Dear So and So

[limewave]

Dear Limewave:

+ a million
My own children used to chastise me for coming to their baseball games, sitting apart from the other parents, and grading papers. I had to explain to them that I did it because I didn't want to get into one of the discussions like you had. Every conversation started and ended about teachers. I always wondered, gee who is talking about me right now?
One of my esteemed bosses had a favorite saying: "the deadliest place for a teacher is the soccer field on Saturday morning."

And, this is why when I go to school meetings now, I always preface it with "I was a teacher for 30 years," so they don't think I'm one of those therapists who only sees the good side of a kid for 1-2 hours a week.

I've taken to walking laps around the soccer field during practice. If DS is with me, I play with him on the playground or take him on little walks until DD is done. I purposefully separate myself. I don't like getting drawn into gossip. Its very easy to slip into that kind of talk.

These same parents got all uppity with me when I mentioned I was trying to organize a U8 pick-up soccer night at our house and trying to arrange carpool for soccer camp this summer. I was told I was a pushy, over-reaching soccer mom. I was ticked. DD asks me to play soccer with her, literally, EVERY night! She begs me to play with her and to have friends over to play soccer. But none of her friends want to play. I'm just trying to create opportunities for her. Sheesh!