Precious Little Snowflakes

No.  This post isn't actually about snow.  Or, even about Minnesota.  It is about children.  Other people's children.

I borrowed that terminology from Jen Hatmaker and her book:

For the Love: Fighting for Grace in a World of Impossible Standards

She was talking about how in present times, parents all pretty much think of their kids as "precious snowflakes" who couldn't possibly do anything wrong and need to be gently carried through life because they are so delicate.   Blah, blah, blah.

You know what I mean right?

I have decided to use her phrase today when I share about one of my  recently acquired pet peeves.

Remember, I am a product of the public school system.  I ate school lunches.  I rode the bus (and it was a 45 minute ride both in the morning and the afternoon).  Now though, I am primarily a home school mom.  My big kids didn't join the ranks of going to "real" school until a few years ago....and they still only attend classes a few days a week.  So, I am not sure how some school things actually work.


With D-man and A-girl's school, there isn't an option for a bus, so, I do have to do drop offs in the morning for them.

This is where I wonder if there is some unwritten rule that I don't know about that comes into play...or if the little precious snowflakes  are just too precious to actually do things.

Their school has a one way route around the school.  Basically, just a big loop.  The door is on the back side of the school away from the road.

When we get there, no matter how far back we are in the car line up, whether it is 3 or 8 cars back, I tell the kids goodbye. I tell them that I love them. I tell them to have a nice day and push them out the door.  The problem is I am still stuck in line because everyone else isn't letting their students out until they arrive at the front door.

And let me just say this, it is like those precious little snowflakes have no idea that they are actually being dropped off at school.  The time it takes some of these kids to actually exit the vehicle, grab their backpack and lunch, is amazing to watch.

Seriously.

It is like each and every morning, they remain seated in the van until the seat belt light has dinged and the pilot has cleared them to walk around the cabin.  Then, and only then, do they take stock of where they are...spend a few minutes mentally running through their day.  Take a moment to say a word or start a fight with whomever is dropping them off. Then, slowly.....slowly....open their door.   You will see one foot, then the other slowly emerge and descend to the asphalt.  They will turn to say one more thing to the driver.

They stand up.  Fix their coat.  Fix their pants.  Smooth their shirt into place.  Check their hair in the side mirror.  Then go to either the trunk of the car or the back seat to grab their stuff.  (Heaven forbid if we end in the drop off line on a day when the science fair project is due!)

At this point, they usually remember one more thing they need from the front seat....or one more thing they need to say to their driver.....so they once again open the front door and stick their heads in for a few minutes.

When that car finally leaves, the one right behind them pulls forward to the spot right next to the front door and starts the same routine.  Like their precious little snowflake couldn't possible walk the extra 15 feet into the school.  It drives me crazy.  Really.

Which is why I wonder if I am the one breaking school rules and somewhere in all the papers I got at the beginning of the year it says to only drop your precious snowflake off at the front door and not make them walk.  Nothing else makes any sense to me at all.  Nothing.

That is all for today.  I just needed to vent a bit on that one.  Apparently I haven't  had enough coffee yet this morning!

Any other pet peeves about school that you guys have?  Any you want to share publicly?