Getting Lost In Middle School

"Where are we?" I asked, peering around.

Natalie looked at the map. "I think. Here?" She pointed to a spot.

"I don't think so. We seem to be at the end of the school."

A cleaning lady walked past with her mop and bucket. "Hola," she said kindly. We should have asked her for help.

Natalie stared at the map again. "Hmm."

She inherited my lack of direction. I get lost on a daily basis. I hoped my children would inherit my husband's sense of direction, which is excellent, but no. Now, my son is pretty good with direction after he's been to a place once because he has a wonderful memory. But my daughter? Well. I watched as she poked at the map absently as though it would start speaking and tell us where to go.

"I don't see any other kids. Or teachers. We're clearly in the wrong spot." I took the map. "I think we need to go that way." I pointed straight. "Or...that way?" I pointed to the left.

Natalie sighed.

"I know. It's like the blind leading the blind," I said.

Eventually we found our way to the art room. We were at Natalie's future middle school for Elective Night. It's where the kids could go to different rooms and discover what they can take in sixth grade.

I can hardly believe Natalie is going to be in SIXTH GRADE. I've already panicked over the fact that she's in her last year of elementary school. Being in the actual middle school wasn't helping. I couldn't picture my daughter walking the massive halls. If she was already getting lost, how was she going to be when she went there? I pictured her lost in the faculty bathrooms being like, "I was trying to find the English room."

I was so distracted by all of this,  that I barely heard the lady say, "Do you want to join the PTA? It will last until next year and you get a free bag!"

Natalie was all, "My Mom will!" because she wanted that free bag.

I gave her a Look. The lady seemed so excited, I couldn't exactly tell her no, that my daughter spoke out of turn and only wanted the school cinch bag.

I am not exactly PTA material. I tend to send checks from a distance. I am an introvert. I'm not good around other people's children. But suddenly I was writing a check to join the PTA and leaving my information.

"We have special PTA events," the lady told me as she took my check. "We recently did a ZUMBA night."

I almost fell over. I am not a Zumba person. I am a Book person. If there is an event where everyone shows up with a book and goes to their respective corners and reads in silence, I'm down.

As we walked away I asked Natalie why she did that.

"Well, you said you wanted to get more involved," she answered with a shrug.

I blinked, perplexed. "When? Was this after Mommy had the margarita at Chuy's?"

"I don't know. Can I have the free bag we got?"

Natalie learned about the different electives and thinks she wants to do Art, plus Dance. Dance is considered a PE credit and she feels she's watched enough episodes of Dance Moms to do well.

Middle school. Whew. I guess there's no putting it off. It's happening in August. It's going to be a whole new adventure.

And I guess I'm a PTA Mom now.