So this afternoon we have a meeting with the Principal of Carter’s school. Getting past the whole, “sent to the principal’s office,” I have several issues brimming. In no paricular order, and mostly so I can figure out what happened here, I’m going to list them. After that list, I plan on outlining a timeline and goals for our meeting. I will no doubt save this as a draft until after the meeting.
Issues:
1. I like her. When she talked about math, the first time we met, her eyes seriously sparkled. She did a Paul Newman sparkle while talking MATH. Who does that? Who wouldn’t want a principal who sparkles at math?
2. Carter likes her. When he was melting down about the loss of his hair prior to picture day, she helped him calm down. I asked him what she said that was helpful and he said, “numbers.”
3. We shouldn’t be in this situation. We are involved, intelligent caring parents. We should be resources to the school, not energy suckers. I imagined bake sales and PTO meetings and instead I’m the crazy parent. (Kevin is getting tired of me saying that, but the feeling hasn’t gone away.) Yesterday, a friend was giving me and Archie a ride over to get Carter and the principal walked by and my friend (jokingly) said, “Duck! I don’t want to be seen with you!”
4. I’m not actually crazy. I mean, I have my days, but I’m not nuts. My desires aren’t out of whack either. I want to get to know the other parents of the children that spend their days with my son. I want to know the children he sees daily. I cannot accomplish that in massive school-wide book sales or talent shows. I can accomplish that by saying hello during drop-off and pick-up, which is not encouraged.
5. I really liked my elementary school principal. He was fatherly, kindly and funny. I loved going to his office. If my parents had picked on him, I would have taken his side, totally.