The Things We Do For Our Kids...

I just spent 45 minutes this morning standing in line to sign Morgan up for an after school 4-H club.

The principle at our school is really into these after school clubs, and I'm glad. The first year they had them, I showed up five minutes early and walked right in. I had Morgan signed up for the class she wanted and was back home within 10 minutes. The next year, the principle actually got funding for a 4-H after school program; so now there were more class options, t-shirts for the kids, and snacks before the clubs started. I don't know if that's what made it more popular or if parents just caught onto how great these clubs are, 'cause the second year the lines were much worse. I got in line 30 minutes early and barely got the class I wanted.

This year I warned Morgan that she might not be able to do a club. I gauged her response as a factor in how willing I was to do what I had to to guarantee she'd get in. I then gauged how important her "1st choice" was to her. I realized Morgan really wanted to be in a club, but she was flexible when it came to what club.

So now it was decision time. Do I go stand in line? If so, what time do I go?

The other issue I face is that they don't start registration until 7:00, but that's what time I need to start getting the girls up to get to school on time. I finally decided I'd rather wait in line longer so I could get out of there and back home as quickly as possible. When I arrived at the school at 6:13 (had to beat the people who were shooting for 6:15!!), I was about the 20th parent in line (nice equal mix of fathers and mothers). Unless each parent in front of me were signing up all their neighbors' kids, I knew I'd have to problem getting Morgan in the club she wanted. (Last year the first person in line had the sign-up papers for 20 people!!!! Annoying!!)

After the first five minutes of waiting, they let us in the school. I sat and talked to one of my neighbors, read a little in the book I brought, and entertained myself by watching the sleepy parents walk by. I loved saying, "How are you?" to the ones I knew. It was hilarious watching them try and form a coherent thought to answer me. Everyone commented how crazy we all are to do this for our kids.

As the line was getting ready to start moving, I realized I really don't mind waiting in line in the morning. If every year gets earlier and earlier, I might reach the point where it's not worth it and I'll have to tell the kids sorry; but for now it is well worth waiting in line for 45 minutes for Morgan to get to do something she enjoys. And since the program runs for 12 weeks, I figure that 45 minutes of waiting in line gives me 18 more hours of "get-things-done time" before Morgan gets home.

Maybe next year I'll go even earlier and sell hot chocolate and breakfast bars to the poor parents in line. :)