Did you say squirrel?!?
My son spent part of the morning in the Vice Principal’s office. He was working something out with a boy that he had been at odds with.
Today also happens to be the day that I go running with a group of women and their dogs. We meet at the school and run from there.
The Vice Principal phoned me at about mile 3 to tell me that the two boys did great. They had worked things out, each taking responsibility for their own actions. They left the office in good spirits and even seemed very friendly.
Even though the meeting went well and had a positive outcome, as a parent, it is hard to not feel responsible. It’s hard not to feel bad for your son, and it’s also hard not to feel that the school staff isn’t looking at you as if you are a terrible parent.
The running group and I made it back to the school parking lot where we gathered to chat about the run and the day ahead. I couldn’t help but think about my son’s meeting with the vice principal, and what I could do as a mom to keep my kids out of trouble. And that the staff must be thinking that I am a loser mother.
As the last thought was running through my mind, I opened the back of the car to let the dog hop in. I unclipped her leash as she spotted a squirrel cavorting near the school office. She took off like a bat out of you-know-where towards the squirrel. I thought for sure the squirrel would get away.
I thought wrong.
