So many things that make me want to stab my eyes out of late! For example,
- My Co-Room Parent who forwards me copies of emails from the PTA Head (which I already have in my inbox, because we're on the same mailing list), onto which she's added, "Laura, please do this." Since we have elementary-aged children, "You're not the boss of me!" is an appropriate response, right? It's just not cool to volunteer other people for things that you could do yourself.
- Grief over grocery shopping. Like when we lived in BKK, sometimes household products that we know and love disappear from the shelves here in Saigon and aren't replaced as quickly as they are back in Canada. I had nothing to do with the Kitchen Towel Famine of the Last Seven Days, and I did valiantly check at Metro for them and the local supermarket as well.
- Parents with a poor handle on control issues. Your three year-old's preschool teacher taught him the names of the letters of the alphabet instead of what the sounds are, which is all you wanted him to know? Um, what is going to happen when your kid goes to kindergarten? A parent brought in The Giving Tree and/or Rainbow Fish to read to your child's first grade class, and you're "devastated" because of the "inappropriate themes"? Seriously, your six year-old is not thinking as much on those books as you are, and probably has a positive take-away or two.
There. I feel better now. Sometimes a good vent does a load of good.
This week hasn't been entirely cranky - my toddler is starting to pedal her bike independently, and she can steer decently if there is someone directing her. I hope that this doesn't mean that she'll be wanting a tw0-wheeler for her birthday; there is a perfectly good Kettler trike sitting in our garage!
Umm yea ... I do not look forward to having to work with other bossier (than me, I mean) moms. Wonder if I can avoid these things? ;)
What, pray tell, are these "inappropriate themes"?? I'd LOVE to know. Wait ... giving tree promotes deforestation and rainbow fish encourages ... nope. I'm lost.
Posted by: jesser | February 23, 2011 at 08:20 AM
Are you sure your not in Ottawa? These sound like parents at my kids school....
Posted by: Amy | February 23, 2011 at 01:34 PM
Well, if I was in Ottawa, I couldn't dismiss any of my frustrations as inter-cultural misunderstandings! Other parents are crazy everywhere, I guess ...
Posted by: laura | February 23, 2011 at 08:03 PM
Well, some adult readers think that Rainbow Fish promotes communist and socialist ideas. And The Giving Tree depicts an unhealthy self-sacrificing relationship.
I can't help but think that any of these interpretations would be over the heads of most young children!
Posted by: laura | February 23, 2011 at 08:10 PM