If you’ve read my last few posts about kindergarten, you must think I pretty much hate it – the drop offs, the room mom debacle, and the homework…oh, I haven’t even started ranting about homework yet (stay tuned, folks, it’s coming). But in all reality, we’re adjusting to kindergarten pretty well. We’re little tired. We’re a bit cranky. But we’re surviving. And unlike this time last year where I felt that I was failing preschool, this year, I don’t feel like I’m failing.
There are even things I enjoy about kindergarten, like their deliciously tempting school lunches that save me from having to pack Greenleigh’s lunch at night. And the classroom t-shirt that they wear on Fridays which eliminates our early morning “fashion fights” over clothes that I pick out for her that are unacceptable (or so she tells me). And who wouldn’t like the mounting pile of papers that I receive home everyday which already show progress in her knowledge and handwriting? I even enjoy the school pick up line.
Yep. I said it. I like the pick up line. One might even say I love it. One of my favorite places? Okay, maybe I shouldn’t go that far, but I’m a big fan.
For those of you out there saying, “Lady, that looks exactly like the car drop off line you loathed two weeks ago,” you’d be right. It does look the same. Maybe even identical. After all, it’s the same winding pathway to the school, the same South Florida I’m-not-going-to-let-you-merge-even-though-there’s-no place-else-for-you-to-go congestion, and even most of the same vehicles. But while they may look the same, this line is actually very different, and it’s not just morning versus afternoon.
You see, last year, this was a line that I never thought I’d get to experience. I was a full-time working parent who relied on daycare and aftercare 5 days per week. There wasn’t any chance I’d ever see this line, as this line is reserved for people who can pick their kids up right after school – stay at home parents, parents who work non-traditional hours, etc. The average 9-5’er or those that work longer hours never sees this line. And that’s what I was a year ago. At the time, it didn’t look like that was ever going to change.
But then, unexpectedly, it did.
Now, a part-time working parent, I get to sit in this line 1 day a week and pick my child up from school…and I love it. It easily kills 25-35 minutes of my day (in addition to the 25 minute drop off line!), but I don’t mind. And the congestion? Doesn’t bother me. Because sitting in this line is something so many working parents out there want to do but aren’t able to. To hear hear about their child’s day first hand, right away…before too much time has passed and all they can remember is lunch and recess and that other kid stealing their crayon in aftercare. To be able to spend more time with their child than the mere 1-2 hours that can be managed between aftercare pickup and bedtime. While I don’t actually love the line, I love that I’m able to be there.
For me, the school pick up line is a luxury. A luxury that we pay for in the form of smaller part-time paychecks, but a luxury nonetheless. It’s a line I feel lucky to be able to sit in, even if it is only once a week.
The long lines of waiting for children is what my husband looks forward to. He actually sits in front of the school 30 minutes before school ends so he can be 1st in line. He is able to do “work” interrupted. Who knew the pick up line would be so great?
* uninterrupted
I agree and LOVE the pick up line. Of course, my son goes to a really small school where everyone knows everyone so it’s a very polite line. Along the line, three side roads merge in and the parents from the junior high pick up that have elementary kids merge in too and everyone takes turns. It’s great! And I get to sit quietly with my kindle for 30 minutes uninterrupted.