As most of you know I am desperately trying to get a teaching job. I work as a substitute teacher during the day and at a daycare center in the afternoon. About a month ago I covered a class for 2.5 weeks after the teacher passed away. One of the students is in my daycare class.
Fast forward to yesterday. We get back from school and I have the kids take their HW stuff out and this little girl tells me that her mom is going to have to order her school pictures on-line because I didn't turn in her picture money (?? I wasn't there for picture day). so she shows me her agenda and there are staple holes but no check so I told her check her backpack - no luck.
Mom picks up as we are closing at 6:30, we chat, they leave, I go to wash up my dishes. Two mins later there is a knock on the door. Mom asked if I had her check because it was supposed to come home and its not in her book - no - she leaves again. I finish up, grab my things and am head to the door when she comes back up with her daughter. I opened it and jokingly said, "We're closed." She starts saying, "One of you is lying and somebody needs to start telling the truth." Her daughter (7) said she didn't tell me about the check. So I recounted the day (In, get out HW, no check, looked in bag) and she gets mad at me saying I'm putting words in her daughters mouth and that I better give her the check back or she will call the cops.
This went on for about 10 mins. She said I took it to make myself look better (for losing a check that I never had possession of) and my assistant director kept saying there was no reason for me to take hr check. Then she says, 'well all of these interviews and no job yet, I don't know her background." (If I hadn't been so focused on keeping my cool I would have lost it at this point). My AD went through my trash to prove I didn't have it. So the mom asks if I have it on me, I said No. AND SHE CALLED THE COPS!
They came out and talked to her outside, and then talked me inside, walked to my classroom. They chalked it up to "7 year olds lose things." Told mom to go through everything again when they got home. When I got home, an hour later than normal, I sent an e-mail to the school.
I called this morning. Guess what? The check was there, they kept it and sent it in to the picture people!! and they has sent mom a message yesterday to tell her. AAHHH.
Re: AHH-Rant/WWYD/people suck.
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WTF? It was A CHECK. Why freak out about it? Why blame you? Chalk it up to your kid lady. I hope she apologizes to you today.
I definitely would make sure that you let her know that you talked to the school and that's where her damn check went.
I cannot believe that she called the cops! It's not like you can cash a cheque that isn't made out to you anyways, what point would there be in you taking it?
As far as what to do, I don't think I'd bother with any further communication with that mom. She is clearly BSC. I would however make sure the school knows exactly what happened and that you are upset. Maybe the principal or someone of "higher power" can put that mom in her place.
Another one of my major teaching pet peeves. Parents who believe their kid over the teacher. What does a teacher gain in lying to the parents? Stupid.
I applaud you for keeping your cool. I probably would have lost it on the mom and given her a piece of my mind.
Oh that is not okay. I'm not a fan of parents who pit teacher against child. There's never a good ending to that.
What really gets me is calling the cops. I mean, really? Really? Over a check for school pictures that couldn't have been more than, what? $50?
yuck, that sucks!
Have you talked to the director today to her her take on how to handle it? I would be a little concerned to have to deal with a BSC woman who called the cops on me. Maybe the director of the program needs to intervene and talk to the mother without you present about her approach and insults.
This! The woman sounds unbalanced, and I definitely wouldn't want to deal with her by myself.
Wow... that woman needs to get a grip. Even if I believed my 7 year old over the teacher in a situation like that, and I'm not sure why I would, but calling the cops is completely over the top BSC. She's nuts. Sorry you had to deal with that.