White Flag

I find it annoying when the wealthy Asian parents whose children go to school with mine, have nothing better to do but plan and attend gobs of parties and performances at school. Maybe if I had two children and 3 live-in helpers I could swing it, but alas that is not the case. So these last few weeks of school are kind of torture for me. 

Class Funds: At the beginning of the year the happy, outgoing, well meaning room moms for all 3 of my children's classes asked for a steep 1,000 NT which is about $35 U.S.  Not much you can do but shell out the mullah. If you don't, some uncouth room mom's like to casually send out a cheery email to everyone with a list of those who haven't yet paid -so you'd better pay up or be prepared to be outed. 

This money, they say at the beginning of the year, is for all class parties and gifts for the teacher. So then why, one wonders, did I receive 3 more rounds of emails asking for more money for the teacher's gifts at the end of this year? It ranged from one asking for 336 NT ( about $12) to one asking for another 1,000 NT more. I was ignoring the emails while I debated what to do when I got the email that broke the proverbial camel's back.

The email was not from the room mom in Kohen's class, but from another mom saying, "Wow, didn't so and so do a great job this year as room mom? I think we should all give 150 NT to get her something to show our appreciation." I was flabbergasted. Completely. 

If she was an amazing room mom why wasn't she able to manage the party/gift budget with the $600+ U.S. she started with at the beginning of the year?! And it's not like I'm against showing appreciation for a job I know I don't want to do, it's just that, what's wrong with a card and some flowers? Why do we need to get her a gift of $100 in gift certificates?! That is completely over the top as far as I'm concerned. Am I crazy? Am I just stingy? This is your chance to tell me. Seriously, I need to know. 

In case you're wondering, I didn't pay a second round to anyone.

Next disaster:
So speaking of how the parents all create unnecessary reasons to celebrate at school, Summer Birthdays are starting to bug me. I now loathe the fact that two of my children have them, because every other parent of a kid with a summer birthday makes a big whoop out of celebrating the b-day, and then if I don't my kid is left out and crushed. Total peer pressure.
I finally set a date to take in cupcakes for Aly. That sounds pretty harmless right?
My morning started off just great. I got everyone dropped off at school, waited there for someone to pick something up from me as a favor which saved me a 1/2 hr drive, then went home and walked hiked our ginormous and steep hill, pushing Ander in the stroller. I was then super-mom multitasking getting Ander and I breakfast and starting the cupcakes when I had the "Mom Moment" that seemed to change the momentum of my day.
I had to use the restroom, okay? Ander was locked in his high chair so I hurried in knowing I had seconds, maybe 2 min if I was lucky, before he got annoyed. 45 seconds later, he starts squawking. Then simultaneously, the IP phone that is calls from the U.S. (aka: family) starts ringing. Then my cell goes off as Nathan texts me, aaand to top it off, the timer for Aly's cupcakes starts blaring. It was quite the moment.
Cut to me pulling the cupcakes out of the oven and they look beautiful and perfect. 5 minutes later they were shriveled up versions of their former glory. I was horrified. (see above pic to join me in horrification).

I knew what was wrong, it's our stupid oven. You have 4 temperatures in C* on the dial and you have to just guess if the temp you need is in between. So you spend a lot of time watching the thermometer that is set inside the oven to see what the temp really is. In my haste (meaning, I didn't have 20 min to adjust and wait and adjust again) I must not have had the temp right. All the cupcakes failed.
I stood there and told myself this was just my pride and nothing a little frosting wouldn't disguise for a bunch of 4 and 5 year olds. So I sucked it up and convinced myself to take them anyway.
All you mom's out there know that even though it's stupid to feel that way, you do feel your "cupcakes" are a reflection of your abilities as a mom.
I patted myself on the back for my maturity, grabbed Ander- who by now had smeared his left over breakfast all over his hair- and raced upstairs to get ready.
Because Ander is a maniac these days, I ran a bath for him to keep him occupado while I showered a few feet away but within sight. I was running out of time. I jump out, dry off, grab the hair dryer, flip it on, and the power goes out. To the entire house. For real. I knew right away I was in trouble because the gate to our house that also let's our car in and out runs on electricity and you aren't going anywhere if you don't have power.
So now I've shelved my pride with the cupcakes, my self-esteem with my hair and make-up not getting done, and I'm still trying to figure out how to get those shriveled up cupcakes to Aly!
I dress Ander and race downstairs to frost the cupcakes when Nathan texts and says, "I called a cab, it'll be there in 6 min." Cue Ander walking into the kitchen with a soaking wet doll he just put in the toilet, I'm standing there with wet hair and unfrosted cupcakes and finally, FINALLY, I call it. White flag my friends. Waving it proud.
I told Nathan thank you but cancel the cab. I called the school and explained that I was stuck and wouldn't make it. And then I sat down and tried not to cry.
Luckily I've got Ander so I couldn't sit for long.
When I picked up a heart broken Aly 2 hours later, her teacher was wonderful in helping me smooth things over and explain that we would have a re-do the next day. When I told her she could even have a cupcake when we got home it fixed everything. See! I knew those 5 yr olds wouldn't bat an eye at my deformed cupcakes!

ps- take two with fresh cupcakes went off with nary a hitch. Why? Nathan was home packing before a trip so I had help :)
p.p.s- Are the lavish parties/gifts and annoyingly involved in all the wrong way parents like this in the states? Maybe I just think it's weird cuz I'm here but it could be this way everywhere... in which case am I the only one kicking the pricks? Just curious...