It’s Spirit Week at school, and every day Miles has a different theme to dress up for. Today’s was “Pajama Day,” and while you’d think Miles, a child who historically never wants to get dressed in the morning, would be absolutely thrilled about this, he exhibited quite a bit of trepidation as we pulled into the parking lot.
“What if it isn’t Pajama Day?” he asked sheepishly.
You see, Jaclyn had already jumped the gun on Spirit Week last week, prepping him for the event seven days too early. Miles’s lack of conviction was rooted in a very real mistake.
“Oh, today is definitely Pajama Day,” I assured him. Although, given his tone of voice and the fact that only Jaclyn had confirmed this on the way out the door, I now even found myself doubting it. What if he was right? What if it wasn’t Pajama Day and I was going to be left to deal with the fallout?
As we got out of the car, two other students were entering the building. Neither of them appeared to be wearing pajamas.
“No one is wearing pajamas…” Miles was starting to get very self-conscious.
“I’m sure there will be other kids wearing pajamas today,” I said, hoping I was right.
As we entered his classroom, Miles refused to round the corner, preferring to remain hidden in an alcove by the door where his classmates couldn’t see him. It was up to me to prove to him that it was Pajama Day. Fortunately, the schedule on the door confirmed it. I pointed it out to him, but it wasn’t enough. He needed confirmation that his classmates were also wearing pajamas.
I craned my neck to look at the students, seated across the room, and quickly spotted a couple whose names I knew. Thankfully, nearly everyone was in pajamas.
That was all it took. I could almost feel Miles’s tension subside as he emerged and hurried over to the group. He had a big grin on his face as he sat down, and for once he didn’t even look back at me.
The Perils (& Pride) of Paternity 