Honesty Is Always the Best Policy : Part 2

    ……and what was this teacher going to do with her first graders concerns?   After conferring with my husband, it was decided that he would make an appointment to see the teacher.  This was our first (and no, not last) foray into “childhood education concern-ville”.  I had recently read an article about schools integrating yoga into their P.E. classes and I was convinced the Circle of Concerns was a mystical first step into transcendental meditation.  (Did I mention that due to the very recent birth of Wil, my hormones were through the roof?) Needless to say, John was more than willing to get to the bottom of this, what was probably a harmless, situation, to ease my mind.

   Unfortunately, when he returned home, I could tell he had more concerns than when he left.  As it turned out, this particular teacher was keeping her class in from recess to conduct her “Circle of Concerns”—light out—candle in the middle of the circle—OF FIRST GRADERS!!  INSTEAD OF RECESS??  Evidently she was very abrupt with my husband and none too pleased that she had been questioned about it.  According to her, hers was the only first grade class that had adopted the practice.   It was something she started with the blessing of the Principal and she was kind enough to offer John the chance to take it up with her.  He was more than happy to oblige with the added caveat that when the appointment with the Principal was made, she, the teacher, would be in that meeting, as well.

   We had been so spoiled to his Kindergarten teacher.  She had been stellar and we had expected nothing less from this teacher.  No, initially, this one  had not been as personable but, neither had she been a nightmare.  As we sat across from the principal’s desk, she assured us that, although the other classes were full and we could not move him, she felt certain we could work out the issue.  My heart began to lighten as we awaited his teacher’s arrival in the meeting.  I envisioned us forging a bond that would bring us together in the common goal of educating our eldest…Until she walked in the door.

   An empty chair sat to my immediate right and it was the dirty sneaker that first caught my eye.  The dirty sneaker on her foot, that whizzed by my head.  The same dirty sneaker, connected to the leg, of which she hiked over the back of the chair next to me.  With a masterful leap frog maneuver she plopped down in the chair beside me and folded her arms across her chest, all professionalism hopping right out the window.  Two things crossed my mind: #1 This is not good.  #2 This is really not good...(to be continued)

Honesty is Always the Best Policy

   “I get to light the candle tomorrow.”  It was a statement made quite matter-of-factly by my first grader as I was bathing his week old brother.

   “Huh?”

   “Mrs. White said I could light the candle tomorrow.”

   “With what ? ”  I asked.

   “A match,” He answered.

   Immediately, my mind was whisked away to that ‘Mama Bear’ place of WHAT? WHO WOULD TELL YOU, IT WAS OK FOR YOU TO LEARN TO STRIKE A MATCH WHEN THAT IS STRICTLY FORBIDDEN HERE?!?!  You see, the baby I was bathing was my THIRD son and John and I had put safeguards in place that would hopefully prevent any unfortunate circumstances like, oh let’s say, our boys BURNING OUR HOUSE DOWN, from happening.  Using matches was a no-no and why on earth would anyone tempt my six-year-old with that?

   Not wanting to let him see me sweat, I asked, “What candle?”

   “The candle in the circle of cu-surs.”

   Puzzled, I asked, “What is a circle of cu-surs?”

   “You know….it’s circle where we share our cu-surs.”

   “Why do you need a candle?”

   He seemed a little perturbed as he answered, “Because the light is off.”

   By now, I am beginning to get fidgety.  “What is a cu-sur?”

   With Ninja Turtle in hand, he explained, “Like Daniel.   His dog died and he shared it.  Or like when you get in trouble with your mom and dad..."

   I interrupted him, “Oh, you mean ‘concerns’!  The circle of concerns.”

   “Yes! Cu-surs!!  Miss White asks us if we have any cu-surs and we can talk about them.”

   Now, I am in panic mode.  This precocious child of mine whose mouth, on countless occasions, had been the source of much awkwardness was now given a daily platform and opportunity to dish on whatever he deemed a concern?!?!  Really?? This is the child that stood in my kitchen between my 8 ½ months pregnant belly and a plumber- with arms crossed demanding to know, “Are you kissing my Momma?!?”   This is the one that told his dad’s fellow employee that, “My momma is sleeping with customers”, when I was at a Ladies Sunday school class Slumber Party. (To which his dad quickly responded, “We do what we gotta do.”)  This precious angel is the same who, after having been threatened repeatedly to “whisper” in church, continued to talk out loud.  Upon picking him up and carrying him out, he—mid-sermon—yelled out, “HELP ME!” This is the one.   The blonde haired, blue eyed doll that for all I knew had already been sharing his concerns…and only heaven knows what those were. I could only imagine what he had shared about a spanking he had recently received………………………………………………to be continued