Calgon, Take Me Away!
Today was not good. On either end of it (this morning as the bell rang, and this afternoon after school was out), I had fathers coming in to complain to me about their kids' grades. They believe their kids are failing because I "pick on" them - apparently the fact that each child has 20+ missing assignments (including tests) is irrelevant. It was not fun talking to either one of them. Both men tried to intimidate me and blame me for their child's lack of responsibility. If it hadn't been for another parent (who's a bit of a hard nut) telling me how perfect I am for 6th grade, and how amazed she is that her daughter is still excited about learning this late in the year, I would have considered chucking it all in and getting another career.
Adding some more WTF? excitement to my day was Vika. This evening I asked her to get into her pajamas, and since it was taking an unusually long time, I went upstairs to check on her. What I was greeted by was the sight of my daughter, sitting naked in the sink, knees squeezed up at awkward angles against the counter, in a pool of soapy water. She was holding a little cup high above her head, and pouring water down over her hair. When I asked Vika what on Earth she was doing, she said she didn't want to get into her pajamas when she was "dirty," so she decided to take a bath. In the sink. With the tub a mere 3 feet away.
I was too exhausted to even try to figure that one out. Instead, I handed her a towel, and asked her to get out of the sink and take a shower in the tub. Later Vika commented on how much easier it was to get clean in the shower. Really? Ya think so? Maybe that's why I never give you a bath in the dang sink!!!
I need a drink.
Adding some more WTF? excitement to my day was Vika. This evening I asked her to get into her pajamas, and since it was taking an unusually long time, I went upstairs to check on her. What I was greeted by was the sight of my daughter, sitting naked in the sink, knees squeezed up at awkward angles against the counter, in a pool of soapy water. She was holding a little cup high above her head, and pouring water down over her hair. When I asked Vika what on Earth she was doing, she said she didn't want to get into her pajamas when she was "dirty," so she decided to take a bath. In the sink. With the tub a mere 3 feet away.
I was too exhausted to even try to figure that one out. Instead, I handed her a towel, and asked her to get out of the sink and take a shower in the tub. Later Vika commented on how much easier it was to get clean in the shower. Really? Ya think so? Maybe that's why I never give you a bath in the dang sink!!!
I need a drink.
oh my!
Slugger gives me an awful lot of WTF moments, too.
I feel for you with school. The other day two parents went into the school to complain to Slugger's teacher about (da, da, daa!) Slugger's behavior. Oh, the joy.
That is one of the reasons I do NOT miss teaching. The parents blame the teachers for everything. Sorry you had a sucky day.
That reminds me of the scene from Baby Mama where she cant get the toilet seat open and pees in the sink.
Well, at least summer vacation is just around the corner! Hang in there just a little bit longer. That (summer vacation) is the one part of teaching that would be attractive to me as a career! :)
I can't believe some parents, well, I can, but what kind of parenting is that. Hello, at some point your kids will have to learn personal responsibility. But I suppose, nothing is and ever will be their fault.
Oh Vika, that story is funny!
I worry so much about being the weird parent with our great teacher!
Our teacher must get some grief because she's always checking in on us... making sure we are OK with her discipline strategies with Rita. We are totally like "do what you need to do ... we understand! you are the professional!" (obviously we trust her and have already discussed her methods and they are consistent with ours.)
I love the sink story - I'm sure it made perfect sense to Vika to bathe in the sink (at the time). I love the way kids brains work :-)
Hope the drink helped!
As I told you on the phone last night, you MUST remember this story. It will be invaluable when she's a teen!
I hate days like that. And what's up with the fathers? Interesting it wasn't the moms...sounds like typical man behavior - blame the woman whenever it's really their own fault ha ha!
And Vika...well, I've got nothing for you there...just shaking my head along with you...kids.
The best thing I ever did (well, maybe that's an exaggeration...) when I was teaching third grade was to type up a letter that went home with each Friday's work saying, "In this week's work you should have...(list, nach, of week's work). If it's not here, I've not received it."
It took all the responsibility off me and put it on the student and parents. I regularly had parents who would come in with the list in hand to verify assignments that were missing. It helped sooo much for all of us! Too late now, but maybe next year...
I know exactly what you are going through with the parents and teaching. It doesn't change in high school. You've heard my stories. I am glad that I am not working at the moment because of that. Just to let you know, I am still getting emails from parents to change their kids grade and I am on medical leave. I am not even there!!!!!!!!!! Just shows there are no boundaries. Hang in there. A couple of weeks and you will be on summer vacation.