PARENT/TEACHER MEETING

I was not prepared for the parent/teacher meeting;

I am today.

I pop back to the house to get a cup of tea on my way to the parent/teacher meeting only to discover I have no milk in the fridge.

I wanted, I needed a cup of tea.

Do I have time to pop into SuperValu on the way pass and get a cup.

I will if I leave now.

I hop back into the car and start to drive to the parent/teacher meetings with things on my mind and before I know it, I am passed SuperValu.

No... what was I thinking.

Well, there is a recession happening so maybe I was wondering where our next meal is coming from.

At least I saved money, not buying a tea.

When I arrived at the school, I park my car and frantically look around the inside of the car hoping to find a bottle of water.

I find a bottle and it has been there since last Tuesday evening.

It was one of the kids who had it.

I go to drink it and notice crumbs from what they were eating floating there.

I put the bottle down.

I get out of the car and think, what a great start.

I am rushed, thirsty and starting to get a bit cranky.

I look around and parents are arriving thick and fast.

One parent and two parents, safety in numbers so to speak or what I do not hear hopefully the other might.

However, not everyone has a matching pair.

I think.

Dinner, that’s right I need to remember to get dinner on the way home this evening.

One teacher, two teachers, three teachers, what was it the first teacher said.

By the time I was on to my fourth teacher I was thinking to myself, must remember this, must remember that.

Then it happened, teacher number four says something I do not like to hear about my son/daughter.

I quickly scan the room.

All the other parents and teachers are all sitting calmly and smiling politely.

I think, am I going to be the one to rock the boat.?

Would I be willing to jump to my feet, launch myself across the small table that divided myself and this teacher and? Not sure what I would do but I do know what I would like to do.

Am I going to be the one to jump to my feet and say do not speak about my child in this manner.

Or am I going to smile and say that I am here today to hear from you how many A’s my son/daughter will achieve in their exams and how you, as their teacher will help them do this.

I need to know if they are being granted a full. proper and meaningful education, that they are learning and happy in school and if they are not, then I want to know why not.?

I am here today not to get a run down on your personal like or dislike of my teenager as a person.

I am here today to make sure the school is a safe, happy and welcoming environment, a place where my teenager is free to learn.

By teacher number seven I am still thinking of teacher number four.

I want to go back and say my piece, the piece I was not ready or prepared to say at that time.

However thirsty I was before I am ten time thirstier now and not a drop of water in sight.

My brain has stopped working and the hall is emptying out at high speed.

Parents are fleeing to their cars, probably in search of water.

I hop back into my car.

I should have been back at my computer writing ten min ago.

I begin to try to remember which teacher said what.

There is so much feedback to remember.

Should I have taken a copy and a pen and put it all down on paper?

I hope I will remember, at least most of it, if not all of it.

Then I remember I need to remember to get the dinner this evening.

My phone rings and it is a friend in need.

She needs help with a private matter.

I give her a time to phone me later when I can give her my undivided attention.

“Mum what did they say, what do my teachers say about me” asked my teenager?

"Well", I say, "they said this and that and the other thinks this" and all the time I am wondering will I tell my teenager the one negative thing that one teacher decided to say about them.

I can sense a delight that the teachers are proud and happy.

God, I think to myself as a parent; the influence teachers can have on our youth is next to mind boggling at times.

I dive into greater details as I try to remember and help to guide my teenager with the feedback from today’s parent/teacher meeting.

The phone rings and it is my friend on the line.

And once again life keeps rolling.

I hear the front door bang as my teenager heads off to their after-school activity with the next-door neighbour who has just pulled up outside the house.

“Hello," I say to my friend.

After she speaks at great length about should she go to her in-laws this year for Christmas or should she go to Spain there is silence.

My friend says, “are you still there?"

I say “yes."

My friend says, “what do you think?"

I say, “it is a pity they do not conduct parent/teacher meetings by email so I could remember every word and detail each teacher said to me today.

I could have it to look over and refer to at anytime so I could give my teenager the best education possible".

The other reason and the best reason for emails is that I would be able to answer teacher number four.

“What?” says my friend.

"Nothing” I say.

I am still thinking to myself, still it was nice to meet the teachers in person.

“Right" said my friend, "that’s it, I’m going to Spain".

“You should," I say, “because if there is one language worth learning, that’s one, so said one of the teachers today".

Next morning the phone rings, it is my doctor with the results from the blood test I had got done a few days earlier, they tests are clear.

I put the phone down.

I cannot believe my luck.

I am delighted and relieved.

I had been carrying this worry with me for that time.

I have a weight of my mind, a clear head, and I am ready today for parent/teacher meeting.

The only problem, the parent/teacher meetings was yesterday.

DO NOT TELL ME, THAT WE DO NOT JUDGE A BOOK BY IT'S COVER.