I bet Houdini hated pre-K
That's right, the Hungarian escape artist so hated the perils of pre-kindergarten -- so hated coloring between the lines and tracing capital letters and rhyming "dog" with "hog" and dealing with chirpy teachers trying to tame the constant donnybrook of 4-year-olds at war -- that he started devising clever ruses to flee his chalky captors. When forced with the hell of pre-K, his mind worked overtime, concocting glorious escape plans of ditching school. Sometimes this included tears and flailing and dry heaves and Band-Aids and fake sleep and a sudden dislike of chicken nuggets. Never give up, he reasoned, even when your father is on the verge of breakdown. Yep, that's how Erik Weisz became Houdini.
Coming soon: The Amazing Kid Lulu.
Happy Tuesday everybody.
Sean Daly is the pop music critic for the St. Petersburg Times. His CD collection -- from Journey to Dylan, Prince to U2, Public Enemy to Stan Getz -- is much bigger and better than yours.
SD,
Last week, when Gustav was hanging around our neck of the woods, I had a series of meetings with the school principal about whether or not to cancel classes. Take my word for it, you'll never get more rapt attention from your children than when they find out you're part of the decision to cancel school.
Here's a transcript of tonight's bedtime conversation:
Daisy: Did you hear that thunder?
Me: Yes, Daisy.
Daisy: Is that Hanna?
Me: Yes, Daisy.
Daisy: Do you need to call the principal?
Me: Goodnight, Daisy.
Posted by: Jeff in Cuba | September 02, 2008 at 10:19 PM
"Hall Monitors on the First Day of OLD SCHOOL"
The Sean Daly Cheerleaders
Posted by: The Sean Daly Cheerleaders | September 02, 2008 at 07:23 PM
My bad: thought you were going to go into more details on Lulu's saga, not that I don't already get the general picture. Just was hoping to read your rollicking rendition of her maneuvers.
Can we assume last week's illness was not really an illness? She got you then, but you're onto her now?
Can just imagine the stress and strain on all of you. Good luck.
Posted by: Lori | September 02, 2008 at 07:05 PM
Sean, even when you're a half wit you're wittier than most. Much better to be a half-wit than a nit-wit, ya know.
This is a compliment, by the way. It's sure to get lost in shuffle of the blogosphere.
Where is the love?
Posted by: Marissa | September 02, 2008 at 07:03 PM
Per usual, I'm losing the battle of wits.
Posted by: Sean Daly | September 02, 2008 at 01:38 PM
My third-grader actually got up 20 minutes early this morning, and we waited at the bus stop for 15.
Better than last year when he was practicing his sullen teen look.
Posted by: Michelle | September 02, 2008 at 01:30 PM
This promises to be a great story, especially as told in the usual Daly style. Can hardly wait to hear it.
Posted by: Lori | September 02, 2008 at 12:32 PM
If you aren't enjoying the perils of pre-K, let me warn you that the full out hell of the pre-TEEN years await you. It's drama, drama, bad hair days, drama, drama...and I have a BOY, so I can't imagine facing that dark void with a girl!
Posted by: Sherrie | September 02, 2008 at 12:22 PM
What the hell?! I red this twice to try to figure what`s the idea behind this post Sean.I don`t get it.Are you giving us high culture or did your Kid Lulu learned this at kindergarten and taught you? I spent this last month surrounded by Monet,Manet,Renoir and others and i`m stunned by this post!
Posted by: Miguel | September 02, 2008 at 11:52 AM
Poor kid! She's just smarter than the rest of them!
Posted by: MaiSitter | September 02, 2008 at 11:46 AM