Tardy

“Just tell her to be nice if she’s not, then ignore her. (Yes, easier said than done). The funny thing sometimes is that if kids know that they’re hurting you, they’ll keep doing it. It doesn’t make sense but that’s just what happens. So don’t let her get to you. Tell her to be nice and then ignore her being mean.”

She thinks for a moment. “But I’m too sick to go to school.”

“I’ll be right back.” School starts in a scant fifteen minutes! Stay calm, stay calm.
I dart upstairs and pause for an absurdly long minute before descending the stair.

“I just spoke to the doctor’s office and they said that it sounds like you’re well enough to go to school but if you still don’t feel well after school they can examine you.”

She pauses. “Okay, here’s the deal. I’ll go to school but if I keep not feeling well then I will need to go home because I can’t be at school sick.”

“Deal.”

A quick hug followed by a mad scramble to change clothes, brush teeth, gather supplies and rush to the car ensues.

As I leave her classroom two children pass me carrying attendance slips to the front office. “Lauren – tardy” I see on the green slip.

Tardy but present.