Recently, I asked Helen Coffey, Chair Extraordinaire of First Book-South Bay Los Angeles, to tell me about what she’s been up to so I could share it on this Blog. It seems like every week I get an email from her telling me about another organization she has presented to or will be partnering with. Naturally I was expecting another tale of schmoozing and networking, but of course, Helen also has a whole other life outside of First Book that took center stage recently.

Helen writes:

“Grandmother duties have cut into First Book tasks this week. My daughter-in-law needed to assist her mother in Oklahoma for 4 days, so I stepped into the gap of son-leaving-for-work at 6:30 am to minister to 3 grandchildren. Two leave for elementary school at 8:10 am, and the 4 year old has to be dropped off at preschool by 8:45 am. Breakfasts have to be eaten, lunches packed, beds made, homework not done the night before completed, and lastly, the dog needs to go out for the day. At least, that’s the plan.

The night of the first day, my son, Brian, called and said on arrival home, he found Bear, the dog, locked in her crate in the living room - covered in you-know-what that also smeared the walls and all she had in the crate. He was to host a Cub Scout meeting that night. The big mystery…who had locked Bear in her crate??? The next morning I found out. Caelan, the 4 year old, had stowed Bear while I was otherwise occupied. Her brother and sister read her the riot act…”SHE COULD HAVE DIED!!!” Caelan greeted me soberly the next morning having learned her lesson.

But drama #2 was about to unfold. Cameron, 8 year old 3rd grader, ran upstairs minutes before the neighbor’s carpool, and came downstairs in a new outfit of what can only be described as teeny-bopper supreme — skinny pants, sleeveless top, dangling earrings, and hair pinned up like a broccoli stalk. No time to change, but I did say “Does your mom let you wear that to school?” And Carson, 6 year old 1st grader, was in tears, begging me to take him to school. “No,” I explained, “Caelan has to have an ear of corn with the husk on — they are doing letter C — there’s not time to take you, too.” So, into the car went Carson with Miss Teeny Bopper. Caelan and I went to the grocery store and bought corn.

Thank goodness Saturday morning came next — no school — and I was relieved of Grandma duty. Long ago I managed 2 teenage girls, a 1st grader and infant son (now dad Brian) and I don’t remember all this drama!

A day later I found out that the earrings were borrowed from her mom and were lost — another lesson learned.”

Once again, I am reminded of how giving our Board members are — juggling jobs, families, other service projects, the occasional pet, and many others. I’m sure that by next week, though, Helen will be back to telling me about another friend she has made for First Book!