Free Chasing Superwoman by Susan DiMickele Page B

purposely scheduled an early slot at 8:30 so that I could get into my office as soon as possible. At 8:40 I was still waiting—the 8:00 conference was apparently running late. The reason? Nick’s teacher was being interrogated by another parent. Another lawyer parent. I decided to eavesdrop since the door was open.
    â€œWe’ve tried to work with Marilyn at home, but she just doesn’t seem interested.”
    â€œI understand, but after a day of school, some kindergarteners just aren’t ready to engage again.”
    â€œWe’re concerned that she’s not being challenged enough at school.”
    â€œWell, I can start giving her additional homework if you would like.”
    More homework? Nothing like robbing a five-year-old of her childhood. If Marilyn starts doing more homework, Nick will be left behind. Isn’t homework supposed to start in something like seventh grade?
    It was 8:50 a.m. by the time they wrapped up the homework discussion. It looked as though I was going to miss my 9:00 conference call. Oh well, it wouldn’t be the first time. I quickly sent my client an email. “Tied up in important meeting but will call as soon as possible.” I wasn’t lying. This was my most important meeting of the day.
    I was completely relieved to hear that Nick was doing well in school, had no issues, played well with others, and generally thrived in the classroom. What more could I ask for? I certainly wasn’t asking for more homework.
    Even though Nick gets along fine without me, he kept asking me when I was going to volunteer in his classroom. Finally, I told him I would come on his birthday. The days leading up to his birthday I was completely paranoid that I would have to cancel unexpectedly. A client would have an emergency, a federal judge would order me to appear in his courtroom, or I’d have one of those busy days where I would completely forget until school was over. I emailed Nick’s teacher in advance to let her know I’d be coming. She told me she would stick to the regular volunteer schedule, but that I was welcome to show up in the classroom anytime. In other words, she too had doubts about my schedule.
    The day of his birthday I was thrilled to be free and clear of client emergencies or court appearances. I decided to wear jeans and take the entire day off. When I put jeans on in the morning, my kids know something is different. Nick was so excited he could barely contain himself.
    We made chocolate cupcakes the night before and filled the goodie bags. I planned to arrive in his classroom at 9:00 a.m. sharp, when the regular parent volunteer arrives. When I arrived at 9:00 a.m., not one but two parent volunteers had already settled in. Neither had met me before.
    â€œOh, you’re Nick’s mom. Doesn’t your nanny usually pick him up?” I smiled and bit my lip. I was there for Nick, not to impress the suburban mafia.
    By the time I helped oversee a craft, it was 10:00 and time for the kids to go to art. Nick’s teacher told me we would sing “Happy Birthday” to Nick at 11:00, when the kids returned to the classroom. This was my opportunity to get coffee. I hadn’t had my double-tall, nonfat latte and the coffee shop was only a block away. This was also a prime opportunity to bribe Nick’s teacher. I asked both his teacher and her student helper if they wanted coffee since I was going on a coffee run. You would have thought I’d offered them both a trip to Hawaii. When you volunteer only once a year, bribing the teacher is essential. Those other mothers may show up every week, but how many of them buy her coffee? I knew she was likely to be Anna’s kindergarten teacher in a couple of years, and then Abby’s. I would be buying coffee for many years to come.
    Since that coffee run, Nick’s kindergarten teacher and I had a new bond.
    Toward the end of the school year, I asked Nick’s teacher how I