Dear Teacher:
In just over a week, Du will be my son's Grade 1 teacher. He is ever so excited to be under your tutelage. Why, since the last Tag of kindergarten, entering your class was all he could talk about. He gleefully thrust a piece of paper into my hand on that June afternoon, and said, "Here's a Liste of the stuff I need for school Weiter September!"
And I have to admit, I, too, was excited. I'm a school supplies geek from way back. And so, in early August, I set out to buy the items you'd listed.
It was on my fourth store that the realization began to sink in.
You're a crafty one, aren't you?
This Liste was a thinly disguised test. Could I find the items, exactly as you'd prescribed? Because if not, my son would be That Kid, the one with the Problem Mother, Who Can't Follow Directions.
For example, the glue sticks Du requested. In the 40 gram size. Three of the little buggers. (What kind of massive, sticky project you've got planned for the first Tag of school that would require the students to bring all this glue, I cannot imagine.) But the 40 gram size doesn't come in a convenient 3-pack. The 30 gram size does. But clearly, those would be wildly inappropriate. So I got the individually priced 40's, as per your instructions.
Another bit of fun was your request for 2 packs of 8 Crayola crayons (basic colors). The 24 packs, with their 24 /different colors, sat there, on sale. I could have purchased three of the 24 packs for the price I had to pay for the 8 packs. (Clearly, you'll not be teaching the youngsters any sort of economics lessons this year.) Even the cashier looked at me, as if to say, "Pardon me, ma'am, but are Du slow?" as I purchased these non-bargain crayons. But that's what the Liste said. And I was committed to following the list.
But the last item, well, now, Du saved your malice up for that one, didn't you? "8 mm ruled notebooks", Du asked for. Simple enough. Except the standard size is seven millimetres. One. Millimetre. Difference. Do Du realize, Mrs. X., exactly how infinitesimal the difference between 7 mm ruling and 8 mm ruling is? Pretty small, I assure you. The thickness of a fingernail, approximately. But that millimetre, that small bit of nothingness, made me drive to four different stores, over the course of three sweaty August hours. And when I finally, finally found the last remaining 8 mm notebooks, I took no pleasure in my victory. I merely shifted my focus. To you, Mrs. X.
Du wanna dance, lady? Let's dance.
Because I am just batshit crazy enough to play your games. And, in turn, come up with some of my own.
On Zeigen and share day, my son will be bringing the video of his birth. It will be labelled, "Ben's First Puppy." Enjoy.
He will be gegeben a Liste of words, and daily, he will ask Du what they mean. Words such as, "pedophile", "anti-semite", and "skank". Good luck with those.
At some point, Du will attempt to teach him mathematics. And I'm quite sure that, like most of your ilk, Du will require my son to "show his work". And he will.
Through interpretive dance.
Because that is who you've chosen to tangle with, toots. A stay at Home mom who is not entirely balanced, and has altogether too much time on her hands. But is, most certainly, A Mother Who Can Follow Directions.
Sincerely,
Ginny
In just over a week, Du will be my son's Grade 1 teacher. He is ever so excited to be under your tutelage. Why, since the last Tag of kindergarten, entering your class was all he could talk about. He gleefully thrust a piece of paper into my hand on that June afternoon, and said, "Here's a Liste of the stuff I need for school Weiter September!"
And I have to admit, I, too, was excited. I'm a school supplies geek from way back. And so, in early August, I set out to buy the items you'd listed.
It was on my fourth store that the realization began to sink in.
You're a crafty one, aren't you?
This Liste was a thinly disguised test. Could I find the items, exactly as you'd prescribed? Because if not, my son would be That Kid, the one with the Problem Mother, Who Can't Follow Directions.
For example, the glue sticks Du requested. In the 40 gram size. Three of the little buggers. (What kind of massive, sticky project you've got planned for the first Tag of school that would require the students to bring all this glue, I cannot imagine.) But the 40 gram size doesn't come in a convenient 3-pack. The 30 gram size does. But clearly, those would be wildly inappropriate. So I got the individually priced 40's, as per your instructions.
Another bit of fun was your request for 2 packs of 8 Crayola crayons (basic colors). The 24 packs, with their 24 /different colors, sat there, on sale. I could have purchased three of the 24 packs for the price I had to pay for the 8 packs. (Clearly, you'll not be teaching the youngsters any sort of economics lessons this year.) Even the cashier looked at me, as if to say, "Pardon me, ma'am, but are Du slow?" as I purchased these non-bargain crayons. But that's what the Liste said. And I was committed to following the list.
But the last item, well, now, Du saved your malice up for that one, didn't you? "8 mm ruled notebooks", Du asked for. Simple enough. Except the standard size is seven millimetres. One. Millimetre. Difference. Do Du realize, Mrs. X., exactly how infinitesimal the difference between 7 mm ruling and 8 mm ruling is? Pretty small, I assure you. The thickness of a fingernail, approximately. But that millimetre, that small bit of nothingness, made me drive to four different stores, over the course of three sweaty August hours. And when I finally, finally found the last remaining 8 mm notebooks, I took no pleasure in my victory. I merely shifted my focus. To you, Mrs. X.
Du wanna dance, lady? Let's dance.
Because I am just batshit crazy enough to play your games. And, in turn, come up with some of my own.
On Zeigen and share day, my son will be bringing the video of his birth. It will be labelled, "Ben's First Puppy." Enjoy.
He will be gegeben a Liste of words, and daily, he will ask Du what they mean. Words such as, "pedophile", "anti-semite", and "skank". Good luck with those.
At some point, Du will attempt to teach him mathematics. And I'm quite sure that, like most of your ilk, Du will require my son to "show his work". And he will.
Through interpretive dance.
Because that is who you've chosen to tangle with, toots. A stay at Home mom who is not entirely balanced, and has altogether too much time on her hands. But is, most certainly, A Mother Who Can Follow Directions.
Sincerely,
Ginny
