Drama with the bus and other reasons I should cancel my facebook account

Normally I pick the kids up from school. We have some neighbors who attend the same school as the kids (my kids attend a school other than their neighborhood school). My lovely friend Becky drives the kids to school and I pick the kids up. Early on in the year I noticed that the bus was leaving, with Ian on it around 3:25. By time the other kids got out of school (3:30) and into the car (3:40) and we drive home (3:45) we were missing Ian being dropped off or we were cutting it really close so I started picking him up as well. Becky is kind enough to do double duty on Thursday and picks the kids up so I let Ian ride the bus on those days. This past Thursday slipped away from me and I had an enrichment activity so when I looked at the clock at 3:20 I decided I'd better jump in the shower before Ian came home. As I was getting out and drying off I thought I heard Ian's bus. I looked at the clock, it was 3:28, school wasn't even out so it couldn't be Ian. But, I got to the window and check...it WAS Ian! I threw on my robe still dripping wet to go and grab him. A little frustrating but no big deal. Friday...Becky calls and says she's running errands so she'll just grab the kids. Once again...Ian rides the bus home. I'm sitting at the computer working on Christmas cards when I hear the bus at 3:28 and Owen yelling that Ian is here. Good thing I didn't run to the copy store like I had planned! In my mind, School gets out at 3:30 so I should have at least until then to be home. Well, apparently not! Out of frustration I posted on facebook "Tell me how it's possible that Ian's bus shows up at 3:28 when school doesn't even end until 3:30???" I got a few responses but My brother-in-law (who happens to teach in an autistic unit at another school) responded "That's a definite no-no...Your drivers know that they aren't allowed to leave, or even load, before the bell rings. You ought to make a call." Well, I hadn't even thought about calling and I wasn't REALLY upset it was just one of those things I posted out frustration just like many people do on facebook. What if I hadn't been home yet, what if I had gone to pick him up at my normal 3:25? The bus would have already left and then what? But I am friends with his teacher on facebook and I should have never said anything about it on facebook. Just like the whole "coughing" episode of two weeks ago, I opened my big mouth and created drama.

I love facebook. I talk to people (especially family) that I normally don't talk to but once a year. I found out my cousin was pregnant the day she anounced rather than waiting who knows how long until I visited my grandparents so they could tell me. I keep track of my college age brothers who think their big sister is tragically unhip. I can get instant answers to my questions and lots of support when I'm frustrated. But, one of the biggest problems with facebook (and really anything in which you "type" instead of "talk") is that things can be taken out of context and you never hear the tone of voice. On Friday my mom posted something about my niece being the most beautiful girl in the world. I don't disagree. My niece is gorgeous. Joking around and being sarcastic I typed back "I won't show Millie this". First of all...Millie is not on facebook and I would never show her that. However, Matthais, being the torturous big brother he is, might. Millie doesn't understand that when grandmas says Kelsey is the most beautiful girl in the world that she doesn't really think that Kelsey is more pretty than her. I never should have said anything because I really hit some nerves and my little brother let me have it calling me "petty" and telling me that "you and mellissa would be better off if you got over the "who does grandma loves more kick"!!!!!!!!!".
Wow. That was all I could think. Wow. One little comment that you think is funny can turn into this. Turns out I hurt my mom's feelings by saying that too. That was never my intention and so of course I was terribly upset.

I don't think I'm completely ready to give up facebook because I believe that I receive more positive that not. But, a few lessons learned... Be careful what you say, you never know how someone is going to take you comments no matter how innocent you think they are and somethings you should work out in a more private venue.