First of all, guilt is a four-letter word in The Irreverent Widow dictionary. I don’t want to hear it out of your mouth ever again. Please! Now, on to the business at hand. No, you are not required to attend said field trip. You are clearly still too distraught to be part of the whole, “happy, normal school kids with two living parents” scene. This is completely normal. Widowhood and extraordinary grief are your ticket to paradise in situations such as this. Think of it as an eternal get-out-of-jail-free card.

Tell the teacher you’re sick. If your child’s school is anything like mine, there is a waiting list of parents who have nothing better to do with their time than go on every field trip imaginable. You will make that cookie-baking mother down the street oh-so-happy when she hears she is needed as an emergency field trip replacement…and no, your child will not require therapy for this. I love my children as much as you love yours, and even I have accepted the fact that there will be much bigger things that lie down the road that will require the assistance of a reputable therapist. And remember dear, dear (NOT) Guilty Mom… when mommy’s happy…. everyone is happy!

Send that email and go back to bed with your tissue box. There will be other field trips.

Lovingly,

The Irreverent Widow