Blog
Field Day
By Jen Tuesday, June 02, 2009
Blog
Bad memories abound here, as I have not an ounce of talent in any of these areas. Among the worst is the sports category. I was a PE flunkie. Seriously, in high school the teacher paired me with the other most uncoordinated student so we could play tennis together and not inconvenience the entire class. One semester, the ball was never returned over the net between us. Not once.
Thus, the thought of grade school Field Day for me is tantamount to a bad dental visit. Somehow, I've managed to suppress the memories for years and lead a fairly normal life. I'd forgotten the hours sitting on the sidelines in my fashionable gym shorts and tube socks (hey, it was the 70's) waiting to be picked for a team. This rarely happened unless the team needed a target. I haven't quite forgotten being chosen for kick ball-aptly called "Kill the Man" in my Catholic school--and being slammed at the first kick. Repeatedly.
Now I'm faced with the inevitable. Room mothers must help with Field Day, and I'm one of these lucky volunteers. We must plan, assist and be physically present for these celebratory games in the sun. As I listen to my fellow room mothers excitedly talk about team setups and arrangements, I can only breathe into my paper bag and hope that come Field Day, nobody will ask me to referee a game I never played. Somewhere in my subconscious, I worry about being ostracized by all the other room moms in their sporty outfits. They'll be leading cheers and I'll be sitting silently in Room Mom Field Day Purgatory.
Can't we plan a Field Day alternative for kids who prefer doing word puzzles? How about board games? A sing-a-long?
Word just in. I've received my Field Day assignments: Corral the volunteers. Get the snacks. Drive to the park with supplies. Whew! Dodged this ball at least.
