dropping the ball

Last Wednesday was Jem's Easter party at preschool. His preschool asks parents to sign up to bring something to one party each year. I usually try to sign up for the earliest party to get it out of the way so by this point in the year, my only responsibility is getting him to school. Or at least that is what I thought.
As we hopped out of the van on Wednesday, one of Jem's classmates was walking in wearing a toy construction hat with streamers on it. It seemed a little odd to me but I figured to each his own. And then I walked Jem into his room and realized that every single child had an easter hat. Bonnets with ribbons, ski hats with easter eggs, sparkling headbands with bunny ears. Even the teachers were wearing elaborate easter hats. And Jem had nothing.
Now it has happened before. I have occasionally forgotten about something that was going on at school and have found myself digging through the mini-van trying to find a toy for show 'n tell.  But this was different. When I walked into his classroom there was no moment of "Oh no. I forgot about the special hat." I just stood there looking around trying to figure out what was going on and why I was the only one who didn't know about it. I didn't forget to make Jem a hat because I never even knew that I was supposed to. Somehow I completely missed that memo. And as my kid stood there looking at all of the other techni-color hats, I felt like the worst mom in the world. Thankfully, one of his teachers had an extra set of bunny ears and all was made right. But still. How did I completely miss it?
And yes, I have the excuse of having three young kids, one of them still an infant. But I know that as my kids get older, life will become even busier and that I had better get my act together. My only consolation is that when they are older, some of the responsibility will shift to them and we can both feel bad about it together.


photo by flowerista2010  http://www.flickr.com/photos/violetfroman/5100980469/