Tuesday, September 4, 2012

school daze (re-post from september 4th 2009)

as the school year is set to begin next week - i find myself thinking about things that have happened to my kids at school through the years--i am also thinking a lot about my grandchildren - and hoping this year will be a great school year for all of them--only 2 won't be going to school, and 2 of my grand-daughters will be going for the first time!

i start with a preschool memory--my second born son was in his second year of preschool--he was already having somewhat of a hard time since his little sister was in and out of the hospital a lot that year--one day my husband called me on the way home from work--he had stopped at the store and was calling to see what i needed--i told him and then inquired how was my son he was suppose to pick up from preschool--he said gotta go, and i knew what had happened--frank said when he got to the school, all the other children had gone - there was our son sitting on the floor playing- he looked at his dad and said -oh hi dad, i was worried about you--i was so mad at my husband!

i jump ahead quite a few years to my first born son's junior year--he had a problem with one of his teachers- it was the first week of school --believe me i didn't usually call the school and complain,but this time i did--well the next afternoon my second son comes home from school -running in the house before his brother could get to me-- he lets me know i will be getting a call from their principal concerning his brother of course ( why else would he have been so eager to let me know) --i decide i'm gonna be pro-active - i call the school and get the principal--i tell him what my son said- that i should be expecting a call--he says-- oh yes mrs. proctor, i was going to call you - it seems that your son, was found "gatoring" on a table in the "commons" in a bra and skirt-i didn't know what to say to that, i asked - just a bra and skirt--oh no it was over his clothes--thank God for that--i ask him what is "gatoring"(bad question)--he says mrs. proctor ,have you ever seen "animal house"--no i say- highly indignant! fully humiliated- i say to him--isn't it funny that i call you yesterday and complain about something and today you just HAPPEN to find MY son doing this !! --he says ma mm i had no idea who your son was until i found him "gatoring on the table in a bra and skirt--uh huh i say and hang up--a little side line to this - the teacher that i had called to complain about in the first place , turned out to be my son's favorite teacher and a wonderful mentor--the moral --wait wait wait before you call any school and complain about anything your teenager tells you--you never know if they have a bra and skirt in their backpack-

42 comments:

  1. Lynn, that is hilarious! I love the way you wrote this, too. It makes me curious about your son, today. :)

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    1. haha he is married with five children---he still gets in touch with his dramatic side through acting and writing--but as far as i know, there has been no more "gatoring" ;)

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  2. That's funny. Yea, you never know...

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  3. I was so glad when our kids finished school. I was more stressed than our kids during that time as I was working full time.

    I have to admit, I nearly forgot one of our kids once at pre-school, since hubs and I took turns, but I never admitted it to the child, I blamed it on traffic. I was very aware of how that must feel to the child, when their parent doesn't appear.

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    1. i know--i have to admit, i don't remember what my son thought, i think frank told him something like you said---of course now as an adult, he has heard the story many times!

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  4. That's so funny! What a great memory to bring up with your son's children. :) I was a stressed mom during the middle school years...so glad those school years are over. LOL

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  5. I'm just really glad that my children are all out of high school now! It was a fun time, but I'm so glad it's over!!

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    1. i know--it seemed like each day, i was waiting for the phone to ring and it was always the school, about something haha :)

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  6. Oh my...I hope it wasn't 'your' undies...Yikes!!! xo

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    1. haha, i have no idea where the bra came from--i know about the skirt--wasn't mine either :)

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  7. Kids! And I learned a new word - gatoring :-) I wondered about the bra - didn't anyone miss it?

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  8. Hi Lynn,

    Enjoyed reading the antics of your son, so funny and kids will be kids.
    I have never heard of the word gatoring, not in my dictionary.

    Happy week
    Hugs
    Carolyn

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    1. i had never heard of it either--it is a kinda crazy dancing on one's belly thing--thanks carolyn and hugs back :)

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  9. As a teacher, I really appreciate your advice. I can honestly say after having six kids go through the public school system, there were only about five teachers I thought short-changed their education. That's pretty good in any business.

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    1. haha i am sure you would know very well--and that is great odds :)

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  10. I hope your grandchildren have a great year. I guess I'm really behind, but I haven't heard of the term gatoring before. Now I know!

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  11. I never had many outlandish moments in my school days or in those of my kids. Well, come to think of it my son did get me called into the office a couple times. The daughters were pretty good though.


    Lee
    Tossing It Out

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  12. Funny! Glad you re-posted. And I had no idea about "gatoring"! Appreciate you filling us in :)

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    1. thanks meredith, glad to bring you up to speed ;)

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  13. ha ha ha! if i ever get notice of my son gatoring i will die laughing!
    thats hilarious!

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  14. Your posting made me think about my own kids school daze. I used to get a call from the assistant principle for one of mine every a.m. @ 8:30. :/ With my own grand kids now in school, and the times have changed, drastically. :( I did have a laugh about the gatoring. :)

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    1. i know, the same with me, i would literally get a call everyday for a while there--so glad when it was over--haha glad to make you laugh ;)

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  15. Bringing back memories! I swear it was only a few weeks ago, not years!

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  16. I have no idea what gatoring is, but it sure does sound like he was the life of the party lol. I never call the school and probably won't (unless there is bullying involved.) I usually want my kids to learn to work things out on their own first. So far they have done a pretty good job of handling their problems on their own.

    It is very easy to jump the gun and point fingers and I refuse to be a "not my child" kind of mom.

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  17. I try not to get involved unless they tell me and if it is really bad I would go see the teacher. I can imagine your anger at your husband when he forgot your little boy. I would be.:)
    www.thoughtsofpaps.com

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    1. i know---yeah i cut him some slack, but just a little ;)

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  18. Gatoring is now in my computer dictionary along with a note for appropriate apparel while doing. This deserved reposting, Lynn!

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  19. With such a troubled school life I had forgotten a lot of the clowning I did, whilst not 'gatoring' - I'd never heard of it either - reading this has brought a couple of things back to mind. Thank you.

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  20. Linked to Gator Pile at https://sites.google.com/site/gatorpile

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