Metro to School

us city and Petite did great again this am but still the task of getting out our apartment door, down 4 flights of stairs, across 3 major intersections, down 4 more flights to very busy metro during commute time, with Petite fussing with her shoes or socks or something that's bothering her, getting her on to crowded metro (at least this one goes above ground for part of the time!) For 6 stops. Then she has to go to the toilet at stop 4 so we get off at stop 5. She's fussing with her socks.

She decided to wear a coat and earmuffs even though it’s probably going to be 70 degrees (and I worry because I think the school insists they wear whatever outerwear they bring to school. Unlike in San Francisco where everyone is used to layers - dressing for winter in the morning and by afternoon, stripping down to tshirt and shorts).

So she's wearing a long sleeve shirt and pants with a dress over it and her new chic black boots, topped with a padded red coat grandma got her for fall. And earmuffs! Everyone else is enjoying the final days of Indian summer, sporting linen slacks and short sleeves.

And now, three stops away from our destination, squeezed between a scowling business man and an elderly Parisian lady, Petite announces that she needs the toilet. Luckily, I know that there is a Starbucks across the street from the next metro stop.

We get off one stop early, again fussing with the socks and boots all the way down the metro stairs. Across 2 major intersections and into Starbucks to use the toilet (thank god its there).

I don't know if Petite is more easily distracted than other kids or not but she's either constantly asking me intricate quesions (like "why does that motorcycle have a seat that's high and another have a seta that's low? Why does that mans coat buckle in the back?") Or commenting on the scenery.

As she’s sitting on the Starbucks toilet, I’m balancing her pile of winter outerwear in one arm while my other arm helps to steady her. She’s commenting nonstop like Seinfeld doing a routine,
"Look at that funny sink! Why are the handles shaped like that? Look at that garbage. How did they get that in here? Why do they have tiny garbage cans next to the toilet? That coat hook is broken! Look! Why is there a picture of a coffee bean on the wall?”

Meanwhile I'm anxious about getting her to school on time since they do NOT tolerate lateness. Having never been late I'm not sure exactly what the penalty would be but I imagine something inbetween a harsh reprimand for me, god just not letting her in! Another mom told me she is late on a daily basis since she has to get 3 kids to 2 different campuses. But she struck me as one of those moms who either started off tough skinned or got that way as a result of mothering three children close in age.

Finished with toileting at Starbucks we begin the 6 block walk to school, Petite complaining that she's too tired to walk and admonishing me for not bringing the stroller. Good grief.

I interpret this as her anxiety about going to school. Luckily when we get there, she runs right in to her class