The Reason Why I Will Not Win Mother of the Year Award

Not too long ago, a lady in our SS class had a baby. It is customary that the other ladies provide dinners for the new baby family during those first few hectic weeks. (And being the recipient of such dinners, I know how much of a blessing this is!)
Yesterday was my day to make the dinner. I've done this enough that I now have a standard chicken pot pie that I can make up and have ready to go. By noon I had the pie packaged and left a message with the new mom to call when she wanted delivery. She called about 3:30. We chatted for a few minutes and I got directions to her house. I got shoes on the girls and everyone packed in the van. It was about 10 til 4:00. Easton's bus gets home about 5:10. Sometimes as late as 5:20. I had plenty of time.

Yeah, you see where this is going, right?

I made it to the house, dropped off the dinner, said a quick hello and got everyone back in the van by 4:35. At 4:57 I am 30 seconds away from the house sitting at a red light when my cell phone rings. It's Katie, our babysitter. She's babysitting for us Friday night so I figure she wants to talk about details.

Jenny - Hey, Katie, What's up?
Katie - So....where are you?
Jenny - (thinks this is a weird question...) I'm at the light at Hurstbourne and Six Mile...why?
Katie - Well, we have Easton with us - I'll tell the bus driver that you're almost here.

CRUD.

And it turns out that half the neighborhood was involved. The bus came ridiculously early yesterday (not sure on the exact time but obviously before 4:55). Easton got off the bus and tried to come inside. Found that the door was locked and panicked. The driver waited as Easton went around to the window to peek inside. When he didn't see anyone he thought that we had already left for church and forgotten him. And...cue the waterworks from the scared 6 year old whose mother would abandon him. Neighbor coming home from work sees the situation and stops to help. He doesn't have either of our cell phone numbers but sticks around for support. Then the babysitter and her mom drive by and see the hubbub. They also join the search for the missing parents and call me. I arrive seconds later - and all is well.

But today Claire chose to eat hummus over m&m's. Surely that counterbalances leaving your oldest child alone on the front porch?