The first day down the road of my formal education in Nursing was filled with pot holes and free parking.
Monday evening I was reviewing my carefully laid out plan to be executed in the morning. I had my books, notebooks and all the school supplies I would need loaded in the car. I studied and restudied exactly what class I had when and WHERE each class would meet. I must have looked at my schedule a hundred times, and printed at least three copies, and yet was still nervous I would end up completely lost and confused. All three of my daughters’ clothes were laid out for the morning. Becca’s lunch was made and her backpack hung ready to go. Shoes and coats were accounted for and in their proper place.
Tuesday morning begins with a flurry of activity. Baby Molly is up early to eat. Becca is up and raring to go long before her middle sister, Piper, even considers opening her eyes. In the rush of the morning I seem to be right on schedule. We get out the door and halfway to daycare to drop the younger two off when the alarm goes off on my phone. Agh! How could I have left the house and forgotten the weekly ritual that is held in such high regard to every Pre-kindergarten scholar… show-n-tell! Panic starts to set in, but I quickly remind myself that surely I can find something, anything, that would suffice for today’s presentation. Becca informs me that the letter of the week is “I”. Perfect, what could I possibly come up with that begins with “I”??
The drop off of my two younger girls is complete at daycare. Now, time to scour the car for this prized show-n-tell item. Let’s see, I have a blanket, a horseshoe shaped neck pillow, bank deposit slips, a couple writing pens…it is looking grim. Oh, a little pink monkey (probably the ever so wonderful ‘prize’ from a Happy Meal), but Becca quickly points out to me that monkey does not start with the designated letter of the week. I quickly tried to come up with any variation of the wording of the toy to bring an “I” to the start, but I was at a loss. I then tried to convince Becca that it wasn't necessary for the object to begin with the letter of the week, that was only a suggestion. She did NOT take kindly to the suggestion of straying from the designated letter. One last desperate look around and I spied just a small piece of blue under the seat. Closer examination revealed a very poor knock off of a Barbie doll that had already been ‘well loved’ to say the least. This wild haired, one armed, dressed in a pathetic blue rag of a dress was perfect! I proclaimed her to be the Ice Princess! Immediately Becca latched on to her newly discovered Ice Princess and was thrilled to have such a treasure to share with her class.
Whew, the show-n-tell disaster has been averted and Becca has been dropped off at school. As I drive to my new school, a million doubts run through my head. Will I get lost just trying to get there? Will I find a parking space? Will I find my classrooms? Will I be on time? Will I have the correct books and materials? Will I somehow just look like a complete moron compared to everyone else?!?
I arrive on campus well ahead of my scheduled class time. With only one wrong turn, I easily find a parking space. I find my first classroom and even have plenty of time to find the restroom before class starts. My first class begins and I am starting to relax a bit. I am in the right room, have the right books, and have already read the right syllabus. Twenty seven minutes into my hour and fifteen minute class my cell phone rings. Yes, it is on silent, so it does not disturb the class, but my heart sinks when the caller ID flashes on the screen – my daughter’s school. I cannot easily excuse myself from class and decide that if they leave a message, or if I receive another call, then I will just have to get up and go. About four minutes later I receive a text message from my Mom: “Becca is sick, I am going to pick her up.” I am relieved to know what is going on, and extremely thankful that my Mom can pick her up. I just cannot believe that my very first day of class is the day Becca gets sick at school. Not to mention the fact that I had done such a phenomenal job creating an amazing show-n-tell that would now never be used!
I continue through my classes with relative ease. On a break in the afternoon I talk to my Mom and Becca doesn't seem to be deathly ill. She is complaining of a stomachache, but we think she will pull through. My break has almost come to an end when my phone rings again. How can this be, daycare is calling me now? Yes, it is daycare calling to tell me that baby Molly has spiked a fever of 103. You have to be kidding me! So through a quick series of phone calls I have arranged for Jeremy, my wonderful husband, to take off early from work to go pick up Miss Molly and my Mom will pick up Piper a little later (after nap time) on her way bringing Becca home.
Although slightly flustered, I feel like things are in control at home, so I am off to my next class. Who in the world numbered these classrooms?!? Where in the world is the room I am looking for?!? Almost more importantly, where is a restroom?!? Luckily, there are very friendly faculty, staff and other students. I am able to find my assigned classroom, and even feel comfortable because I was able to find the restroom before class started.
I have one more class before my journey back home this evening. Jeremy and Molly are home. My Mom is en route to daycare to retrieve Piper with Becca in tow and is also picking up carry out for dinner on the way for Jeremy and the girls.
I hope every day of nursing school isn't like this one or I am never going to get through!
No comments:
Post a Comment