Awkward Beginnings

My kids have started back to school.  As our busy summer rapidly came to a close, I couldn’t help but be excited about the endless possibilities that would soon be awaiting me between the hours of eight and three.  This year, I will be more efficient and organized than I have been in years past, I told myself.  I will become a better version of myself, and I will teach my children to be confident, truthful, kind, and bold!

But apparently those thoughts escaped me this morning as I hustled to get lunches packed, school supplies organized, hair styled and belts fastened for my little ones before scrambling to get myself dressed and ready to head out the door to take my kids to the bus stop for their first bus ride to school.  We were all excited, and my husband came along for this new experience (this is the first time we have had the option of utilizing a school bus, and we are so grateful for this convenience).  So out the door we went, and as we walked toward the bus, my daughter kept trying to say “Good-bye; see ya!” to which I kept replying, “You have to wait until we get close to that big group of people near the bus, and then you give me a big hug and loudly say how much you love me and what a cool mom I am!”  I got several raised eye brows and responses of “What?!” to that suggestion.

Anyway, we made it to the bus stop with time to spare, and as our kids got on the bus, my husband and I mused about how cute they were and I thought about what a beautiful morning it was.  Then, interrupting my thoughts, a sweet older lady walked up to me and said “your son is sitting with my grandson!  I am so glad that my grandson has a friend to ride the bus with.  They were in the same class last year.”  I looked at her and smiled.  “That’s wonderful!” I said, and should have left it at that.  Instead, I tried to continue the conversation.  “What class is your grandson in this year?”  She named a second grade class.  My son is in sixth grade.  I peered into the bus and noticed that the grandson she was referring to was sitting next to a little boy with a similar complexion to mine, and in that moment I realized that she had assumed I was his mother and that it might be a little bit awkward to correct her … especially since she just kept right on chattering about how my son and her grandson were such great kids and how they had so much fun together in first grade.

Instead of being confident, truthful, and bold, I tried to do what I thought was kind and played right along with it.  I could see my husband smirking beside me, watching me once again get myself tangled in an awkward situation by not correcting her immediately.  Instead I did a lot of smiling and nodding and agreeing.  Then it occurred to me that I would probably be seeing a lot of this sweet lady at the morning and afternoon bus stops, and that it would eventually be found out that I was not the mother of her grandsons’ friend.  So I tried to make it right.  I said, “did you say your grandson is in second grade?  My son is actually in sixth, so your grandsons’ friend has a different mom,” and I smiled big at her.  I am not sure if she didn’t hear any of those words or if she just chose not to acknowledge them, because she looked back at me and said “my grandson and your son are having so much fun sitting together on the bus!  Just look at them!”

I think my husband almost laughed out loud at that response and as the bus pulled away and I said goodbye to my new friend, I scrambled to figure out my next plan of action.  My husband told me I had waited too long to try to correct her; I should have spoken up right away instead of trying to be so nice and afraid of embarrassing her.  “I know,” I lamented.  “What do I do now?  What if she causes a scene when the real mom of that little boy comes to pick him up off the bus and she thinks he is going home with the wrong person?  How will I be able to avoid her for the rest of the year?”

I guess my only option is to hold my head high and pretend that I misheard her this morning when I see her again.  “Oh, you said second grade?  Somehow I thought you said sixth!  Easy mistake!  How did your grandson enjoy his day?”  Either that, or I can try to disguise myself for the rest of the year, I guess.  If this is the most awkward thing that happens this year, I will be doing great.  But with my ability to attract awkwardness from miles away, I am sure this is just the beginning.