I seem to be the "book mommy" at Jude's school. My official position on the school's parent board is Book Fair Chairperson, and you will no doubt hear much whining and complaining from me as the time for this Book Fair draws nearer, but I have also foolishly taken on helping the librarian with whatever she needs.When it was suggested to me that I should become the planner of the aforementioned Book Fair, it was made very clear to me that I was in no way required to take on this additional "helping the librarian" stuff. But, of course, I foolishly said "Of course! I'll do whatever you need!" And so...I have to do that.
This week, she needed help with ushering classes of kids to and from an "Author Visit" she'd arranged; the author of a children's book had come to school to read his book aloud and give a little presentation about what being a writer is about. It was pretty cute. He actually did two readings, the first was for the first and second graders, and the second for the third and fourth grades.
So another mommy and I went and got the first and second grade classes, led them to the room where the author visit was happening, and then hung around and watched until we needed to lead the kids back to their classroom, and get the next batch of children. At some point during this first reading, I suddenly had to pee so seriously that I thought I'd bust a gut, so I quietly, quietly tiptoed out the back of the room, disturbing no one, went to the restroom, then returned, no one the wiser.
At the end of the reading, I went to the front of the room, and started wrangling little kids into their lines, so they could be escorted back to their classrooms, and I was suddenly aware that there was a certain amount of pointing and giggling amongst the children. And the pointing and giggling seemed to be directed at...me. I continued with what I was doing, unclear as to what the hoopla was, until finally, as I was heading out the door with a gang of giggling first graders, the other mom ran up to me and said...prepare yourselves..."Gretchen, you have toilet paper hanging out the back of your pants."
Yes, I did. A rather large length of toilet paper, fluttering behind me like a long, white tail.
Cool mom that I am, I snatched it away, mortified, and chose to ignore the entire incident, and the jeering and mocking of a bunch of 7 year olds. Okay, that's not true, they didn't really jeer and mock, that's just how it felt to me.
I owe that mom a huge debt of gratitude, because if she hadn't told me, I would have walked right into Jude's classroom next, and I think the kid might never have gotten over the social stigma of having ones mother walk around school with a toilet paper tail.
That's what I get for my inability to say no!
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This post was inspired by...
Prompt #1 - Incorporate the phrase "stop looking at me like that" into your post.
Mortifying!!! So glad they were only 7!
Posted by: the princess blogger | 02/28/2013 at 04:34 AM
At least it was just little kids...I would have been mortified!
Posted by: stacey | 02/28/2013 at 04:46 AM
Oh, that is just too funny! Plus, I think you are the perfect book mommy! What a great way to volunteer!
Posted by: Ginny Marie | 02/28/2013 at 05:07 AM
Oh boy. I don't even want to consider Jude seeing that. At school. And at least it was the littler kids (they're heavy gigglers anyway.) I would love to volunteer in my kids' school library (beats the classroom because be honest: some kids need their parents to go to school WITH them!)
Posted by: Arnebya | 02/28/2013 at 05:31 AM
Too funny! I think I would have reacted by saying something like, "What, you don't like my tail?"
Posted by: Mama Melch | 02/28/2013 at 06:22 AM
This is why I only volunteer for the field trips. Turbo like to have us along for those.
Thank goodness they were the little ones.
My spin is up:
http://tttandme.blogspot.com/2013/02/spin-cycle-sometimes.html
Posted by: VandyJ | 02/28/2013 at 07:30 AM
Who knows you could have created a new fashion statement! NO, that never would have happened, not even with six year olds!
Here's my spin http://suzicate.wordpress.com/2013/02/28/things-i-dont-usually-tell-on-myself/
Posted by: suzicate | 02/28/2013 at 10:38 AM
Funny how embarrassing that is even with 7 year olds! Glad you had someone there to warn you!
Posted by: Kat | 03/01/2013 at 01:13 AM
OMG. I walked around with my zipper undone the other night at school. I don't think anyone noticed, but for some reason I reached down to my scarf and felt it. Mortified. :(
Posted by: mommylisa | 03/04/2013 at 10:39 AM