There is no need to do rock/paper/scissors. This one is mine.

The jury is still out on today. Laurel's class had a school picnic from 11:30 to 12:30 and parents were invited.  (God damn, these year end activities are killing me.) I am curious if the classroom moms that organized this event understand the pressure that Jude and Ching Wang felt when getting this invitation?  I would also like to know if other parents felt the same pressure?  

As I look at the Evite and see the multiple positive RSVP's, I buckle to peer pressure and RSVP, yes.  Since Ching has an activity planned for the girls during the day on Thursday, there is no need to do rock/paper/scissors. This one is mine.  But my response comes with limits.  I can only stay for 25 minutes--the remaining 35 minutes would go to commuting time to and from the picnic.  And I won't eat anything or participate in any sort of activities.  I am wearing my best suit and a lot of the activities involve some sort of object flying in the air.  I avoid activities like this.

I arrive at the event, honestly, with a freakin' chip on my shoulder.  Call me selfish but usually my lunch hour is mine.  I like to run on Mondays.  Monday is the day I work pretty hard, trying to cleanse my bod with a sweat, getting rid of all the crap I ate during the weekend.

I make sure Laurel sees that I am there.  She gives me a quick hug but then runs off to play with her friends.  She likes to run and socialize with several different kids.  (As I watch her, I will her to stay away from the one girl that I cannot stand.  You know the one..the one that told Laurel that she met Katy Perry.)  I chuckle to myself because as one of the moms takes her picture with a few other kids, she towers over all of them.  I sit on a bench (again, nice suit..no grass for me)..and stay for 25 minutes.  I didn't want to talk to any parents (that's a freakin' surprise) because I just want to watch my girl.  It's not until later that I notice how many parents weren't there...but by now it's not important.

When I leave, I tell her and she says that she understands. Laurel understands that I have go to work like she has to go to school.  She is too young to understand the responsibility that I feel.  But when I see her later, she tells me that she wasn't as peppy after I left.  (Jesus Christ..manipulate much?)  Should I have not gone at all?  Would that have been easier on her?  Lord knows it would have been easier on me.