Then today, I had seven parent/teacher conferences. I started yesterday and I'll be finished by next Wednesday at this time. I had a couple of the more annoying parents today...sorry to refer to them that way, but when you hear "what do you do for the "gifted" children in the room?" multiple times in one day it's hard not to. I have truly never had a "gifted" child in my class I don't think, but I've had about 20 parents who THINK their child is gifted. I know I don't have kids, so I can't possibly understand how much love a parent has for their kids. I really do try to look at it from their point of view as much as I possibly can. But really...get off your high horse and realize your child (while they may be wonderful, and many of them are) has strengths and weaknesses just like everyone else. Just like you do. The end.
Sigh. But I won't be bitter, I swear. I can laugh about parents like this a lot more now that I have been doing this for a few years. I used to cry about them. It still makes me angry though with the amount of effort I put in, it still with never be good enough for these people. But oh well, it's always good enough for the kids.
Speaking of kids, I have a good story for you guys (let's lighten up the mood a bit). I was tutoring one of my amazing third graders the other day and I told her I was going to see Eric's football game after and I said, "my fiance's game." So she says..."what's a fiance?" At this point I explain to her that first someone is a boyfriend, then when you decide to get married they are a fiance, then when you actually GET married they are a husband. She looks as me and says... "oh, and then they are an ex-husband?" HAHAHAHA, what?!
And this girl's parents are still happily married I might add so her mom thought it was pretty amusing as well. Don't think about it too much or you may think its a pretty sad reflection on society...
Time to get back to that dreaded "To Do" list. Is it Friday yet?
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I feel for you with the "gifted" children thing. I homeschool, and I'm always shocked how many homeschooled children have parents who consider them gifted.
ReplyDeleteHi! Thank you for stopping by my blog. I love your background!
ReplyDeleteI love how informative the parent/teacher conferences are. You can definitely get a lot from them based on how they act, what they say, and what they share as important things for them... I feel like it is then that I get that "aaaaah, so THAT is why your child is like THIS... because of youuuu!" hahah. Good luck with your conferences. I have two more to go! I had 6 in a row this afternoon and didn't leave work until 7! yuck!
Parents are my least favorite thing about teaching and I've had some crazy ones before. Trust me, most parents think their child walks on water. You'll survive!
ReplyDeleteYah, I couldn't do your job.
ReplyDeleteThat is a funny story. But yah - kind of sad that kids think that is the normal progression. :(
I'm glad you've learned to laugh about them, and I know how you feel. Teaching can be very tiring. I can't imagine trying to plan a wedding while teaching kindergarten!
ReplyDeleteI like your blog.
I've been on both sides of the parent/teacher conference fence... first as a teacher and then as a parent. I know my kids are not gifted or perfect... but it sure puts the teacher at a disadvantage when parents have that perspective. For these parents, when the child misbehaves, it's the teacher's fault. UGH!! I'm sure you are an excellent teacher!
ReplyDeleteFUNNY story about the third grader you tutor!
Before I became a WAHM, I was a teacher for may years and those freakin conferecnes were KILLER! They took so much out of me and then I had to wake up and teach the next day! I hear ya girl! Thanks so much for stopping by my blog. Following you on twitter, feeding the addiction. ;)
ReplyDeleteThat's HILARIOUS!! Did you laugh? Aww..or cry? She just summed up this generation of kids.
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way about so many things as you. For started, I also feel like I spend spend spend, but never on anything that I really want! I shop by "need", boring.
Also, favorite sou: butternut squash and ginger! OHHH so good.
Oh I hear you! It's been crazy busy and just as soon as I cross something off my work to-do list, I add 3 more! 2 more days!
ReplyDeleteHAHA great post :)
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to have the crazy parents too.......yikes!!
Teachers are 100% saints. I have NO idea how you all do it.
ReplyDeleteThe weekend is almost here. I know exactly how you feel; if I have an unproductive weekend I can not catch up until the following one! I try to help this out by doing baby step things, maybe one errand an evening or something just to chip away at my list!
Hahahaha. I love how you concluded that story by telling us not to think about it too much or we would find it a bad reflection on society :P hahaha.
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way, running around from one thing to another thing! So stressful and exhausting!
I don't mind the vent! Doesn't it feel good to get it all out there? Hopefully your stressful times will end soon. At least you have some little comedians every once in a while to keep you entertained...that story was hilarious!
ReplyDeleteI used to work with at risk middle schoolers and holy moly, the family aspect is a giant can of worms! vent away!
ReplyDeleteThe one that drives me crazy the most is parents who say their child is "bored." Ugh!
ReplyDeleteAnd then you are an ex-husband!!! Bahaha, what is this world coming to?!
ReplyDeleteI hope you get some down time soon. It gets exhausting to be GO GO GOING non-stop.
lol i love how parents think their child is brilliant and perfect and genius!!! a friend of mine swears her son is a genius at 8 months old because he still doesnt sleep through the night and fussses when he doesnt have something "to do" in front of him.. im like.. no .. thats called over stimulation and you're spoiling him! lol
ReplyDeletemy daughters teachers loved my daughters personality- but she still even struggled with stuff- even though.. YES she is a smarty pants!
oh my gosh, kids say the darndest things! really does tell you about society. I admire what you do, that really takes a lot of patience. Hang in there, I'm looking forward to Friday too, but most of the weekend will be spent tackling school stuff, blah!
ReplyDeleteMy foam roller finally comes today I'm hoping, it's taken for-ev-er!
Vent away my dear!
ReplyDeleteThat story cracked me up. She's a smart cookie!
It's almost Friday!!
ReplyDeleteThat story was hilarious! Kids say the funniest things!
LOL kids are so cute! I love their curiousity!...ex-husband hahaha....such a great story!!
ReplyDeletei am not a teacher, But i used to be a counselor at an overnight camp and just couldn't believe some of the crazy parent issues taht came up!!
its almost the weekend, girl YAY!
I think there was no Glee on yesterday! I just haven't deleted all the old ones because I love them so much! My mom loved it too :) I think there will no new episodes for... 3 weeks? Because of baseball or something.
ReplyDeleteGuess what? I got the advanced idea from you and your parent conference story. My 4 month old grandson can't go to preschool yet silly! Ha, ha.
ReplyDeleteFunny ex-husband comment too, by the way!
Good luck on getting through the rest of the week! Sounds crazy.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you consider to be a "gifted" child out of curiosity.
The things kids learn from TV. Hehehe. As a parent I will apologize for those who think they have "Gifted" kids.. I wonder what they want you to say.
ReplyDelete"Yes Mam, I spend half the day with the regular kids then I leave them to homework while I open my Gifted kids handbook and get to the REAL teaching." UGH!!
OMG LMAO at the story... kids are the best... although I admire your resolve being a teacher!!!
ReplyDeleteI hope everything calms down soon!!!
Ahh conferences. I am about to do my first solo conferences in about 2 weeks. I'm slightly nervous at what to tell some parents because since I am the long term sub, I know some of them will automatically think, oh Johnny doesn't know his letters or his numbers or how to stand in line because she isn't a real teacher. Boo.
ReplyDelete