I am tired. I have not eaten today (unless you count those 2 Doritos and the Pepsi). And folks IS trying me today!!
Why do you call and interrupt me this morning to ask if you can have a cupcake party for your child today? You ask what time, I say that you need to bring them and pass them out at 1.
Why at 1:10 I get a call from the office that I need to pick up a package? You did not have time to stay so you dropped off your child's party for me to take care of. You didn't even take the time to walk the cupcakes to the class. REALLY? So I need to stop my lesson to get to the cupcakes and juice boxes? UGH!!!!!
Then...
You did not send enough cupcakes for the whole class.
You sent less Capri Sun than cupcakes.
Let's take a moment. You sent 24 cupcakes and 20 Capri Suns...just don't add up does it?
You told your other daughter's teacher to send her over for the party. Which did not have enough cupcakes for the class anyway.
Or juice for that matter.
...and I still have not had anything to eat today (unless you count the 2 chips and the Pepsi...that, by the way, I have not had a chance to finish drinking) and this chick did not even send a cupcake for me!
(Loving my job but its making me hungry!)
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Read a Book!! (and brush ya damn teeth!!)
The great thing is...I had a pretty good day. Even though it was cold and rainy the rugbunnies did not do anything too notable today.
The only thing of real interest today was the comedy that was the parents dropping their kids off to school this morning. Florida requires me to be a 'high qualified' teacher. That means that I am loaded down with classes that I have to take, papers to write, forms to fill out for parents that for some reason have not found it just a wee bit strange that little Le'monJello has not learned his alphabet, or is able to spell his name. Did I mention that he is 10 years old and in the first grade?
I looked real close at the parents as they came in this morning. Please don't get me wrong. My school is filled with parents that want the best for their kids and do the best they can for them. Then there is Na-Na and 'dem (Caucasian folk...ask your African American friends who "dem" is because it really does apply to certain members of their family. If they say they don't know...they are lying!) who come to school in last nights club clothes, hair wrapped up and sleep shorts, or who have not changed in the last few days.
One young man walked up to me this morning and asked "Wuh da go get da brekfass at?" I had to step back because this brother had not brushed his teeth in a minute. He did however have on the fresh Jordans.
I pointed him to the cafeteria...and this song came to mind. ENJOY!!
(Love my job...even when your breath stanks all to be damned)
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
You know they sell soap at the dollar store, right?
So today was my first day back after a couple workshops and the MLK holiday. Sometimes when you are away from a place for awhile, you come back and see things in a different light. I like the days I am not at school because I tend to come back and see things a bit brighter. I wish folk would buy into the brightness.
Anyway, today I came back and noticed some things I had not seen before with the rugbunnies. Now, when I think really long and hard I am sure that really nothing has changed, it just took a couple days away from it to notice.
I went to the cafeteria this morning to pick up my class and took a really good look at them. I mean a REALLY good look. Why the hell was most of the class dirty? What the hell? I looked at faces and clothes and I took a good whiff. How in the hell at 7:30 in the morning do I have kids that smell like Funyuns and feet? Really? And it's cold outside!! It takes a hell of a lot of funk...days worth even, for you to smell like ass and old bacon at 7:30 in the morning when it's 30 degrees outside.
I decide to take my show on the road and Ms Green and the Funky Bunch head back to class. As we are walking I am noticing that quite a few of them have on jackets and pants that are filfty. What the...this is just too much! Upon closer inspection a good chunk of the Funky Bunch look like they did not brush their teeth or hair this morning either. CRAZY!! Now I know, having sent my own step daughter to school many mornings fly to death that they can come home a hot mess. Baby Girl that walked out the door looking like an angel in the morning can quite possibly come come looking like a little crackbaby by 3:15. But, c'mon!! 7:30 IN THE MORNING?!!
So we had a little conversation (one that they should have had at home) about Ms. Green's expectations of what they should do before school. I am prepared for some angry parent to come to school tomorrow mad because I told their child to change their drawers (and yes I did mention that they should take a bath prior to changing drawers) and brush their teeth before hitting the hallowed halls of P.S 147! But is it really too much to at least make sure you child is clean in the morning?
I know times are tough...but they sell soap at the dollar store. Get ya wash on!! Maybe tomorrow my Funky Bunch will be the Get Fresh Crew!!
(It's stinky here..and may smell like ass and potatoes some days, but I love my job!)
Anyway, today I came back and noticed some things I had not seen before with the rugbunnies. Now, when I think really long and hard I am sure that really nothing has changed, it just took a couple days away from it to notice.
I went to the cafeteria this morning to pick up my class and took a really good look at them. I mean a REALLY good look. Why the hell was most of the class dirty? What the hell? I looked at faces and clothes and I took a good whiff. How in the hell at 7:30 in the morning do I have kids that smell like Funyuns and feet? Really? And it's cold outside!! It takes a hell of a lot of funk...days worth even, for you to smell like ass and old bacon at 7:30 in the morning when it's 30 degrees outside.
I decide to take my show on the road and Ms Green and the Funky Bunch head back to class. As we are walking I am noticing that quite a few of them have on jackets and pants that are filfty. What the...this is just too much! Upon closer inspection a good chunk of the Funky Bunch look like they did not brush their teeth or hair this morning either. CRAZY!! Now I know, having sent my own step daughter to school many mornings fly to death that they can come home a hot mess. Baby Girl that walked out the door looking like an angel in the morning can quite possibly come come looking like a little crackbaby by 3:15. But, c'mon!! 7:30 IN THE MORNING?!!
So we had a little conversation (one that they should have had at home) about Ms. Green's expectations of what they should do before school. I am prepared for some angry parent to come to school tomorrow mad because I told their child to change their drawers (and yes I did mention that they should take a bath prior to changing drawers) and brush their teeth before hitting the hallowed halls of P.S 147! But is it really too much to at least make sure you child is clean in the morning?
I know times are tough...but they sell soap at the dollar store. Get ya wash on!! Maybe tomorrow my Funky Bunch will be the Get Fresh Crew!!
(It's stinky here..and may smell like ass and potatoes some days, but I love my job!)
5 More Minutes, Mom. PLEASE!!!
This is SOOOOO how I feelt his morning. Jill hit it on the head. I usually play this song in my car on mornings that I just don't wanna get up. I really should have played it in the car this morning. Today I wished for one of those mornings where mom gives you that extra 5 minutes to sleep. Didn't happen. I have a lot to do both professionally and personally and I just don't have the energy to get up and do it. I think I need a life coach. As a matter of fact, I have a TON of things that I should be doing right at this moment instead of writing this. Like....picking the kids up and getting the morning started. OK...I'm out.
PROCRASTINATION IS A BEAST!!
(still love my job...tomorrow)
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
How Clean is YOUR Hair?
Wow. It has been awhile since I have had a chance to leave my thoughts here. I was really surprised to get an email asking when my next update was coming. Here's the thing: since school started back, I have been just overwhelmed with things that needed to be done in my classroom. Sadly, the poor blog was put on the back shelf.
Until today...
You know how people say things and in your mind you wonder if they really meant it the way you heard it? Happens to me all the time. Lately, it has been happening a bit to often. Many times I just don't say what I am thinking back to the person. I have my mother's tongue and over the past 10 years I have really tried to curtail it as much as possible. The sad part with this is that you can see that I WANT to say something all over my face. Unfortunately, that tends to get me in a lot of trouble also.
In my mind I believe that in a past life I was a power to the people, Afro wearing, Angela Davis, fist in the air, black jacket wearing Black Panther. Now if you know your BP history, you know that they were known for being radicals. They also set up some of the most successfully run community programs in African American neighborhoods back in the 60's and 70's. Sadly, they became known more for being radical and this is often not looked upon too well by the government. They had some really great ideals, but I think how they went about saying what they needed to say was taken in the wrong context many times because of their tongue and because of the expression they tend to have on their face. Hence, I would have been an excellent BP (not to mention I have always wanted to sport the fly Afro).
I say all that to say this...I have had some conversations over the last week that have caused me to put on my Black Panther face and walk away (and I have had some problem controlling my tongue also). I submit this conversation and see if you see when the face came.
So the teacher that is in the room next to me gets a new student. An adorable cherub faced little Caucasian girl. Now race should not be a big deal, but it is crucial to the story. Anyway, I guess she has a pretty good day. Toward the middle of the day I see her teacher in the hall (TIH) and has this look on her face.
Me: You OK?
TIH: Um...you know my new student.
Me: Yeah?
TIH: She has LICE!
Me: Aw DAYUMN!
Now, truth be told, Black folk tend not to get lice too often. I am really not to sure of the reason, but you rarely hear of us getting lice. It could be all the products we use. It is my belief that it would be hard for any creature to live in an environment where lye products or a hotcomb are involved. But hey, who knows/
I have never had lice nor been around kids with lice so I kinda panicked inside. I proceeded to spray my classroom and the door that connected me to her room with Lysol. Now, I know deep inside that this really was not helping anything, but the medicinal smell of the Lysol was calming to my nerves. All I could think was that I was about to get some bugs in my hair and would have to cut all my hair off. I know that is not the lice procedure, but remember folk, I was in panic mode.
So later that day as we often do, a group of teacher s were standing in the hall. (TIH), Teacher Across the Hall (TAH), Teacher Down the Hall TDH and me. Conversation goes like this;
TIH: I can't believe that kid had lice. They sent her home.
Me: Good. I am out of Lysol.
TAH: It is a mess when that stuff starts to get around.
Me: I have never had it. As a matter of fact I don't remember that in any school I have been in. You rarely hear about that with black students.
TAH: I know. It was one of the perks of coming to this school.
OK for whatever reason, I did not make the face here. Because...well, I guess that could be a good reason. No lice is a perk...Imma let you have that one. Anyway:
Me: Where do people get that from anyway? It can't just spontaneously hatch in your head. Where does it start from?
TDH: Well, it happens because they like clean hair?
Me: Who?
TDH: The lice.
Me: So you are saying that the lice are attracted to CLEAN hair?
OK. You are so right...this is where the face came in, because I KNOW this chick is not saying that black folk don't get lice because they have dirty hair. I said it twice thinking that she would catch on. I am holding my tongue because I NEED this damn job, but dammit had I hit the lotto last night there would be some colorful words being used right now!! What's funny is that she did not catch the face and the conversation continued. The other ladies did because you will notice you will not hear any more from them:
TDH: Yes, they are attracted to clean hair.
See hold on...I can't let this go. This chick has said this blasphemy again and is obviously ignoring my face and the shocked and bewildered faces of the other women in the hall. I am sure that they usually keep this type conversation behind closed doors. Really? Is she standing here telling me that black kids have hair that is always dirty? I really was taken aback that you could say this to a Black Woman. And one with VERY clean hair at that!! And contrary to her thought pattern, I have worked in a school where a good chunk of the population was from the islands and the children wore their hair locked. Which tends to hold a good amount of oil and sometimes dirt. NO LICE. What the hell does this chick mean?
Me: OK. I don't understand how that can be true.
TDH: The lice tend to like to get into clean hair and scalp. That is how they attach.
Inside I had enough. So here comes:
Me: What you are saying can't be true.
TDH: It is. What do you mean it can't be true?
Me:Well, if they are attracted to CLEAN hair, why is it that you always find them in dirty little WHITE kids?
Game over. She went to her room
I love my job!! Happy New Year!!
Until today...
You know how people say things and in your mind you wonder if they really meant it the way you heard it? Happens to me all the time. Lately, it has been happening a bit to often. Many times I just don't say what I am thinking back to the person. I have my mother's tongue and over the past 10 years I have really tried to curtail it as much as possible. The sad part with this is that you can see that I WANT to say something all over my face. Unfortunately, that tends to get me in a lot of trouble also.
In my mind I believe that in a past life I was a power to the people, Afro wearing, Angela Davis, fist in the air, black jacket wearing Black Panther. Now if you know your BP history, you know that they were known for being radicals. They also set up some of the most successfully run community programs in African American neighborhoods back in the 60's and 70's. Sadly, they became known more for being radical and this is often not looked upon too well by the government. They had some really great ideals, but I think how they went about saying what they needed to say was taken in the wrong context many times because of their tongue and because of the expression they tend to have on their face. Hence, I would have been an excellent BP (not to mention I have always wanted to sport the fly Afro).
I say all that to say this...I have had some conversations over the last week that have caused me to put on my Black Panther face and walk away (and I have had some problem controlling my tongue also). I submit this conversation and see if you see when the face came.
So the teacher that is in the room next to me gets a new student. An adorable cherub faced little Caucasian girl. Now race should not be a big deal, but it is crucial to the story. Anyway, I guess she has a pretty good day. Toward the middle of the day I see her teacher in the hall (TIH) and has this look on her face.
Me: You OK?
TIH: Um...you know my new student.
Me: Yeah?
TIH: She has LICE!
Me: Aw DAYUMN!
Now, truth be told, Black folk tend not to get lice too often. I am really not to sure of the reason, but you rarely hear of us getting lice. It could be all the products we use. It is my belief that it would be hard for any creature to live in an environment where lye products or a hotcomb are involved. But hey, who knows/
I have never had lice nor been around kids with lice so I kinda panicked inside. I proceeded to spray my classroom and the door that connected me to her room with Lysol. Now, I know deep inside that this really was not helping anything, but the medicinal smell of the Lysol was calming to my nerves. All I could think was that I was about to get some bugs in my hair and would have to cut all my hair off. I know that is not the lice procedure, but remember folk, I was in panic mode.
So later that day as we often do, a group of teacher s were standing in the hall. (TIH), Teacher Across the Hall (TAH), Teacher Down the Hall TDH and me. Conversation goes like this;
TIH: I can't believe that kid had lice. They sent her home.
Me: Good. I am out of Lysol.
TAH: It is a mess when that stuff starts to get around.
Me: I have never had it. As a matter of fact I don't remember that in any school I have been in. You rarely hear about that with black students.
TAH: I know. It was one of the perks of coming to this school.
OK for whatever reason, I did not make the face here. Because...well, I guess that could be a good reason. No lice is a perk...Imma let you have that one. Anyway:
Me: Where do people get that from anyway? It can't just spontaneously hatch in your head. Where does it start from?
TDH: Well, it happens because they like clean hair?
Me: Who?
TDH: The lice.
Me: So you are saying that the lice are attracted to CLEAN hair?
OK. You are so right...this is where the face came in, because I KNOW this chick is not saying that black folk don't get lice because they have dirty hair. I said it twice thinking that she would catch on. I am holding my tongue because I NEED this damn job, but dammit had I hit the lotto last night there would be some colorful words being used right now!! What's funny is that she did not catch the face and the conversation continued. The other ladies did because you will notice you will not hear any more from them:
TDH: Yes, they are attracted to clean hair.
See hold on...I can't let this go. This chick has said this blasphemy again and is obviously ignoring my face and the shocked and bewildered faces of the other women in the hall. I am sure that they usually keep this type conversation behind closed doors. Really? Is she standing here telling me that black kids have hair that is always dirty? I really was taken aback that you could say this to a Black Woman. And one with VERY clean hair at that!! And contrary to her thought pattern, I have worked in a school where a good chunk of the population was from the islands and the children wore their hair locked. Which tends to hold a good amount of oil and sometimes dirt. NO LICE. What the hell does this chick mean?
Me: OK. I don't understand how that can be true.
TDH: The lice tend to like to get into clean hair and scalp. That is how they attach.
Inside I had enough. So here comes:
Me: What you are saying can't be true.
TDH: It is. What do you mean it can't be true?
Me:Well, if they are attracted to CLEAN hair, why is it that you always find them in dirty little WHITE kids?
Game over. She went to her room
I love my job!! Happy New Year!!
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