As a teacher, there were certain things I was ADAMENT I would NEVER do once I became a parent.
1) I would NEVER carry my child’s backpack- children are certainly able to carry a backpack themselves.
2) I would not only not carry my child’s backpack, but I would NEVER hang it up and unpack it for him.
3) I would NEVER “teacher shop.” Asking around about the strengths and weaknesses of a teacher is so very wrong.
4) I would NEVER compare teachers. It is like comparing apples and oranges and it is unfair to the teachers and disrespectful of them as professionals.
5) I would NEVER pack candy in my child’s lunchbox nor would I send him to school with a sandwich made on white bread. How could those parents feed those things to their children and then expect them to be able to learn??
6) I would NEVER be late. That, too, is disrespectful to the teacher and to the class. Plus it is just a bad way to start the school day.
7) I would NEVER be late to pick my child up from school.
8) I would NEVER have my child complete his homework at the last minute.
9) I would NEVER let my child watch TV on a school night let alone before school.
10) I would NEVER keep my child home from school for “just not feeling well” or keep him home because of a upcoming big event.
11) I would NEVER drop off nor pick up my child while on the phone or while otherwise electronically distracted.
12) I would NEVER worry about my child and would be confident in his teacher’s ability to do right by him.
Well, let’s just say that 2 kids later, all this has gone to crap. I am not that mom I vowed to be. Don’t get me wrong, I am not that bad, but I have certainly fallen short of my own high expectations.
1) GUILTY- I carry my son’s backpack to and from school. It is so big and heavy I am afraid it will physically harm him or someone else.
2) GUILTY- I often hang up my son’s backpack and even take his homework out and put it in the homework basket.
3) PENDING- Haven’t really done this. I haven’t “teacher shopped” since my son is only in Kindergarten. Ask me again in 8 months and we will see how I fared.
4) GUILTY- I compared. I admit it. The two kindergarten classes “look” so very different and it makes me wonder if all the kids are getting the same quality, experience.
5) GUILTY- on both counts. I sent chocolate kisses and candy hearts in my son’s lunches. And, homemade cookies as well. I also send him to school with sandwiches made on white bread- I have an excuse for this one though- he cannot eat whole wheat bread. Phew.
6) GUILTY- We have been late. Can we just leave it at that?
7) GUILTY- I have been late only 2 times. That is not so bad, really. I have to wake my napping child and walk uphill to my son’s school (no, not in a blizzard, but in the blazing heat) and that should really be reason enough.
8) GUILTY- We completed his “news” project (due this morning) last night right before bed.
9) GUILTY- Can I blame this one on someone else in our household or is that cheating? Yes, I do sometimes let my kids watch a tv show before bed IF homework is done, teeth are brushed, pjs are on and the toys have been cleaned up. TV before school is generally a big no-no, but when my husband was away on business for 3 weeks and I was going insane, I let them watch a show while I took a very needed shower.
10) GUILTY- I did. My son was feeling “out of sorts,” but not horrible. We had big plans with friends that evening and I kept him home. The horror! Sure was worth it though! 🙂
11) INNOCENT- I am NEVER electronically distracted when I drop off and pick up my son.
12) GUILTY- I worry about my son. I worry that he is talking too much. I worry that he uses potty talk with the wrong people. I worry that he won’t have friends or that the friends he has are not a good influence. The list goes on. I also worry that I worry…
I’ve said it before and I will say it again, I was a really great parent before I had kids….