Tuesday night, Connor was in the shower playing and having a grand ol' time when suddenly he started bawling. "I don't want to go to school tomorrow! I don't want to see the leprechauns!" Chip was like, "Whaaa?" Connor went on to tell some story about how his teacher said leprechauns were going to come in their classroom some day when it was empty and make a mess and leave candy or some such crazy story. Apparently Connor had been sitting on that one all day until he finally couldn't take it anymore. We did everything we could to assure him that his teacher was kidding, that leprechauns were pretend, etc. But we're just his parents, and we don't know anything, and how could we possibly pretend to know more than his teacher? He sobbed and sobbed until he finally calmed down enough to go to sleep.
The next day, I pulled a different teacher aside and asked her, WTF with the leprechauns? She said for the holiday they flip over the chairs and pull things out of the kids' cubbies and sprinkle candy around the room, then leave little footprints that make it look like some leprechauns came in, ransacked the place, then went out the window. (So apparently, St. Patrick's day at Idlewild is a lot like when our house got broken into, only with candy.) I explained how terrified Connor had been the night before, and asked if maybe the teacher who originally told the tale could pull Connor aside and assure him that it's pretend. Because this is Connor we're talking about. Santa only works because there are presents involved and we've always talked about him. We can't introduce messy, candy-dropping leprechauns this late in the game! There's a chance we won't even do the tooth fairy, just because I know Connor would cry himself to sleep worrying about a fairy sneaking into his room.
(Quick time out: Another issue at play here is that I just have trouble perpetuating these myths. Although I didn't feel betrayed by my parents once I found out Santa/Easter Bunny/etc. were fictional, for some reason I feel really guilty lying right to my children's faces. I was as surprised as anyone to find this out about myself, but it's true. So between that and Connor's skittishness, I'm thinking Santa might be enough. I guess I'll play it by ear when the teeth start falling out. I'll make sure Connor doesn't tell your kids, though- I don't want to ruin it for everyone. Despite what you're about to read.)
Soon after I left the school, I got a call from Connor's lead teacher. "I thought about it, and if Connor is scared, maybe some other kids are scared. So I just won't do the leprechaun thing." Aaaack! I assured her that Connor would be fine if she told him the truth and asked him to keep it secret. "I don't want to be THAT parent!" I protested, but to no avail. "No, no, I don't want Connor crying himself to sleep. I just won't do it." And just like that, I ruined it for everyone. I guess I'll bring some candy on the 17th to assuage my guilt. But I refuse to go out through the window.
7 comments:
Oh well, its not your fault if she took it and ran with it.
You're not going to lie to your kids, huh? I was just telling Harper last night that she was going to go down the drain if I didn't hurry up and get her out of the bathtub. And she doesn't even understand my lies; all she hears is "blah, blah, blah."
See, that's a quick, easy lie. You don't have to remember an elaborate story to tell her every time you get near a bathtub or anything. Keeping my leprechaun facts straight would be too hard!
maybe the other parents will thank you! i've never heard of leprechauns and candy for st paddy's. even jiro would rather stick to green beer and pinching.
What I don't get is why they have to ransack the place? Even Santa coming down you ash and creasote infested fireplace doesn't make a mess, or maybe he cleans up after himself. The Easter bunny's just about the eggs and candy. WTF do the lepracauns have to make it personal and go through each kid's stuff?
YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELVES FOR LYING TO CONNOR! Connor and I both know that leprechauns are real, you can't fool us with your lies.
Stan
Okay first of all the leprechaun story is just creepy. I dont blame Connor, I would cry too.
Second, you and I have discussed that Connor and Grayson are alot alike. We recently broke the whole santa's not real thing to him this year- at age 10- it was very painful. We all cried. I would highly suggest not perpetuating that for a long time. I had NO idea he would take it so hard. I really thought he knew and was just playing along. I was very, very wrong. Anyway, if you would like more details let me know.
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