Ninja Mom

Over the last few weeks, I’ve met some foreign parents of first graders. If I could choose an emoji for them, it would be this one:

😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱

Because that is exactly the look they each gave me as we opened those conversations.

Even another Japanese mom told me, “it’s just so much to keep up with.”

While we’ve found a bit of a routine, still you have to guard against letting your guard down. Every time I’m tempted to say that I’m getting the hang of it, I make a mistake, so I’m not going to say that— I’ll just say I’m learning!

In the Daily Dispatch Notebook, they have codes for what types of communication they are giving:

わ for わすれもの (忘れ物) = something you forgot

し for しゅくだい (宿題)= homework

れ　for れんらくじこう (連絡事項) = information

もfor もちもの (持ち物)= thing you need to bring to school

That bottom line there is where I stamp my acknowledgment of the information and confirmation of completion.

Usually I can figure out what’s for homework but the れs often get me— because they will put one word or 2 words in there and I have no idea the context of those are.

Those ones tend to have me sending messages to others moms or asking my neighbors what in the world such and such is. My next door neighbor has been so kind and patient to explain things and even give me a heads up on things.

For example, she mentioned a paper and envelope that came home regarding a required minimum donation for school needs/improvements. The minimum donation was $5, but she said that most families give $10 and so I should give $10. (The PTA collects and counts this, I believe, so it would be fellow moms who would be recording how much we gave).

I had already filled it out with $10, so I felt a bit pleased to have gotten something right without having to be told.

It’s the small things, I tell ya!