Every Saturday I bring you a parenting mistake my husband and I have made. Please have a laugh or cry at our expense — we really are good parents, I swear.
Ben and I took the week off. Nora went to daycare for three of five days. I am not sorry for this. We had to build a fence and do some work in the yard. It was take her to school while we knocked it out or have a “little helper” and let the task stretch into her college years.
The problem was, I didn’t really prep Nora. Tuesday, when we picked her up, I asked her, “How was school today?”
“Um, good! How was work today?” she asked. I fought the urge to lie.
“Um, I didn’t go to work. Daddy and I stayed home to work on the fence.”
It took her a second to process this. Then the wailing began. “I wanted to help!” I should have known — she as now at an age where she is keenly aware of being left out.
I assured her that there was much help still needed. She would be my helper in the garden and could even come to the nursery with me to get plants.
Wednesday she stayed home with us and helped me put some edging along the flower bed in the pouring rain, handing me pieces as I needed them. We went to the farm store for chicken feed. She picked out some radish seeds and we bought broccoli and lettuce starts.
Thursday, she went to school and our evening scene repeated itself. This time I told her I had work to do away from my desk. She seemed to accept this more readily.
By Friday morning, I had my act together and let her know I’d be at home, but she got to go to school so she could bring her dinosaur for show and tell. And I explained the long weekend ahead, and all we had to look forward to together.
This morning, she is running errands alone with daddy, and I’m feeling a bit left out myself.