Today, I took Fern to her very first live Playschool concert! Or I would have.
You see, it turns out that despite flattering myself that I am fully licensed on this mothering gig, I am still very much on my L-plates.
I've been more excited about this concert than Fern (in truth, she had no idea) and, when I rocked up this morning, I expected to buy our tickets at the door. Here's the promo poster:
Tell me the truth - - would YOU have believed you could have bought tickets at the door? So, I got there right on 9.30am and perhaps should have cottoned onto something being afoot when I was forced to park the car 40km from the venue. But I am even thicker than you might imagine, and when my blistered feet eventually made it inside I was completely taken aback. I had expected a few mums and bubs jostling for position at the front of the stage... but I hadn't expected 4 bazillion frenzied mothers and as many children with crazy looks in their eyes akin to punters vying for pole-position in the mosh-pit of a U2 concert.
I was frightened. But it didn't matter. As I signed in, I asked whether I could still buy tickets and the kind lady behind the counter looked at me sympathetically. Behind my bravado she could sense my complete lack of a clue how these things work and she let me know that no, there were no tickets available. That these concerts needed to be booked 3 milliseconds after they go on sale if you have any hope of securing a golden ticket.
I could have cried! I looked hopefully around for scalpers... but no joy there either. How could I possibly have been so clueless? I mean, every other mother on the Central Coast clearly knew to pre-purchase tickets!
We left with our tails between our legs. All dressed up with nowhere to go! In such a situation there is no other option than the one we then chose - - we hit the shops. A strong coffee and a orange-and-lemon muffin later, we braved the indoor playground. It was almost empty. During school holidays! Why? Well, they were all at bloody Playschool, weren't they?!!!?
A strong contender for Mother of the Year. Yep.