Well, yesterday I was called down to the pricipal's office. Hmmmm... Yes, that's what I was thinking. I was racking my brain to think of anything I had said or done that was not in line with standards. It ended up being about something I wasn't even expecting.
Without getting into toooooo many details (OK, this is a long story full of details about an angry parent... you've heard it all before!)
... An angry (and possibly crazy) mom received a text message from her daughter yesterday after practice. She told her mom that the coaches were running them too hard and a lot of girls were throwing up and stuff. She also told her mom that she blacked out while running. OK, so 1 girl threw up (she was looking pale for most of the morning before it happened)... 30 minutes after practice was over... because we had to end early so they could get their schedules for the new semester... and this was after they had come back from doing that. And.... crazy mom's kid never once told us about this blacking out bit.
This started a whirlwind of miscommunications from the daughter to the mother to the nurse to throw up girl to the coaches to the daughter back to the nurse and the mother and eventually to the principal. Apparently the mother said we were being too hard on her and blah blah blah.
Ok, this girl has no medical issues, has been cleared to do anything within reason and is never the last one. She is always middle of the pack... in conditioning, in game playing, in practice, in everything. She's not great, but she's doing a good job. I barely even notice her sometimes because she is a shy and quiet girl. So I don't understand why 3 weeks before the end of the season there is a huge problem with the mom-daughter combo.
I was eventually told by the principal to exercise caution when doing conditioning so that nothing happens... OK, not a problem. Then we had to decide on a consequence for using her cell phone in the locker room and usually we handle this with running, but under the circumstances, we thought that would be the worst thing to do. So we gave her a referral saying that she broke the rule of no cell phone use in the locker room... much less the school. (DUH!!!)
I brought her in and talked to her about it. I asked her to let me know if she doesn't feel well because I can't read her mind and we had a good talk. At the end I told her she was still receiving a consequence for the cell phone use and she signed the referral. She then asked to call her mom which of course I said yes too. Well... a few minutes later the mom wanted to talk to me. (I knew this was a bad idea but what do you do when a student is handing a phone to you and saying... here.) I took a deep breath and just calmly told her what was happening. Somehow in the middle of it she called me a liar 3 times and also accused me of not caring for her daughter as well as giving her an office referral for blacking out. I was so confused and agitated that I literally had to hang up on her right after I managed to say, "Ma'am, I'm hanging up now. Please call the office and we will set up an appointment to meet with the principal, athletic director and the two of us." I have no idea if she said anything else after that... I ran to meet the principal and warn him of what was about to happen and within 2 minutes she was calling him to say she was on her way up to school.
Now, this is where my part of the story kinda ends. I talked to the principal this afternoon and he said crazy mom (no, he didn't use those words) had been in his office for 2 hours and that I would not have to meet with her after all. He also told me that one of the attendance clerks was also called a liar more than once in the meeting they had with her. WHEW!!! So glad I didn't have to be there!
Oh, and I must add that this all happened during our Math TAKS simulation... you know, when everyone should be focusing on ALL the students and crazy mom's daughter went off to her test after being worked up by her mom.... I feel sorry for the whole family and I have decided I will never do well as a principal because I could not handle that.
I have also been reassured by the coaches and the office staff that I was in the right for working my kids hard and using running as discipline. After all, its athletics... and like they always say--- If you don't like it, get out.
WHEW! And that's the story of crazy mom... and her sweet daughter who will probably be just like her some day.
-coach b!
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4 comments:
Ahhh, the Crazy Mother. Although I don't know her, I know many like her. I have been the target of them, and sympathized with my colleagues who have, too. There is no stopping the Crazy Mother. She's probably been this way since the child was in Kindergarten. And yes, the child will likely grow up to be just like that. Don't even give it a second thought... obviously the principal is cool w/ whatever you did. You're still the best, Coach B!
Coach B! I like your blog and this might be a little "off-topic". If so, I ask forgiveness now. My girlfriend (Miss B) just started this term as a 7/8 science teacher and she is loving it! I am very excited for her too! I would like to ask you what the best way to support her in her new career as a teacher would be. She continues to tell me that I have no idea what it is like going out with a first year teacher. She is right. Thanks!
thdproductions,
I wanted to post on your blog but I am kinda dumb on this thing and couldn't get to it. I wish MY boyfriend would ask me this. HA! I just want to say that she is going to be exhausted... all the time! Even when you think she shouldn't be anymore. I love it too, but at the end of the day... sometimes I can barely even muster up the strength to eat dinner before I fall asleep. Its not much better on the weekends either. Oh, and if she asks you to help grade or cut or whatever, I would suggest being nice and tell her you'll take something simple. We can use all the help we can get! With that being said, you seem super supportive and she is lucky to have you. I wish the both of you luck... with each other and the teaching!
Coach B, Thank you so much for your reply! It has meant the world to me. I have learned much in the last day, from you and others, which leaves me hopeful that the winds of luck are at our back! Thank you.
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