Missing the meltdown

There are some really big advantages to my new work schedule. Converting from a late night to early morning shift gives me more time at home with Faith. Instead of seeing her for breakfast and dinner, I am generally home in the late afternoon or early evening. We can have four hours together as opposed to about 60 to 90 minutes when I was preparing meals and getting her ready for school. Ah... missing getting ready for school - that is certainly a bonus. Although Faith wears uniforms, it can still be a very trying time getting her out the door on time. Case in point - last week's career day. She wanted to dress as a hair stylist, which I thought would be easy. Choose a grown-up style outfit and you're done. But I am sure glad I missed that wardrobe war! By a providential glitch in my cell phone, I didn't hear all four SOS calls from my husband that morning. This is from a man who rarely calls me unless it involves planning for his next meal. I tried to avert the costume catastrophe by picking out Faith's outfit the night before, but I could not find her black skirt. Along with her belt of hair supplies, I left her several outfits. Nothing I chose would do. The tears started flowing and kept flowing and flowing all the way to school. Who knew a career as a hair stylist would be so stressful? Her next dress-down day is Valentine's Day. Her daddy's going to love that!
- Liz Fabian