Hey Charlotte,
Oopsy, looks like you missed adding my kid’s name to Mrs. Vonner’s teacher appreciation gift. Do you think you could add her, as originally requested by me? Thanks so much for your job as Room Mom! 

Hey Steph,
My pleasure! Thanks for the appreciation! Sorry, didn’t see Maya’s name or anything from you…

Hey Charlotte,
Oh? That’s weird, I’m sorry. I put it there, please see below.

Hey Steph,
Oh, I see it now. Huh, I guess your email was buried and not noticeable.

Hey Charlotte,
Thanks so much, you’re so awesome! Sorry for being unnoticeable and complicating the project; not my intention! 

Hey Steph,
You’re so sweet. So weird I didn’t see your response right away.

Hey Charlotte, 
Hmmm, not sure, but maybe because your original email to the parents is a little long?

Hey Steph,
Thanks for that input. The email sent was actually very informative, and hopefully will help alleviate any unnecessary questions about teacher appreciation week activities. Not sure if you read it all?….

Hey Charlotte,
Thanks for the reminder about reading the entire email. Haven’t had a chance yet. Been at work all day. That full-time job life! 

Hey Steph,
Well, maybe when you’re on your hour lunch or one of your 15-minute breaks you can take a look. I’d love to follow up with you later, but with Sabrina’s younger brother being only 8 months old, I don’t have much downtime. Even when Chase naps, it’s clean up, dinner prep, laundry, etc. 

Hey Charlotte, 
Oh, no need to follow up later with me. I’ll be in meetings the rest of day with some executives who are fairly energized for a presentation I’m giving. Looking forward to connecting with them on a peer level. Thanks for the suggestion to re-look at my emails, though – you’re too kind! 

Hey Steph,
No worries that you won’t be reviewing your emails. I have what I need for Maya to be included in the teacher gift. You can stay focused on your work away from home, and I’ll make sure she knows she’s valued and included, in case there are any complicated feelings she has. I got you!

Hey Charlotte,
Wow, that’s amazing. Really looking forward to seeing her name on the gift; so grateful that you took so much extra time and effort to make sure that you cut and paste her name from my email into the preset Adobe Acrobat digital card. 

Hey Steph,
You’re so welcome! Speaking of digital, I wanted to mention that yours was the only family that didn’t contribute to Mrs. Vonner’s Amazon gift card. Wasn’t sure if that was an error, or maybe you’ve been waiting for a paycheck to clear….? It’s a minimum $25.00 contribution, and is of course, optional, though everyone else has put in (some have put in $100.00). No rush on a response, of course – I know you’re super busy! 

Hey Charlotte, 
Aw, that’s so generous of you! We’re all set, though; already gave Michelle (Mrs. Vonner) a gift card for $250 for LeClaire’s Grille and a bottle of wine. Thanks, tho. Hope she likes the Amazon gift card! Cute idea!

Hey Steph, 
Oh! That’s lovely of you. Very generous. The only thing I can think of, though, is the gift segment that’s in Morningside Elementary’s Parent Handbook. Have you had time to check it out? It has a rule about individual family gifts for staff (and also alcohol). Might want to take a look. Or I could, and then screenshot it for you. I can also contact Mrs. Vonner and let her know you may be asking for the items back per the policy. LMK

Hey Charlotte,
No, no worries. I’ll take a look at the handbook, and I’ll just double check with Principal Sala, since I work with her husband, and she knows me from some PTA donor events. Thanks though. 

Hey Steph,
How wonderful that you know Mr. Sala! Well, I hope you’re able to work it out with the Principal, but just in case, I have a text in to the Superintendent to confirm the rules. Just to help you out. Will let you know. 

Hey Charlotte,
You know what? I just actually called Mayor Brooks and he is totally fine with everything. I told him you were working really hard as Room Mom, also. He might be calling you. Maybe you can let him know you need a little community support for your duties, since you missed seeing my kid’s name even though I sent you an email about it? I’m sure he’d be happy to find you some volunteers that could oversee your tasks. 

Hey Steph, 
You are so amazing, thank you for that offer! I did just speak with Mayor Brooks and during our conversation, I missed the deadline to update the e-card for Mrs. Vonner. I’m so sorry! Looks like Maya won’t be included. But I can always send Mrs. Vonner a side note that your family wanted to contribute but couldn’t, due to schedules, work, and other obligations? 

Hey Charlotte,
Oh, that’s no problem that you excluded my daughter from the gift! What a great opportunity for me to discuss the importance of attention to detail and the ability to multitask. This is super! 

Hey Steph,
There’s actually a great video about that topic on PBS Kids; might be easier to plop Maya in front of the TV to get that information, just in case you aren’t able to dedicate the one-on-one time to her. Just a thought. 

Hey Charlotte, 
Great idea, thank you! I’ll do that right after she takes her own, unassisted shower and packs her lunch for tomorrow. Gotta love an independent, non-coddled child! 

Hey Steph,
Just in case you haven’t read (and I guess you’d want to pass this along to your kiddo who’s doing the food prep work for you), the FDA just came out with new guidelines, and Lunchables and Taco Bell leftovers are not the best type of food for grade-level children, as convenient as they are. 

Hey Charlotte,
Thanks for that great info, I’ll def check out those guidelines after I complete my presentation to high level corporate executives who will likely tell me at the end of my discussion that it’s refreshing to see a determined woman who can do it all. 

Hey Steph, 
I’m so proud to know you, you’re such an inspo! Stylish, too! Love how you rock those short skirts and can only imagine how valued you are by your male colleagues. You go, girl! 

Hey Charlotte, 
Aw, thanks, girlfriend! Yeah, it’s fun to dress up and take care of my attire. Do kinda get jealous of you girlies in those leggings and oversized tank tops with the sports bra hanging out and the basic ponytail, though. You guys look so comfy and unconcerned! 

Hey Steph, 
For sure! We are comfy – it’s easy to be when your body comes back to its shape after giving birth. It’s such a great feeling to take care of yourself and work out. 

Hey Charlotte,
Speaking of my male colleagues, some of them are looking expectantly into my office to summon me to our meeting. I am so grateful for your understanding that I’ll have to cut this conversation short. 

Hey Steph, 
Oh, of course I understand. Us moms have to support one another! I hope all goes well in your presentation, though I’m sure your colleagues give you quite a bit of leeway. You’ll be in my thoughts, amiga! 

Hey Charlotte,
Thanks, Mama! And, you in mine, as you perform high-level Pinterest searches and advertise your Room Mom activities as a ‘job.’ 

Hey Steph,
Thank you, friend.

Hey Charlotte,
No, my friend, thank you.