My MPV’s FDAP

As it goes, ‘first days’ never work out the way you think they will be. Last night, I set aside everything that Ri would need in the morning including a pretty mango-coloured dress with sunflowers on it. I even set aside matching hairbands for it! I did not want to be late for FDAP (First Day At Playgroup). I wanted Ri to be well-rested and I did not want to leave home in a frenzy.
Well, I have never really spent a lot of time thinking about Ri’s FDAP. But if I had, I would have probably envisioned RD and me holding hands and staring as our ‘baby’ walked into the famed corridors of playschool. While he wiped a delicate tear off his cheek, I would chant slokas within my head for her bright and shining playschool future. Or, not!
For starters, Ri slept very late last night which meant she woke up late! For some reason, my daughter, who is a MPV (morning-potty-veteran) refused to use the potty this morning. The mango-coloured dress was too big for her and I had to quickly change strategy on her FDAP outfit! And, pick out matching socks and hair-bands!
RD called to find out how FDAP was going. So much for holding hands, we ended up fighting on the phone. In the midst of enquiring about FDAP, he casually dropped in a hint that he may be extending his trip which really annoyed me. And, that resulted in a heated quarrel.
After I banged the phone down, I realized that the FDAP paraphernalia, carefully arranged in front of the Gods last night had been moved this morning! A little bit of frenzied searching later (exactly the kind I wanted to avoid which is why I kept in all together in the first place), I found it and we were on our way, 20 minutes behind schedule.
Ri fussed all the way to school. She is charming and engaging on a normal day but well, it’s FDAP and Murphy’s Law was at work!
I kinda-sorta-threatened her all the way to school, not exactly in line with chanting slokas for her future.
We reached school, 20 minutes late!
The hall was filled with anxious looking parents. Seeing L’s mom was a relief. Ri loves her and was instantly transported to her cheerful, charming self on seeing her and graciously posed for some FDAP photos.
L’s mom graciously agreed to carry Ri into the scheduled playgroup area. The teacher asked us to leave at that point and asked me to come back in 30 mins.
I left hearing Ri scream and cry behind that door. Strangely, I did not feel nervous or anxious. 
When I returned,  Ri looked visibly relieved to see me, nose and tears running. As I hugged my baby, I got a faint and familiar smell. Poor Ri. I don’t know whether she had been uncomfortable about her new surroundings or the fact that her morning potty routine had been delayed!
A coordinator was handing out small boiled sweets in a tray to the newbies. When she handed over the selection to Ri, I said in a rather uppity tone that my daughter did not eat sweets. Well, Ri chose at that moment to prove me completely wrong and begged fervently for a pineapple candy! I knew it had been a long morning for her and neither Ri nor I had the energy to negotiate.
On our way back home, I felt confused and tired. Have I made the right choice for my daughter? Why did some of the cartoon characters on the wall look mildly creepy? Will she settle in? Why was the school handing out candy to the children? Should I have selected something bigger and fancier? Should I be making such a big deal about it my head? And so on and so forth.
FDAP’s. Fond and frenzied memories for both mom and babies.