An afternoon of picking up the kids should be an easy task. After running errands and dealing with the annoyance of dubious needs, I shouldn’t have to worry about a new pick-up method. Morning drop offs are crazy enough. The school is just off of a busy street near a highway, residing on a narrow road where residents wait their rightful turn to back out. An array of buses surrounded me. Children darted out in front of me. Some with orchestra equipment, which seems a bit tough to carry alone.

After school is relatively much more hectic. Buses multiply and middle school pre-teens add to the chaotic mixture with their after school bliss. Let us not forget the teachers, who after a long busy day scramble to be on their way with a hopeful gleam of productive teaching in their eyes.

Ten minutes before the bell actually rings, there is not a parking square to spare. I used to park in the shade. A designated first-come-first-serve right amongst the parental pick-up artists. This unofficial parking area is not only a breezy delight, it also allows one to see when the children disperse out to the front of the school. There is always enough room for other cars to pass through the parking lot. Today however, there were bright reflective orange cones replacing my cool haven of waiting. No parking. Whistles blowing and arms waving. Do not stop, do not pass go. Cones on either side of a narrow drive-thru where I was instructed to “Keep going around,” by the definitive lunch lady. Slowly I drive around, while watching for cars flowing in to follow the leader. I watch for pedestrians and keep an eye out for my children as the merriest of merrily go around. When I finally spot my kids I halt to a stop, rush them into the car, and continue my round about way through the tedious drive-thru and finally exit with a heaved sigh.