Rachel the leader

Apparently Rachel is quite the leader at daycare. She has at least one dedicated follower: Harris, the towhaired 2-year-old in toddlers who tonight exclaimed, "Rachel!" when he saw me coming to pick up TLG. Harris's mom, Katrina, was sick tonight, poor thing. More accurately: She looked like death warmed over, then informed me that she was suffering from the flu and was trying not to get close to me. While I of course was sympathetic another part of my brain thought, "THEN WHY ARE YOU HERE PICKING UP YOUR SON AND RISKING INFECTING US ALL?? WHY NOT SEND YOUR HUSBAND TO DO IT???" And yes, I know she has a husband because I've met him several times before.

Anyway.

Jolene, one of the Beginners teachers, said Rachel had "a beautiful first day in Beginners. She ate all her lunch, she slept well, she played well." Which was great because as soon as I let her go this morning she started sobbing her heart out. It drives me crazy when she does that, but there's nothing I can do -- I'm usually running late when I drop her off so I try to be as businesslike as usual, hoping she'll someday get used to the idea that I may be going, but I'll come back.

Tonight she raced into my arms saying Mommymommymommy! and sporting a paper crown that made her look, well, princess-like. The drive home was exhausting, with the rain making it feel as if I was fighting the weather the whole time. I had a headache, Rachel insisted I keep singing, and she kept chattering away in the back seat -- which usually I love, but finally when we were getting ready for bed I said, "Shh. Rachel, please be quiet for just a minute." She immediately got quiet and I felt so guilty, but I really needed a rest. She could tell something was going on because tonight she looked at my face at dinner and said, "Mommy, are you mad?"

"No, I'm not mad. I'm just tired," I replied.
"You look like you're mad," she said, smiling.

I reassured her I was OK, but all I wanted to do was to get her to sleep so I could make my lunch call Drew make Rachel's lunch clean up from dinner eat my salad write on the blog collapse into bed sometime before, oh, midnight.

I hope tomorrow is a better day.