Strange title?! Maybe I think of something better as I write this, but for right now it stands. Do you want me to keep you in suspense ;)...So first of, the uncalled reaction was by me. Here is what happened. Today was Mia Rose's last day at her little preschool (she will graduate to the "big" house in September). To commemorate the end of the year there will be a little celebration tomorrow at 11:30 at Mia Rose's school. The teacher's made sure to invite us (as Mia Rose usually is home on Friday's). When I picked Mia Rose up her teacher came up to me and said "...I just want to let you know that to celebrate tomorrow we will have cheese pizza. So maybe your girls could already have eaten lunch...". And here comes my totally uncalled for reaction I said "...Fine. We will not come!!!..." It came out just like that. Wow! I shocked myself. What a strong uncalled for reaction. Why did I react that way?! Well, truth be said I honestly felt like crying. Crying because my kids are excluded from a very fun kids thing. Pizza with their friends. True, I always say it they are not excluded there is a ton of non-cheese pizza out there but they are different and cannot take part exactly as the others do. Just like I cried out of happiness a couple of weeks ago when Megan made sure to include Alena, I could have (***note I did NOT) cried. But instead of having tears came up, there was stubbornness...Ron came along to pick-up Mia Rose and he did not understand the way I reacted either. Sometimes it just still stings...
We worked things out and actually go to the party tomorrow. I will pick up a slice of pizza from Oasis for the girls to take along to Mia Rose's school, and party with the rest of the group. In retrospect I feel all guilt ridden and hope that the girls did hear what went on. Surely I do not want them to feel left out...OK now I have to get back to happy thoughts and have to remember that the glass is always half full :).
4 comments:
It IS hard sometimes... I had two thoughts after reading your post. First, I wonder if part of your reaction was due to the teacher asking if your girls could eat separately (before). I wonder if you might have reacted differently if she'd asked if you could bring an alternative? Still the sting of a food-based celebration they can't have, but there would have been less of an exclusionary tone. Second, in my life here in NC, I find that I need to be VERY proactive about providing any substitutes, etc. (I envy my vegan brother for his ease of diet in Seattle!) From what you've posted before, it seems as though your community in general and child care in particular is pretty supportive of living with a restricted diet. That is WONDERFUL... and maybe has "spoiled" you a bit? I don't mean that in a bad way! Just that it seems this summer you've had some great experiences with people providing alternatives on their own, so I'd say you're allowed an occasional "uncalled for reaction" when that doesn't happen!
Christy -
thank you so much for your thoughtfull comment, and your help in sorting this out. I think that you are absolutely right. It was the approach of the teacher that intially set me off. You are also right that because people have been so thoughtful about the girls diet that we have gotten spoiled. Again, thank you so much. I think that you hit the "nail on the head" - I very much appreciate your insight.
Bea
I don't blame you for being annoyed. It's more the suggestion that Mia eat beforehand?? why not suggest that you provide something for her to eat? Oh well, what's done is done, however I probably would have had the same stubborn reaction! I'm glad you were able to work it out so you could attend and Mia could eat with her friends. Thanks for sharing the story.
Thank you, Erin. I thought it was awful to suggest that the girls (it was a FR so I had both girls) eat before hand. The other thing that set me off was when I told her that they really like pizza the reaction. "...oh really, she is usually OK when others eat foods she cannot have...". Thinking back, that just brought me over the top. Of course she/they love pizza. Which kids does NOT love pizza...
Again, thank you so much for your comment Erin.
Bea
Post a Comment