What's even better is when you LOOK unprepared in front of the daycare staff.

I liked the vote for Team Emu, Uncle Tom. But I'm happy to report Zoey is now an official 4B Owl.

Drop off at daycare this morning was hilarious even to me, although I was the one flailing around looking like Un-Mother-of-the-Year. First, the sign in notebook. Flipped to Zoey's page...and it wasn't there. Okay. Which notebook is it in?!? Rifle through the assortment of notebooks on the counter...found it. T-minus 12 minutes to get to work. Don't panic...

Next stop, Zoey's cubby. Or, what used to be her cubby, back in the days of Ms. Nicole's class. S**t. Totally didn't budget in enough time this morning to locate Zoey's new room/new cubby AND get my butt to work on time. Quick, Zoey! Race Mommy to the gym!

T-minus 9 minutes until 7 a.m. staff meeting.

Me: (racing in to gym) Um, hi. Hi everyone. Good morning! Um, so, Zoey is apparently in Ms. Mandy's class now? Where might that...be?

Ms. Yvonne: (OH MY GOD I WAS SO HAPPY TO SEE HER THIS MORNING. She is normally an evening-shift person, whom I am accustomed to seeing on the flip side of my work day. She is the sweetest, kindest, most grandmotherly woman at the daycare. If you have to look like an idiot in front of someone, she's totally your gal.) Oh! How exciting for Zoey! Her classroom is downstairs, right by the playground.

Me: Right. Downstairs. Quick, Zoey! Race Mommy downstairs! I'm sure your cubby is there somewhere!

After a hasty swooping-up of spare clothing, blanket, and stuffed animal from the old cubby, we 'hustle-feet' down the stairs to find Zoey's new, very grown-up, complete-with-coat-hook-and-shelf cubby.

Zoey: Mommy! I don't need extra clothes anymore! Because I'm big and I don't have accidents!

Me: Awesome, bug. We're keeping them here just in case.

Zoey: No, Mommy! I don't have accidents anymore!

Me: Uh-huh, uh-huh, take off your jacket, come on, race me back to the gym!

T-minus 6 minutes to staff meeting. So not happening.

It bears mentioning that 'racing' your preschooler up and down a flight of stairs while wearing Danskos (the nursing profession's equivalent of high heels) is not a bright idea.

I consider the final sprint to the gym part of my training for an upcoming 10K race in July. I plant Zoey by the window, as always, rush through the big-hug-big-kiss-have-a-fun-day! routine and I'm out the door. And this? Is why I chose a daycare directly across the street from where I work.

So, for those of you keeping score at home, here's the breakdown of Zoey's first day as an Owl:

Cubby and classroom located: yes

Did Mommy make it to her staff meeting on time: barely

With a sprained ankle: no

Happy preschooler upon pick-up from Owl classroom: yes

Still insistent that the extra clothing in her cubby 'must belong to someone else because I don't have accidents anymore!': yes

Will Mommy look a little less unprepared on Thursday: let's hope so.