She embraced a total stranger with the greatest hug she could muster, and this stranger, in turn, said, "Hi, my name is Mrs. Schreffler, welcome to our Kindergarten family".

I'm excited for my daughter, starting Kindergarten, the glow and wonder blushing her face. Approval, glimmering in her eyes, of what her other home is going to be. Finding her place, getting comfortable in her new space, pointing out the mistaken print of her name all over the place. "It's Kristen, with an 'e'. That's not the way." Still, this didn't bother her more than 5 seconds. She was soon off to exploring the rest of the room, a scavenger hunt to find where everything is placed.

But I'm left with so many sour notes, big and small. No, I'm not PMS-ing; moody, perhaps; pissed off -totally. I guess I was expecting so much more from this experience, and I feel shorthanded, cheated. I volunteer regularly at the school, am a PTA member, worked there, so I have a clear understanding of hour things are done. I personally fill out all the papers pertaining to my children, and of course I know how to write my daughter's name. Don't tell me it was misspelled on her enrollment papers. Honestly, I don't care what you call me, just make sure you know what to call my child, and to address her correctly. As a five year old, I would have been into all the toys and books myself; as the mother of said five year old, I did not feel welcome, did not feel 'at home'. Some first impression.

Sheesh.

Onto my fourth grader.

His classroom? Oh yeah, he doesn't have one. He'll be going to the Media Center on Monday (with the entire fourth grade), because their portable rooms are not ready. Portables. "So, Mrs. Powers, how many children did the school grow for this school year?", I ask. "We've grown 300. The good news is that we have so many new teachers, and our class size is 19. And don't bring your supplies in until I ask, as we have nowhere to place them yet."

Oh, I forget, supplies. Why was I not notified before yesterday during Open House, not to purchase my daughters supplies for school, because the Kindergarten teacher had a particular list for her students? After all, the school did provide parents with a flyer for the supplies needed for the new school year back in June. Supplies for my children were purchased over a week ago. Now, not a single one of the items I purchased for my little princess is on the teachers list. I have to go return all these items and purchase all the new ones on the new list. Then again, why were we not notified about Open House/Meet Your Teacher until Wednesday night? Puh-leeze! Is this a prelude of what this school year is going to be?

I am not amused.

Bitchy, you betcha!