About Rebecca Eckler
Since becoming pregnant with her daughter Rowan, Canadian journalist and author Rebecca Eckler has penned three hilarious books, including the best-selling Knocked Up. Catch Rebecca’s weekly unique perspective on motherhood and single parenthood.
“I made the biggest faux pas,” I moaned to a friend the other day. I’ve never once mistaken a non-pregnant woman and asked her, “when is the baby due?” but this felt like a faux pas on that level.
I received an e-mail from a mother asking if my daughter was available for a play date. I wrote back saying: “Sure. The only day Rowan is free is Monday. So why don’t I pick Rowan and Stella (not her real name) up from school and Stella can eat dinner over here and then you can pick her up.” The response was not what I expected.
The response was, “This isn’t STELLA’S mother. Helen (not her real name) is my daughter. Did I confuse you?” Actually, no, she didn’t confuse me. The truth was, I honestly didn’t know that Helen was her daughter. On the one hand, maybe I should study the class list and all the mothers name more diligently. That way I’d know what child belongs to what mother and when a mother calls to make a play date, I’d know exactly who her child was.
On the other hand, I feel like saying, “give me a break!” It’s a new school, with all new classmates and mothers, and not even my daughter can name all her classmates, so how am I supposed to know all the classmates names along with their mothers names? So, no, the mother didn’t confuse me. I’m just confused, apparently, in general.
I also had another faux pas recently when sending out my daughter’s birthday invites. This year I was having an all-girls party, but by accident sent out an e-mail to a boy’s mother at her former school. She wrote back, “Brad (not his real name) would love to come,” even though the subject line read Rowan’s ALL-GIRLS Dance Party. I had to send that mother an e-mail saying Brad was welcome to come, but it will be all girls, and it was totally my fault.
It really is hard for me to remember all the kids' names and their mothers' names (especially when many of the mothers don’t have the same last name as their children). I think I know who I’m picking up from school for this play date. Kidding. I totally know. I won’t be screwing up this child and her mother’s name…ever again.
Do you have a hard time keeping track of your children’s classmates' names and their parents? Share!
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