Does anyone else get intimidated by their kids’ teachers? Anything I do related to school makes me nervous; did I help them complete their homework correctly? Do they have everything they are supposed to have in their backpack? Are they well behaved? The teachers seem so together; so calm. They have songs to get kids’ attention, they are patient and they make everything fun. And I’m sure they are much better parents too because they are educated in the mysterious creatures. I am constantly nervous I will be discovered as a bad parent. I don’t know shit about photosynthesis but I am reasonably educated and I have no valid basis to feel this way. I’m not shy person; in fact I’m usually the one telling the 500 pound Sumo wrestler who tries to cut me in line to take a hike; but when my kids teachers say something the slightest bit negative I am filled with self doubt, “I should have known that the book order must be paid for in pesos; I obviously didn’t read directions!”I
When I was little we were lucky we were sent to school with clothes on never mind with our completed homework assignments, media center books, book orders and donated-box-of-Kleenex-because-the school-doesn’t-buy-them bag.
Matthew had his 3rd grade teacher parent conference a couple weeks ago. I had it on my calendar for 3:15 and I also saw in the flyer that they provide child watch. Now given my anal retentive need to organize everything and throw unneeded stuff away (see previous post) I wrote all this down in my calendar and promptly threw the flyer away. My counter is still not clean but at least one piece of paper was efficiently dealt with! READ! NOTED! DONE! NEXT! I arrive at Matthew’s conference and there is no child watch (ended at 3, see flyer). Offense #321 of the year, I have to bring my child with me to the teacher conference which is expressly prohibited per flyer. I press on determined to obtain critical information essential to the future of my child. When I get to the classroom the teacher tells me I am late for my conference; it was at 3 not 3:15. I feel as if someone has just told me that I have flunked parenthood. She gives me a new time and I frantically text my husband berating myself for my stupidity. I apologize profusely during the conference. She tells me plenty of good things but when she talks about the improvement areas I am hopelessly hanging on her every word and apologizing for my child. I even volunteer at the school so I don’t feel guilty about wasting her time to talk to me and give me updates. I guess it’s a good thing that my kids’ teachers impress me but I wonder how much worse it will get when the kids are older. Am I going to have to go back to school for trigonometry so I can help the kids with their homework? Should I transfer schools so I can start over with no list of violations?
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