A Parent’s Reflection Written by Acorn Parent Katie Prescott
Hello Everyone. My name is Katie and I have three kiddos- Cleo (7), Clara (5) and RE (2). Over the last five consecutive years at Acorn School drop off and pickup, I’ve learned that there are four types of people that exchange goods in the pickup line: 1. Those who park their car and courteously walk over to the car in which they are exchanging. 2. Those who hand off items to Miss Sue and say, “Can you make sure that ___ gets this?” 3. Those that park next to the car on their way out and hand over their items (only holding up the line for a minute or two). And 4. (That’s me) Individuals who pull their car so close to the other lane that they can hand over their goods through the driver's side window without unbuckling their seatbelt. Over the last five years I’ve made great friends and exchanged many goods. I’d like to describe some of my favorites.
When I was 10 weeks pregnant with my third, Luke Rogers brought me a junior beef sandwich from the North Shore just because he knew I loved roast beef sandwiches. That day made my life. I’ve exchanged many seeds, seedlings, twigs and plants, with many, but mostly Jared Roberts. I’ve exchanged sourdough starter and canned goods. I’ve given and received many bags of clothes from infancy through size 8 for my children, many of which had gone through many Acorn kids. Lots of these clothes have been passed onto other Acorn families as my kids have outgrown them. I’ve been handed worn winter boots to save some money buying new ones. I’ve received books, countless mason jars that have been returned to me, and even borrowed car potties when my kids decided they didn’t need to pee before we left the house. I’ve embarrassingly asked unknown parents for sunscreen and bug spray on many mornings when I wasn’t stocked. I handed a mug of a hot latte to a friend who was running late and needed it to survive a field trip (I made sure she drank from a coffee mug with a picture of my family’s face on it so she would chuckle every time she took a sip). I’ve been honored to be on the receiving end of teachers and friends who supported me with meal trains as I gave birth to my last child. I’ve carefully and lovingly handed off my sweet girls to educators relatively clean and had them returned muddy, covered in paint, and so full of love.
But the less tangible things I’ve exchanged are the ones I won’t forget. Exchanges of exciting news of a baby arriving and the loss of another. Tears of joy following children hitting developmental milestones and tears of sadness and frustration when their child just wouldn’t use the potty, wouldn’t go to sleep at night or still had trouble transitioning to school. There was one winter morning when I struggled to get my three children under six years old to the 8:30 am drop off. Two of them were in classes at Acorn school and both required extensive assistance for dressing themselves in their full winter gear. I remember hysterically crying while our van door froze that morning and I could barely load the baby’s carseat over the front seat of my car while I consoled my older kids who just “couldn’t even” that morning. I got to school late and started to explain to Miss Sue. I was still in my jammies, covered in spit up, wearing no winter gear of my own, and drinking cold coffee. I lost control of all emotions and started to cry in her arms. It was one of those mornings. I remember she took my weight, started to count backwards from 5. 5-4-3-2-1, so slowly, describing to me that this was a strategy that she used with our kids when they were having a difficult time holding it together at school. I remember at that moment feeling so held and heard. She understood the difficulties I was having and listened without judgment. She created space for me without rushing and helped me to regulate my emotions before getting back in the van with a screaming infant. I’ve been most grateful knowing that my children have been treated with the same kind of love and respect. I wonder, if everyone treated each other how Miss Sue treated me in that moment, what would our current world look like?
As we all venture into new– new schools, new teachers, new adventures– I feel the excitement and fear. When it feels overwhelming, I try to remember some of the lessons our kids have learned along the way and lean into those: “Don’t be afraid to get messy.” “Lead with kindness and curiosity.” And “If you keep climbing, eventually you will reach the top of the boulders.”
Acorn School, I will miss you next year (but will be back)! Parents, best of luck!