This Mom is Ready for Middle School

This last year of Youngest's elem school years has been the year where my eyes have been opened to many things.  It has also been tough with our guinea pig in high school (he paves the way for us parents learning along with him).

Here are a couple of examples of how I am ready to be done with some elem school interactions.

Yesterday I posted about how Youngest was getting ready to have the 5th grade promotion ceremony.  I shared how there is a group of parents whom we know well on the "parents of our son's friends and sports teams" level--for the last 6 years our kids have had countless birthday parties, team sports and school events.  These parents have come over and vice versa to pick up kids from sleep overs.

Last night after the promotion ceremony, I saw one of these moms on the road at a red light so I rolled down the window, smiling and casually said, "Hi, where are you guys off to now?"  -- knowing that many families including us we off to dinner.  It never occurred to me what she said next.  She replied, "Oh yeah, I am in the wrong lane but I will be eventually turning left and then we will be at (Name of Restaurant) but we may be a few mins late."  So the mom clique is showing up all together at a restaurant.  Maybe they know that Hubs is not interested at all in seeing the 5th graders at dinner that he sees all day.  That is prob why these interactions are so uncomfortable.  They know I am married to a teacher there.

Another example of how I need to move on and focus on other things is I don't sugar coat any more--I have always been very honest if someone asks me a question but it seems more often I say what is in my mind.  It may be because at work I deal with clients and have to be very diplomatic and then after work hours I go in overdrive......

Another one of these parents sent me an email the other day to invite Youngest to a b-day party.  So that was nice.  I have to add that Youngest is very funny and popular despite some loser kids telling him he looked like a nerd the other day.  His friends are good kids.  She had recently found my own email address and she states this, "Hi, I want to invite Youngest to a Bday party and I just found your email.  I sent the invite to your husband's work email.  In case he is not good with these things, please have him forward it to you."

So last night I saw her and I thanked her for the invite and that son will attend.  She says, "I also sent the invite to your husband's email but I heard your husband isn't good about reading his email."

And I said, "Yeah, he doesn't sit in front of his work laptop during the day at all when he is teaching the students. You have to wonder about the teachers who do see emails right away during the day and reply back right away."

I wanted to include that he leaves for work at 6:30 a.m. and returns most days at 5:00 or 5:30 after tutoring many kids after school for free because the county will go after him if everyone does not do well on the multiple std tests with the biggie one in April and also because he is a male teacher he ends up with the discipline-issue students who are challenging to turn your back on for even five minutes.

You know that adage about how a person can bad-mouth their mother but it is not cool to say anything bad about the mom to that person?  Well, you can badmouth my mom all you want--I don't care.  But for parents who have no clue about the work that goes into the behind the scenes duties of the teacher (even having to eat their lunch with their students) when there is not a school party or field trip going on, well, it ruffles my feathers.

Today after school is a pool party in a nearby n'hood for all of these kids and since my son is friends with them I will be there (Hubs gets to go to a teacher only party they have organized).  I say this is my last post on this subject, but the heat and a Corona or two may be a combination that may add to my menopausal je ne sais quoi bluntness this afternoon.......

Back to what is most important, I was so proud of Youngest last night.  I did not get out of control with any tears.  However, toward the end, when the principal thanks the 5th grade teachers for their hard work, I did get teary eyed.  When you have a school that changes principals and many other aspects year after year, remember it is the teachers that are the glue.  

Congrats youngest on a most excellent elem school record, at which you are a good friend to all, and were most patient this year to all who were in the inclusion class in your class.

(It cracks me up that he covered his face but left an eyeball peeking out).