DISQUS

KK · 2 months ago

hell hath no fury like a mommy when the child is upset......except maybe for a daddy!

Anonymous · 2 months ago

Because teachers hold the authority position they do, they can do great good. Unfortunately, they can also do great harm. Ever wonder why lots of smart people think they are stupid. I'd make it a bet, that it harks back to some grade school teacher comment.

kbow18 · 2 months ago

"If I want to get nasty, I'll just tell The Ex. She'll get medieval on her ass."




Hell hath no fury....

Crucis · 2 months ago

I was fortunate, or unfortunate depending on your view. My family's profession was teaching. When I was in grade school a number, more than I'd like to count, decades ago, my Mother was the school Principal. My sister, 15 years older than me, was the circuit music teacher. My Father was president of the school board.


It didn't end with grade school. Every teacher in the county knew my Mother, Father, many knew my sister as well and most knew me by sight. I have to say, that I never met a bad, uncaring or incompetent teacher.



Sigh...there was no escape from their ever present vigilance.

40lizard · 2 months ago

AD,


I can't even say what I want to say because it brings me right back to my son's first grade year. Like KatyBeth, he has his own issue-(microphthalmia) and he struggled with those same mean kids and had to put up with the same kind of teacher.



And let me tell you- by the end of that year- all I had to do was give her the "look" and things were instantly done the way they should've been done in the first place. I loved your quote about your Ex- sounds like me when I am on the warpath!



And it's a sad day when the teacher goes right along with those nasty kids!

Ashley · 2 months ago

From another (not so) little gal with CP who wishes she'd had a big Daddy...


You go AD!

sardog10 · 2 months ago

It's such a fine line to walk sometimes....helping our kids learn to deal with difficult people versus protecting them from the insensitivity that we know hurts them. My son had a 4th grade teacher last year who intimidated even me and turned him into a kid who became touchy and indifferent about school. I knew that this year would different so we explained that sometimes you just make the best of the situation and hang in there. Well, within a week of school starting this year he was raring to go each morning and is so much more relaxed. Still don't know if we made the right decision of leaving him in that program last year.

Kat · 2 months ago

I take it Ex keeps the thumbscrews well-oiled?

On a Wing and a Whim · 2 months ago

Hey, now you know you have a sacrificial victim if the Ex ever gets on the warpath - just toss the teach in front and escape before the edge of the blast radius reaches you!


Sounds like your girl has an awesome school, aside from that!

EmmaPeel · 2 months ago

By a hundred fold, the hardest thing I've ever dealt with in my life is schooling for my children. Children are horribly mean especially as they get older. (I hope KatyBeth's class keeps on being so great. They sound wonderful.)And, I agree, I think it comes from the adults in their life. Unfortunately, all too often, those mean adults are their teachers. My youngest's teacher last year wasn't horrible but certainly wasn't as nurturing as she had had up to that point. (She was in 2nd grade.) She broke her finger at the end of PE and didn't tell the coach. She also did not tell her teacher because she was afraid of interrupting class. It wasn't until Daddy got there to pick her up that anyone knew she'd been injured. Unfortunately, that's not the worst pain either of my girls have endured during school hours. And mine are at a little country school where every has known everyone for generations.

Anonymous · 2 months ago

The kids at KatyBeth's school sound wonderful, and KatyBeth's teacher certainly could learn a lot from them.


The part about Eric and the things he would do for KatyBeth is quite possibly the sweetest, cutest thing I've ever read.



I remember having a "boyfriend" when I was in kindergarten. He told my mom, "I like L. She's chubby, but I think she's pretty." We were in the same class every year until middle school, and we always sat together in class. The friendship ended right after middle school.





L.

Amanda · 2 months ago

My older son has a girl who "likes" him. He was to tell her how he felt today. I'm feeling a little sick, because if they do the "boyfriend/girlfriend" thing he's going to be hurt and I AM NOT READY FOR MY BABY BOY TO BE HURT.


Also? He's only ten. Okay, almost eleven. But still. Ickies!!! I keep trying to tell him girls are gross and I thought I had him convinced...



And for teachers, I'm with you on that AD. And with Katy's mother. I was absolutely livid with my first grader's teacher this week. Some days I wish I had the patience and availability to homeschool. Other days I am incredibly grateful for my children's quality of education that I am not.

Anonymous · 2 months ago

AD,
KatyBeth should be proud to have a dad like you.

For all of us who have kids who are "different"....well, as said before....hell hath no fury like parents like us! Stand proud daddy!

Not that a 14g couldn't wake someone Up;-)!!

Vinnie · 2 months ago

My fist day teaching a university math class as I started to write on the board I stopped. turned to the class to make a joke about my penmanship and flashed back to my second grade teacher telling me I had beautiful penmanship but was too stupid to do math. Nice technique, bitch.

Anonymous · 2 months ago

when I was in third grade I had one that like to hit kids with a ruler/yardstick/pointer. I being an outspoken young lad received several "attention getter's" one day resulting in a nasty welt across my arm. to the delight of 8 year old's everywhere I struck back punching her in the gut and running for my life. she chased me and I was headed for home, little did she know I lived at the top of a hill that was the highest point on the east coast halfway up she's face down in the street and my mother who was an RN was lauded for a CPR save! three decades later I'm still asked how I killed my third grade teacher.

Old NFO · 2 months ago

Good post, and I'm glad she's in a good environment AD!

WyzWmn© · 2 months ago

people truly have no idea how greatly one small thing they say can affect someone's life forever...


a teacher told my mother (when my brother was in grade 1) that "it's not that Jim's retarded exactly" Jim now owns 7 thriving businesses and a huge happy home while that teacher likely retired on a sad pension all alone...



Jim became a success because our parents refused to allow that teacher to negatively affect his whole life...(he has no problems...he just has lousy penmanship!)



KatyBeth is lucky her daddy and his Ex will go to any length to keep her precious innocence as long as they can...would that there were more parents like them...

WCarlS · 2 months ago

This may be an indicator, true .... that she reads your blog and is trying to emulate without understanding. Maybe a quiet talk (with the teacher, not Katy Beth) would help.

Mark · 2 months ago

Methinks the teacher could benefit from a visit from the Ex, and if necessary I'm sure they are several hog farms within easy driving distance.

Anonymous · 2 months ago

Teacher needs to be made to understand the thinness of the line she walks.


That said, I must disagree with one thing: Kids are BORN cruel, and only learn to be good, kind people by the influence of their elders.



One need only look at certain cultures within our Republic to see the effects of a generation or two where parents have abdicated their responsibilities.



We're animals, and without the guidance of elders we will get worse with time - not better...



DD

AlisonH · 2 months ago

Kids are afraid, when they see someone different and they don't know why, that it'll happen to them and then they'll become different too. But when an adult explains why things are the way they are they go, OH! And that's that. No more fear, much more kindness.


As for that teacher, I am so glad you talked to your daughter. But the principal needs to be told too.



I made a point of that doing that once, IN WRITING and in person at the principal's office, when my kids were little and a kindergarten (!) teacher snapped rubber bands on the kids' hands to force them to behave. She was out of there not long after.



But it had to be done in writing from the parents for the administration to be able to carry through on it.

Stacy B · 2 months ago

AD: Not meaning to tell you how to parent, since I have no kiddos of my own, but maybe you could report the incident to the principal just to put that ... unholy beeyotch on notice and maybe save another kid from her own brand of sadism. It's worth telling the administration that your child was concerned by the seeming mistreatment of another child at the hands of an adult who should know better.


I just think people like the woman you describe need to learn the meaning of capital punishment.

skipelec · 2 months ago

Sixty years ago a teacher told me that my penmanship was nice.
I've never forgotten. [spelling, not so much].

Maeve · 2 months ago

Sadly I don't have that luxury of a small town. Just this weekend at the pumpkin patch several boys noticed my son was different. They began to wisper & point. When they noticed me staring them down they eased up. I let them know with out saying a word that *I* would get medeveil on their ass if they continued.