Yesterday was my youngest daughter’s 5th grade graduation. It is a big deal these days. I didn’t make it as I had an offsite meeting I needed to attend, but I think, I think, she understood. I did make it to her DARE graduation a few weeks ago and of course had lunch with her last week. The timing just wasn’t right for me to get to her school for a 2:30 ceremony. She got lots of awards and was very proud, and rightly so. Anyway, this isn’t about her.
Last night the PTO put on a 5th grade formal at the school to help the 5th graders celebrate. The kids all dressed very nice. The PTO decorated the cafeteria like it was a high school prom. The PTO moms (yes, they are all moms, no dads) worked hard for weeks preparing, my wife included. My wife spent a lot of time last week and this week helping. We blew up 100 red, silver and black balloons, as did 9 or 10 other families.
About 10 dads dressed in tuxedos and manned the front drive and front doors of the school opening the car doors for the kids and oooing and awing over them as they walked the red carpet into the school.
My wife spend the night at the party running a photo booth taking pictures of the kids in front of a really nice backdrop the PTO moms made. Each 5th grader got 1 photo. Many chose friends for a group shot, some chose to be by themselves. In all, my wife took about 120 pictures.
So she gets home about 9:00 and asks me to go up to Walgreens with her so she can get the photos developed so they can be sorted by teachers’ classes and given to the kids today (the last day of school). Grumpy me complains and asks why SHE has to do it all, why she spent 30 hours or more working on the party when tomorrow she is hosting the teachers luncheon and there are things to be done around our house! She let me know it wasn't just her putting in all the time, lots of others put in more time.
Well, I went anyway. I took us a little over a hour at Walgreens to crop and border all the pictures and send them to the machine for developing. My wife was appreciative of my company while she did it, but I still felt a little Grinchy over her donating so much of her time to the event.
The elementary school is a very mixed school with a large portion of upper middle class and a large portion of poor kids (lots of free breakfasts and lunches). Consequently, almost all of the PTO work is done by the moms who don’t have to work. For some it is close to a full time job in itself.
Anyway, here is an email my wife (and the entire PTO) got today. It literally brought tears to this Grinch’s eyes.
Spoiler
as i was dropping off my daughter she was nerveous...but i told her it be okay, but, to me it was very emocional to see all the (dads)... in the tuxedo suit that they look great...!!!.and i wish my little girl dad would be there.
i broke out crying ......just to see all the dads there ....for there childrens..THANK YOU DAD YOU DID A WONDERFULL JOB.....!!!
I just want to personally .....thank you for all the effort and love that you put for your childrens...
THANK YOU SO MUCH......MAY GOD BLESS YOU..