So, we moved to Portland this summer, remember? And everything is going great. Macy started 2nd grade this week, and we’re settling into the back-to-school routine very nicely.
I really like Macy’s new school. I’ve already met a few of the moms in her class, and everyone is really nice.
Ok, so what’s the point? Where’s the punch line?
Well, this morning I walked Macy to school and I could tell she and I were starting to get the hang of things. Backpack on hook. Check. Lunchbox in lunchbox bin. Check. I waved and said hello to a few of the moms. This is going great, I thought.
“Mommy,” Macy interrupted my happy thoughts, “Come look!” And with that she steered me to a bright blue construction-papered wall showcasing the children’s first writing project, “What I Did This Summer”.
Macy’s essay was pretty short. There was no mention of the cross-country move, saying good-bye to her friends in Florida, her cool new bedroom or the great friends she’s made in our new neighborhood. She left out that she rode on a plane, learned to ride a bike, lost two teeth, went hiking and read her first Beverly Cleary book.
It started with, “This summer I visited my Grandma and Grandpa and we watched every episode of Mad Men.” There was a little more to it, but I couldn’t really focus in on any details after that intro. The girl really knows how to grab her reader.
First off, way to get off on the right foot with those new moms I was trying to make a good impression on. I’m pretty sure because this is Portland that a lot of them don’t have tvs because they are always outdoors doing cool extreme outdoor sports with their kids. Or composting. Or sculpting.
Second, it’s not true. She doesn’t watch Mad Men. With all the “smoking and drinking at work” scenes, this show is clearly for children aged nine and over, and Macy is just seven.
