A fourth grader's biggest fear

It's hard being nine. This is Sweet Pea's last year at our elementary school, and the fourth grade's academic stakes are much higher. This week was especially hard on her. She was out sick with strep for two days, and then we had a snow day for the Snowpocalypse that never quite materialized here in northern Connecticut. Sweet Pea came home burdened with two days' worth of math and spelling, and she was really overwhelmed.

But that wasn't the worse part. We'd forgotten about Friday. The Valentine's party. Her last one ever in elementary school. And we had nothing to give out. I promised I would go out and get the Valentines while she worked on her homework.

I've had a pretty rough week myself. We're having some painting done in the upstairs bedrooms, and I've been inhaling paint fumes for two days. I'm also displaced from my home office, as we are switching Sweet Pea to the larger guest room and I'll be taking over her much smaller room once that painting is complete. Between caring for Sweet Pea's strep, fielding multiple calls and meetings, paint fumes, and a snow day, I'd hit my limit.

I took a nap. Then I went out to Walgreens.

First, let me tell you that nothing bonds moms together like staring at almost empty store shelves, knowing that a class party looms less than 12 hours away, and there is no way you can come home empty handed. Sweet Pea's class has 23 kids, boys and girls. Other moms were dealing with smaller children, some in tow. We all were struggling: what to choose? Disney Princesses? Jonas Brothers? Toy Story? Valentines with candy or without? Why do some boxes have only 20, when others have 16, or 34?

I started to feel like Goldilocks. This one's too babyish. This one's too many. This one's too few. This one's too girly. This one's too boyish. And it's not like there were a lot of boxes to begin with.

So I finally call home: "Sweet Pea? I'm standing in the aisle and these are your choices ...." ~rattling off the list of characters, ending with "or there's Care Bears."

Sweet Pea: "Mom! No! I'll be the laughing stock of the whole fourth grade!"

Ugh. Fine. I brought home a box of 34 Valentines, puppies and kittens. No candy. Stickers included.

She looked them over. Yes, these will do.

Remember how sad I was that this was her last year in elementary school? Not so much any more.

~Happy Valentine's Day!~