Thank you for fearing my child's safety at home.
Thank you for making a call (without getting the entire story) and changing someone's life forever.
Thank you for giving me a panic attack at work.
Thank you for making me feel like the worst parent in the world.
Thank you for making me feel like needed to organize my entire house. I spent a night cleaning my closets, rather than spending some of our already limited quality time with my son, because I was afraid.
You threatened my son with suspension. You made him upset in front of his friends and you took the word of a child with a documented language disability and reported your information to the authorities.
What I want to know is how it felt to make that call. Were you proud? were you just "doing your job". Did you go home to your perfect home and talk about the poor child you saved on the playground today?
Its not fair of me to assume I know all about your life, which ironically you should have thought the same before you made that call.
Its not fair of me to assume I know all about your life, which ironically you should have thought the same before you made that call.
If you would have asked I could have told you a little about us. We live in a two bedroom apartment. I have been raising my son alone since 2005 when his father passed away from cancer. I work full-time and I suport my child all on my own - meaning no government assistance, not even survivor benefits because unfortunately we were not entitled to such luxuries because get this - his father - who had cancer for four years - did not work enough hours. We are far from rich, but we make it work.
I have some great support from family and friends and I have a very understanding workplace that allows me to bring my son to work.
Sometimes we really struggle. I have to say no to trips and Pizza Day, but I make up for it with trips to arcades and skate parks and crazy adventures. We see all the superhero movies the day they come out because I am good at saving up points and coupons for the movie theatre.
We recentIy got into going to Comic Cons (where we both dress up like superheroes and act like fools). People who endanger their children generally don't spend hours building costumes, getting second degree glue gun burns multiple times, just to be a parent who would harm their child.
I am there for him as much as a single working parent can be. I listen to his endless Minecraft stories. I chuckle to myself at his 10 year old vent fests about the kids in his class and I feel helpless when he cries about missing his dad - but I am there - to be reassuring.
Maybe you would have known these things if you asked, rather than threatened a frightened child.
Even though you made me miss time from work (which ironically I don't get paid for, which means this week is going to be even more tough), you gave me a tarnished reputation at the school we've been at for years (I even went to this school) and you brought an investigation into my home, I have to say thank you.
Thank you for the looks on peoples faces when I told them what you did.
Thank you for allowing me to hear the reassurance and encouragement from people who have observed our little imperfect family. I have never had so many people say "I've got your back" - which means I have to be doing something right.
Thank you for allowing me to not have an ounce of fear when that social worker was in my home because I knew I am doing nothing wrong.
Thank you for making me realize that I am a pretty awesome mom - trust me, I heard that a lot this week.
Thank you for giving me the domain to teach my son an important lesson in telling the truth and using words properly.
Lastly, thank you for giving me the motivation to finish organizing my closets and drawers. Ive been putting that off for way too long. I even found my old Snow White dress so now I get to be a princess again!
I only hope that if you ever find yourself in this situation, you too can learn valuable lessons. I hope you learned from this situation that children are sensitive and threatening them with a school suspension only leads to fear and chaos.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Hello..this is my blog. I bought this fancy theme and I don't know what to write here just yet. Maybe one day remind me I have to write something inspiring here?
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The same type of investigator visited my home many years ago, Even though I knew/know that I am a great parent, I was scared. They came and left and nothing in my home changed. We ended up moving and putting our kids into a different school. I understand that they were doing their job, but it was my life, my heart and my family that was put in jeopardy.
ReplyDeleteSo glad that your awesomeness as a Mom was re affirmed :)
Thank you! We are looking in to moving now too. I just don't feel the same about the school. They don't understand and that makes a huge problem! Really sad about it though.
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