UH OH, THE TEACHER WANTS TO SEE ME!

Why is it that when my kid’s teacher asks to see me, I feel like I’m the one who did something wrong? For a split second, I wonder what I did! Then, when I snap back to reality, I wonder what my kid did wrong. And in the next split second, I’m back to wondering what I did wrong, because, after all, if my son did something, I’m sure I’m to blame somehow. Right?

Okay, that was confusing! But the question is this: Am I the only one who feels like I am being reprimanded by the teacher when she talks to me about my child? Why do I feel like I’m back in elementary school, sitting in those little chairs, with the teacher, glasses on the tip of her nose, shaking her finger at me? (Okay, maybe that’s just MY visual, but it’s how it makes me feel!)

Teacher: Your son is not following directions.

Translation in my head: You’re a terrible mother. You let your son play too many video games.

Teacher: He talks too much in class.

Translation: You’re a terrible mother. You let him eat too much candy.

Teacher: He doesn’t pay attention during class discussions.

Translation: You’re a terrible mother. He doesn’t get enough sleep.

You get the idea. No matter what she says, automatically I’ll think it’s my fault.

So today, I’ll be sitting in my son’s classroom, trying not to feel like a complete failure of a parent. Who knows, maybe she’s calling me in to tell me what a wonderful and exemplary child I have.

Do teachers ever do that???????

Karen

FRIDAY FUNNY!

I know, I am late again. Maybe I should call this Saturday Sass. . . .



I was giving a piano lesson earlier this week. It always amazes me what kids say. They are just so honest. And invariably, we will reach a point where one or two of them would like to try out their newfound spunkiness on a teacher. I understand this, and I can roll with it. On the inside I am rolling on the floor, laughing like a fool. On the outside, I am trying to keep a straight face. I keep the studio a pretty safe place so that the kids know it's perfectly fine to make mistakes- the musical and the personal kind. After all, there is a certain comfort level achieved with each other if you have been working together for some time. And I'd much rather it happen here than out there where someone is going to mercilessly make fun of them or they will encounter consequences far beyond what is necessary. At least here, in the studio, we can work it out and walk away still liking each other (most days, anyway. That IS the goal).


So I'm teaching this lesson to a soon to be fourth grade boy. I don't remember what was happening, what I was saying, but he stopped playing, turned his face toward me and said,"Listen here, Woman!" I know that I must have looked at him like,"No you didn't. I KNOW you did not just say that to me." He flashed me that"heh-heh", nervous grin when I replied quietly,"Sir, I believe we have crossed a line."



He began to ever so slightly scoot away from me on the piano bench. I simply looked ahead and said,"Oh, it's okay. I won't hit you. . . . not hard, anyway."



He was stellar the rest of the lesson.



Yours, keepin' those kiddos in line,



Melissa