We've Got Spirit, Yes We Do!

I did something this morning that I never thought I would do. I put a sticker with M's school logo on my car window. I am that mom - driving a black SUV with two car seats and toys and goldfish littering the floor, empty Starbucks cups in the many cup holders, and now sporting a school logo sticker on the window...and I am proud of it.

I have always judged those people who put school name stickers on their car. Ok, so you or someone in your family went to U Conn, or you may have visited it and picked up a sticker and randomly slapped it on your car. I think no different of you. Or there are the people that have 4-5

Ok. Now you are just bragging. 

school stickers on their car ranging from elementary schools to college. Yes, you are proud of where your kid went to school, but I don't know you and I don't need to know your family history while I drive behind you. It doesn't bother me that they are proud of where they went to school of course, I just don't understand why people have to advertise it on their cars. Are you really not able to distinguish your Subaru from other Subaru's in the parking lot without your school stickers?

Ok, so at the root of this rant is this - jealousy. I have never felt allegiance to a school that I attended, or so much pride about having attended that school that I need to show off that school logo. I have never gone back to my high school for Homecoming or other alumni events. I don't really read the Alumni Magazine (who needs these now that we have Facebook anyhoo!) Sure I meet up with my closest friends when I go home for holidays, but that is about the extent of it. I was even a cheerleader in high school - the epitome of school spirit - and as soon as I left for college I didn't really look back.

I went to Boston College and right now, I live about 10 minutes away from the campus where I spent 4 very memorable years. When is the last time I went back? 8 years ago. Do I own any BC clothing? I think I might have one t-shirt from college days. Do I ever watch the sporting events on tv? No. Do I care about the sports teams at BC? Nope. Do I want my kids to go to college there? I really don't care. Don't get me wrong, I had a wonderful time there, and the friends I made there I will have till the end, but I don't have any school pride when it comes to BC.

you will never find me in BC colored ballet flats.
Although I will say they are damn cute. 

I have friends that hang BC flags outside their home. They bring their kids to the football games. Their kids have BC clothing. They have BC license plates. They have BC grill covers. They know their kids will be going to BC, because to them, there is no other school. This I cannot understand.

I wish I could feel that way about where I went to school, but I don't.

But as a parent the situation is totally different. Sure it is just pre-school, but I am totally proud to share with everyone where M goes to school! I have drank the Montessori kool-aid and I want to tell you all about it (in another post to come)! But first I will start with this sticker on my car.

Why? Why would the woman that judges other people for advertising where their kids go to school place an ad on her own car? Because I am proud to be a parent of a child at M's school! I love everyone that works there. I love that M loves to go to school each morning. I love who M has become because of her school, and her teachers. I want other people to feel that same way about their kid's school, and possibly send their kid to the same school.

Wait...is this what all those crazies with school stickers on their car think too?

Lightbulb!!

Call me crazy now too.

I do promise to never have a bumper sticker on my car telling you that my child is an honor roll student. That will just be a given.