You know as a kid when your mom curses you that your kids will one day be just like you? I'm there. Although, I don't feel cursed at all. In fact, I couldn't be more overjoyed. I haven't figured out if it's a blessing or not for Katie though.
Had a phone conversation with her fourth grade teacher this morning. Right off I'll clear the air - nothing wrong - just checking in. Her teacher sends a daily email about what's going on, head's up about homework, etc. Yesterday her email mentioned a specific math paper that most kids did poorly on. So, the teacher gave each child an identical blank paper and they redid all of the questions again together in class. She wanted parents to look at the before and after papers with our kids last night and discuss it. So - I ask Katie about the paper, describe it really well for her (at first most kids did poorly, she says she gave you a blank one and you all worked on it together in class today, is this ringing any bells???), and I'm getting this 'duh' response, like "I have no idea what you are talking about". I'm like, "your teacher specifically mentions in her email that it was sent home and we should look at it together tonight". "oh", she says, "She had us put that in our math books." So, I email the teacher back and say what Katie says and while I'm at it, ask how she's doing in class.
So, this morning I go to grab her lunchbox from her backpack and find the math papers crumpled in the bottom of her backpack. Eeek! I call her downstairs. "Here's the math paper..." . You can probably see how this progresses. So, I decide to call the teacher this morning, tell her that my email was wrong and that the paper was actually in the bottom of the backpack.
Long lead-in to get to the point...Katie (like me) is doing great in school. She does her homework, gets her reading done, no worries...EXCEPT that she's a social butterfly. Yackity yackity yack. Her teacher doesn't know what to do about it. Was I surprised to get this report? Yea right! I've been hearing it since Katie was in Kindergarten. Wait - I've been hearing it since she was in preschool. Allright, if you know me then you know that I've really been hearing this since I was in elementary school. I have passed on the chatty gene to my very own version of Mini Me.
In the seventh grade, my English teacher Mr. Davis got on me every single day about talking during roll. How was I not able to just shut my trap? So, he tries everything...moves me away from my friends (didn't matter)...put me in a kindergarten size desk right next to his (didn't matter)...moved my desk out into the hallway (really didn't matter - since it was fourth period and everyone was in the hallways for lunch - super chat!!). So, I tell a short version of the Mr. Davis story to Katie's teacher this morning in an apologetic way. Yes, I'm owning up to my Darwinian contribution to her classroom this year. She says, "I was thinking that I should move Katie closer to my desk, but now that you told me that story, maybe that would make her feel too much like she was following in your footsteps, so I'll hold off on that plan".
Here's where I pull the Reason to Believe out of this tale...it's the Circle of Life, baby - and I love seeing me in her, even if it's through both of our wide open yaps!!
Had a phone conversation with her fourth grade teacher this morning. Right off I'll clear the air - nothing wrong - just checking in. Her teacher sends a daily email about what's going on, head's up about homework, etc. Yesterday her email mentioned a specific math paper that most kids did poorly on. So, the teacher gave each child an identical blank paper and they redid all of the questions again together in class. She wanted parents to look at the before and after papers with our kids last night and discuss it. So - I ask Katie about the paper, describe it really well for her (at first most kids did poorly, she says she gave you a blank one and you all worked on it together in class today, is this ringing any bells???), and I'm getting this 'duh' response, like "I have no idea what you are talking about". I'm like, "your teacher specifically mentions in her email that it was sent home and we should look at it together tonight". "oh", she says, "She had us put that in our math books." So, I email the teacher back and say what Katie says and while I'm at it, ask how she's doing in class.
So, this morning I go to grab her lunchbox from her backpack and find the math papers crumpled in the bottom of her backpack. Eeek! I call her downstairs. "Here's the math paper..." . You can probably see how this progresses. So, I decide to call the teacher this morning, tell her that my email was wrong and that the paper was actually in the bottom of the backpack.
Long lead-in to get to the point...Katie (like me) is doing great in school. She does her homework, gets her reading done, no worries...EXCEPT that she's a social butterfly. Yackity yackity yack. Her teacher doesn't know what to do about it. Was I surprised to get this report? Yea right! I've been hearing it since Katie was in Kindergarten. Wait - I've been hearing it since she was in preschool. Allright, if you know me then you know that I've really been hearing this since I was in elementary school. I have passed on the chatty gene to my very own version of Mini Me.
In the seventh grade, my English teacher Mr. Davis got on me every single day about talking during roll. How was I not able to just shut my trap? So, he tries everything...moves me away from my friends (didn't matter)...put me in a kindergarten size desk right next to his (didn't matter)...moved my desk out into the hallway (really didn't matter - since it was fourth period and everyone was in the hallways for lunch - super chat!!). So, I tell a short version of the Mr. Davis story to Katie's teacher this morning in an apologetic way. Yes, I'm owning up to my Darwinian contribution to her classroom this year. She says, "I was thinking that I should move Katie closer to my desk, but now that you told me that story, maybe that would make her feel too much like she was following in your footsteps, so I'll hold off on that plan".
Here's where I pull the Reason to Believe out of this tale...it's the Circle of Life, baby - and I love seeing me in her, even if it's through both of our wide open yaps!!
1 comment:
Kieran also is like me in so many ways. I worry about how much he worries about what other people think of him (how's that for a double worry). But that has it's upsides, too. We're both really in tune with what other people are thinking. And I can't help but admire you and your daughter's social skills. You're both just plain fun to be around:)
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