Seriously?!?

I seriously lost it today. I was (am) so angry. I am SO sick of volunteering my time and energy to do things, and then getting crapped on.

I organized the Spelling Bee for my school this year. I put lots of time into getting the word list together, creating/laminating certificates and ribbons for each participation, securing judges and a caller, the list goes on…. That is all beside the point. I don’t mind doing these things, as they benefit the school and kids.

So anyway, the Spelling Bee is going on today. One of my fourth graders gets out on the word "libraries". The Bee continues several more rounds. Then his mom stands up and says " I have a comment. This Bee is so poorly planned. You are giving easier words now than you did in the beginning". I explain to her politely that we are using the standard spelling list. We also included a list of 2nd and 3rd grade spelling words that the kids have used/learned during the school year. I watch her spend the rest of the Bee texting someone, talking to my fourth graders about the "unfairness", and even talking to another teacher. Whatever.

After the Bee is over she comes up to me to tell me how poorly planned the Bee was. I immediately became defensive, because it was not poorly planned. This was my first time ever planning a Spelling Bee and I did a lot of work to make it successful. She may not have agreed with how it was run, but it was not poorly planned. We went back and forth for a minute or two and then she said (very spitefully) "and I have a real problem with StuCo, but I’ll talk to you about that later!". She turned around and stormed out of our gym.

I am an emotional person and this took me over the top. StuCo is my baby. I have poured enormous amounts of time(volunteered!) and energy into making it successful. This is an extra that I do. I am not given a stipend or any extra income for doing it. We have done TONS this year, and it my opinion made the school a better place.

So anyway, back to the situation. After she left the gym I turned to the teacher next to me and told them I needed a minute and to please watch my kids. I went straight to our interim principal because I wanted him to be aware of the situation. I felt bad about the way I had reacted. Yes, she was rude to me, but as the professional I should have maintained composure.

I walked towards his office where the two of them were meeting. They had not shut the door, so I felt okay entering. I told them that I wanted to be a part of their discussion because they were discussing me. The mom told me that she was talking to him, wanted to talk to him ALONE, and I could have my turn later. She then shut the door in my face!

I cried a little bit more, tried unsuccessfully to regain composure, and went back to my kids.

After school I sent her an e-mail dripping with niceness and an apology for my behavior.  My e-mail shows me that she read it, but she hasn’t responded.

Who stands up to complain in the middle of a Spelling Bee?? She could have totally thrown off the three remaining spellers. Not the time or place. She was unbelievably rude to me. She didn’t even present her concerns in a kind way. When she starts off by saying how poorly planned something was, how would she not expect the planner to become defensive??

The worst part is that her kid is in my class, so it’s not going to be easy for me to avoid the situation/tension.

I already have issues with her child. He is constantly correcting me and telling me "better" ways to do things. I now see where he gets this from.

I don’t know where to go from here. I have apologized, but if she comes at me again, I know my defenses will go right back up. If her child says ANYthing to me or his classmates tomorrow (which I have the feeling he will), I am going to have a hard time not getting upset. I plan on telling the kids there will be NO discussing the Spelling Bee.

I feel so tense and stressed. Sometimes being a teacher doesn’t seem worth it. I put ALL of myself into this stupid job.

If you made it through this I commend you. Commend. C-o-m-m-e-n-d. Commend. 😉