OK I have a confession to make. And I purposely waited until today to post this: I hate April Fool's Day.
I absolutely, completely, wholeheartedly hate it. I can't handle the jokes and pranks, and am a nervous wreck all day long!
This year, for example, it was a workday, and I had to spend the day around other people at work. I didn't mention April Fool's to my classes, and I didn't even do "calendar time" to discuss the date with them! During my lunch and conference period, I hid out in my classroom so I wouldn't have to see anyone, lest they try to play a joke on me. I didn't initiate any conversations with anyone, and read each email carefully so I would know if something was up. As soon as I could, I went home, and spent the evening with the Hubby and the Baby Boy. Even in talking to Hubby, I didn't mention April Fool's, because although he knows how much I hate it, and how much stress it causes me, I didn't want to remind him about it!
It wasn't until I was crawling into bed after 10 pm on April 1st that I finally could breathe a sigh of relief. I'd made it through another dreaded April Fool's Day without incident.
My irrational (yes, I know it's irrational) fear of this day doesn't stem from any bad previous experience, or a horrible joke gone wrong that someone tried on me before... I really don't know where it comes from, or when it started. Maybe I'm afraid of having everyone laugh at me or I'm afraid of feeling stupid when I buy into a joke being played, I don't know. All I know is I want no part of it. Ever.
I know I'm opening myself up to major pranks next year (or even on other days this year), now that everyone knows how much I hate them, but please please please don't! On my side, there will be no laughing afterwards. I'll probably cry. And I hope that's enough deterrent for anyone.
