No School Today!

I am always confused by the many days off that the school system provides here. I don't remember that when Tara was in school; I did not have to reschedule my days so often. I ought to be organized and have it in my agenda so that I take the day off as well, but I was surprised again today and took Maya to the office for the day. I know she is not too thrilled about doing the math and english homework I give her to supplement what does not happen at school, but we negotiated that between runs of exercises, she could watch a 'netflix' movie, each of which was conveniently 24 minutes, and worked as a well deserved break.

My office is set up so that there is ample room for Maya. She could have a whole group of friends with her if she wished. She spreads her violin and books and computer and toys all over the group room to make it her own, and goes from activity to activity rather haphazardly. I visit between patients and urge her to do this or that. She is somewhat compliant, or at least enough to satisfy me. I am always happy to hear her practice her violin, and once that is done, I feel that her work is done.

She had a parent teacher conference at 2:30, so we jumped in the car, grabbed a snack at Starbucks and arrived in time for our meeting. Her teacher never stopped talking to the parents signed up before me, so at 3:00 we simply returned to the office and missed our meeting altogether. Maya was happy to leave shortly afterward with her friend Sarah for their three hour ballet class nearby. I suffered through a long board meeting, during which the treasurer of the board was clearly in crisis and very unhappy in general. I always ask at such moments what I am doing on the board, but I survived the painful moments and was happy to pick Maya up and prepare a picnic dinner of beef bourgignon on the floor of the master bedroom. I wonder if I am still recovering from my trip, when I found myself asleep with Maya after lying down with her at her bedtime.