Plundering your child's savings account
AND 7 OTHER THINGS MOTHERS ARE ASHAMED OF
This week I drove with our sales director (and fellow working mother) all the way to Zeeland. The departure was scheduled for ten o'clock and by then we had already spent half a day. Because kids are an extra job, you should know. We talked about exploded living rooms, never an echo in your laundry basket and really no time to read a book.
One thing led to another and suddenly we were talking about things we are quite ashamed of as mothers. To lighten your guilt, we share things with you that we and our friends are indeed ashamed of. But don't tell anyone, okay? Otherwise, Youth Care might show up at our doorstep.
1. Haven't ordered school photos for three years
“I really don't like it, mom,” said the daughter of a hard-working friend. “Everyone goes home with a package of school photos except me.”
Honestly, I must admit that I also didn't get around to ordering the school photos this year. It's so complicated now with login codes that I keep losing and order numbers and so on. And actually (and you really shouldn't tell anyone this) I find those school photos quite silly. Always that background with the little clouds. Can't something new be invented?
2. Walking around uninsured
Another friend had her fourth child and found out a year later that son number four had been walking around uninsured for a year. Problem; because actually, you have to retroactively pay the costs of your delivery. In the end, she managed to sort it out with a detour and a U-turn, but she was deeply ashamed.. 3. Plundering your child's account.
The parents of a dear colleague had opened a savings account for the grandchildren. With quite a nice amount on it. When it cost 2700 euros to get her car through the APK and at the same time her American Express was charged, she seriously considered plundering her children's savings account. Whether she actually did that, I unfortunately cannot say.
4. Being happy when Flip the Bear doesn't come to stay.
Do you know him, Flip the Bear from TV? He comes to stay with a child every now and then. They find it fantastic but we find it terrible. First of all, we want to immerse him in disinfecting Dettol. Secondly, we really have no time (and, to be honest, no desire) to keep track of that whole logbook of that creature. Photo of Flip the Bear in the bath, in bed, with your child. Get lost with that Flip the Bear. “But mom, I think it's so cozy!” Well, we don't...
5. Not standing on the schoolyard
Because there is suddenly a study afternoon that you knew nothing about. Or standing on the schoolyard, the only one, because there is a study day that no one told you about. What is it with those study days? Why don't they just do that during the holidays? I've really never gotten a good answer to that.
6. Losing the friends book.
Recently, an email went around from the teacher. Two friends books from children in the class had gone missing. Turned out both were with my friend. For six months. And still not written in, of course, you understand. I find it terrifying when I get such a friends book. It could just as easily happen to me. Or that another child starts scribbling in it. Or tears it.
7. Not been to the dentist for a year.
I plead so guilty. I'm going to make an appointment right away.
This week I drove with our sales director (and fellow working mother) all the way to Zeeland. The departure was scheduled for ten o'clock and by then we had already spent...
