Popularity is elusive. Some think you need to wear the right clothes. Or have the right friends. Or it’s all about your parent’s connections.
Last Monday, my kids learned the key to their popularity: showcase an orange monstrosity to your friends. Yep, that’s all it takes. I took The Great Pumpkin to both of my kids’ schools and it was a HIT.
First stop was Hadley. Coincidentally, it was her school’s fun run fundraiser so I caught a glimpse of her.
In Action.
Inaction.
She did 14 laps, which equaled 3.5 miles–waaaay more than I thought she’d do. And it made me regret I didn’t pledge a lump sum but tried to motivate her by donating per lap.
I’ll know better next time. #PoorHouse
Jamie stayed for a little while but had to get back to work, which was a shame because he loves nothing better than catering to his adoring fans. And believe me, there were many. The entire school needed to walk by The Great Pumpkin on their way back to class.
Haddie did a great job explaining the ins and outs of pumpkin growing to her third graders.
And judging from a couple of the boys’ gaga reactions, she also cemented a few crushes. She’s cute and grows huge pumpkins? That’s hot.
Then, it was off to Bode’s school where all three first-grade classes came to check it out.
He did a fantastic job talking about his growing strategy, after which we opened it up for questions. Big mistake. While most kids were great, there was one little boy I couldn’t get to quiet down. After about a minute of expounding upon what he’d do if he had a giant pumpkin, I tried to move on by talking over him.
And he kept talking. I kept ignoring him until finally, he shouted, “I AM NOT FINISHED YET!”
Believe me, I was.
At the end of the day when I picked up Bode from the bus stop, I asked him:
“So, what did your friends say about the pumpkin?”
“They thought it was cool. I was second in line to come home and the boy at the front gave up his spot to me and said, ‘You have a big pumpkin so you can be first.’”
As far as the first-grade pecking order goes, that’s as good as it gets.
I'm a Canadian-born mom of two, former Denver Post columnist, family travel writer, editor of MileHighMamas.com and 9News contributor. Expert on all things Utah, Denver, family and travel. Lover of laughter and life. Happily married to a man obsessed with growing The Great Pumpkin. 