I received an informational email today from one of Cheyenne’s teachers about a service project out in the community that STEM’s seventh graders were going to participate in at the end of the week.  The email encouraged parents who would like to participate to let the seventh grade team know.

Well, Cheyenne wasn’t home when I got the email and therefore was unable to object vociferously about my participation in anything in life that might embarrass her.  Luckily, having heard this objection so many times before I was smart enough to know that I should quickly volunteer before Cheyenne learned what I was up to and was able to shut me down.  After all, the mere act of breathing out in public serves as an embarrassment to her these days – I am not allowed out much anymore.

So I jumped in with both feet,  but I advised the teaching team that Cheyenne might be embarrassed to be seen with me.  The message back was that if Cheyenne objected I could always be with a different group of kids – one in which Cheyenne was not a member.

So now I wait anxiously for the school day to end so that I can deliver the news to Cheyenne that I will be going with the seventh graders on this trip.  As I see it she has two options – mitigate or distance.

If she chooses to mitigate she will allow me to be with her and her friends and will try to moderate any of my crazy mom behavior to lessen her level of horror and embarrassment.  If she chooses to distance she will allow me to be with others unsupervised…hee hee hee – imagine the possibilities! 😉

My guess is she will choose to mitigate.  This is, after all, her reputation and I am, after all, the most embarrassing parental unit ever.  I think her superior brain will rationalize that it is better to exercise some control over the potential damage than to be in denial.  You would think that all those lectures about risk management over the years have had some impact.

But who knows – 13 year old girls are fickle creatures.  I will have to report back on her choice and how the outing went after the fact.  Honestly, I can’t wait!!

Oh, and did I mention that when given the option to drive myself or ride on the bus I chose riding on the bus?  I did.  I have to make the most of this opportunity as I may never get away with this again. 😉

Day one thousand and fifteen of the new forty – obla di obla da

Ms. C