they need to be doing.”
Caroline: “When somebody tells me that I’m bossy, I just tell them, ‘Well, my dress is prettier than yours.'”
Carpool.
Did I mention it’s also a great time to work on appropriate responses and social skills?