Holidays at Pre-school

My oldest started pre-school this year. This is the first time I have had to deal with Other Kids' Moms in a school setting. I thought we were doing well. We had a birthday party. We have brought snack. We do show and share. My kid has not bit, hit, kicked or otherwise hurt another child (so far). I make sure to get dressed before dropping off and picking up my kid. Despite what others do, I do not stop IN THE MIDDLE of the carpool circle so that no other cars can pull up behind me. I wave. I make small talk. GOOD. MOM. stuff.
Now, though, it is the holidays. We go to a Christian school, so I can safely say Christmas.

So. Today is the Christmas Party. I send:
Apples (at the teacher's request. Had it been me, I would have sent something that would have left all 17 kids hopped up on sugar for a week)
A gift for the teacher
A gift for the "gift exchange"

First thing I notice when I drop off my child- all the other little girls are wearing dresses. Like the kind of dress that I got my kid for pictures and Christmas mass and parties. My kid is wearing a pair of snowflake tights and a shirt that says "Elf Sized." That I got second-hand. On-line. Oh. And Pink sequined shoes from Target. This is a party for 3 year olds people. Oh, well. Elf doesn't notice. She is trying to carry her present to the teacher.

On to the present. I think I did pretty good- an embroidered coffee cuff and a starbucks gift card. I was a teacher. I know how important a) having your name on everything and b) coffee is to life. Apparently, I am at the bottom end of spending. Pampered Chef gift baskets? Come on people. This woman has my child two days a week.

I leave. Return for the "show" later. Confession time.
I HATE school performances. HATE. Hated them when I was a kid. Hated them as a teacher. And guess what? Even though my darling child is up there? Still hate them. Seriously. I look at my watch. Wonder how many songs they are going to do. How many times you can re-make "I'm a Little Tea Pot" to suit a holiday (apparently, a lot) I go because I have to. I video. I post said videos for family and friends. But by no means to I actually like these performances. Sorry kids. Anyway, I get through it.

Now, the kids open gifts. This is the deal. Each kid brings in a gift, and they will draw a number and get one of the gifts that another kid brought in. Price was supposed to be $5 or less. Have you been shopping lately? It is hard to find something (that is not a piece of crap) for that price. You can't even buy a single My Little Pony. I buy a baby doll. Target brand. Elf has one. She loves it. But the thing is cheap. Like, made in China, the head is held on with a zip-tie cheap. We wrap it up and send it in.

Apparently, I am a BAD.MOM. I am the only one that spent $5. Kids open: Barbies. Littlest Pet Shop. Real HotWheels (not the ones you get at the Dollar Store) Elf got FOUR dress-up paper dolls. Disney ones. With Stickers. And I didn't even take off the Circo tag, so now everyone knows that I got the cheap Target doll.

I am not even going to get into the conversation that I had with the mom next to me about the Gymboree Outlet.