I just had my first true taste of what it's going to be like being PTA President next year. I got yelled at in the school parking lot......by a friend! Holy crap! It's raining and everyone is late. A lot more parents drive their kids to school when it's raining. They queue up in the parking lot to drop off. The parking lot was a tad bit more chaotic than usual. The line was long, so I got off the line, parked on the street and walked my kids to the door. While on the way, I see a very close girlfriend (in her car) who had a scary look on her face. The window goes down and the tirade began....I was so surprised, I couldn't really speak. Not sure she was serious, I almost laughed, but ....uh, she was serious. Are you kidding me? So, of course, I thought about this the whole way home, really proud of myself for not getting upset. It was just too ridiculous. Obviously she's having a really BAD morning. But I know that this is my future and I can't do what I'd really like to do which is say, "What? Is your finger broken? Call the school yourself and complain." But I no can do that anymore. I'm now a diplomat. I must behave. Crap. Thus I thought about some stock answers for just such tirades. I think my new knee jerk response will be: "I'll take that under advisement." Have a nice day.
There have been several realms in which I had to serve as R.A. for
grownups. I try to keep tihngs light but it still irritates me. Finger
broken indeed.
"I'll take that under advisement," is much more appealing than, "Bite me."
I don't envy your role.
Better you than me.
The PTO was something I never got roped into. For which I will be
eternally grateful.
One thing I've had to learn over the course of this year working for the
school system is to set clear boundaries. If I'm on the clock then I'm on
the job, if I'm off the clock then I'm sorry but I'm not going to fix your
computer. It kind of sucks to have to do but I'm much happier, the teachers
know when I will work for them and things are the way they should be. I
hope your friend calms down and apologizes for ripping you a fresh one for
something you have no control over (all my schools have the crunch
problem). Good luck and remember to breathe and that it isn't (or shouldn't
be) personal!