Just Exactly How Many Tardies Do You Have?

Sometimes I feel like I'm back in grade school again and I have to do my best to impress everyone and make sure we're on time and looking put together. Today I learned that Elijah has received a few tardies since the beginning of the year. I only found out because I asked if he got one yesterday (we were 2 min late) and he said yes so then I asked if he had gotten more than that and he said yes, so then I asked how many and he wasn't sure!? (Side note: In my observations of a grown and young boy I've noticed that they seem to take things in stride and don't feel the need to share unless they're about to die.  Even then you might only know something's wrong because someone else (a girl, likely) saw them and told you about it.)  So I'm torn between feeling like an incapable parent and feeling annoyed by the school. I mean I get him there by 8:17 which is three minutes before the bell (enough time to run to the class and be on time, right?) but apparently we're late A LOT and now I feel bad and it's like I'm the one who's late and I have to blame someone other than myself, because how could I be getting all these kids out the door and ready to be there by 8:10 so he's NOT late, right?!  Blaming someone else for my short comings is something that after marrying Phil I became aware that I needed to work on (I'm really a lot better about it, right Phil?!). It's hard for me to admit that I need to change. That I am the one who needs to follow the SAME rules as everyone else and get my kid to school by 8:10 so he can be early instead of late. But does anyone else have FOUR little kids to get ready and out the door (fed or else they won't go, diapers changed--TWO!, ready for preschool drop-off--with two pony-tails or braids or whatever fits her fancy or else she's not "beautiful", front door closed--the last one out CLOSES the front door-how many times do we sing that at our house and it's almost daily that someone has to undo their seat belt and run back up the steps and slam it shut, lunches and homework in hand--Noah also must have a lunch bag or else he's not going-and he also better be the one to put the key in the ignition and buckle his own seatbelt after he closes the car door or we're not going to move, I'll stop there).  The point is, I'm sure there are others who have four and who struggle with much bigger crisis than pigtails and that's what I'll remember when I wake up at 6:30AM tomorrow and everyday after that so that I am certain that we get to school on time!  The End.