Sometimes I am in a tiny bit of a hurry, as anyone who knows me will tell you. Often, by the time I have gotten to the point in the morning when I am saying goodbye to Violet, who is the last one dropped off in her classroom, I am thinking, "How can I get out of here quickly?". In my head already is the mounting list of "What's Next". I find myself longing for a quick drop at the front door. Kindergarten dropoff, however, has a 15 minute period in which you can hang out with your child before the rain stick is gently turned, soothingly indicating that it is time for the parents to go.*
Violet has a little routine for what we do next. And though I confess that I am often thinking, "Seriously? How much longer will this go on?", I thought I would write it down here, so that I could remember it someday when I get a quick goodbye two blocks from school.
Here goes:
1. An Eskimo kiss
2. A butterfly kiss
3. A massive kiss**
4. A hug
5. Walk to the door
6. Run and jump into my arms.
7. Repeat eskimo kiss
8. Repeat butterfly kiss
9. Repeat massive kiss
10. Repeat hug
11. Eskimo kiss across the room
12. Butterfly kiss across the room
13. Blow a kiss
14. Hug ourselves and say goodbye.
And that, my friends, is how Violet and I say goodbye. And at the end of the day, it's pretty cute. Its so easy to get thinking about the other very important things coming up in my day, like getting to the cobbler, and getting the groceries, or even meeting a friend for coffee, that I sometimes totally miss how sweet it really is. Though I don't think I can take a single additional added element....
AZ
*And sending children all over the room into fits of hysterics.
**A Massive Kiss is a very huge kiss on the lips (and her favorite kiss).
