I remember a bumper sticker I think my brother used to have. It said, "Mean people suck!" How true that is. I dislike mean people to the nth degree. We have to live with them though. We can't just erradicate them or we, ourselves, would become the mean ones.

I consider myself a nice person. Most people that know me consider me a nice person. I am super didicated to anything I decide is important to me. These days I'm married to my profession as a teacher. I pretty much live at the school improving my classroom and planning for lessons. Some days I wish I had a bed a the school so I did not have to come home in the evenings. One day this might burn me out, but for now, teaching 5th and 6th grade is my life.

Most of the parents I deal with are super great. They are so supportive and are there when I need them. Others... hmm. I just left the most stressful meeting of my life. It was a parent-teacher conference with the mother and father of two boys that I have in my fifth grade class. Basically it was a game of "let's attack Timothy and tell him what a lousy teacher he is and pretend that we are not being patronizing and accusing him of being unprofessional when he tries to defend himself against allegations of not taking his work seriously." Oh my goodness! I was so offended. I just wanted to get up and walk out. The couple just made me sick. They said they were trying to give constructive feedback. Well, they suck at it.

Thank heavens my school's director was also at the conference, and she jumped in to defend me. I've never really seen her get so upset. She knew that their allegations were unfounded and inappropriate. It made me feel a little better, but I still felt like "poo" because I am not used top people questioning my work ethic, knowledge or skills. The guy kept referring to me as "young." That might sound like a compliment, but it the context, it was so insulting.

My job would be so pleasurable if I did not have to deal with this family. I love the kids, but the parents... I've had issues with them since day one. Day ONE!!! They have been on my case. I've not had a problem with anyone else. In fact, I get compliments from other parents, so I know that it is not me. However, the stress these parents bring to me sure makes up for what I don't get from the others. Mean people suck.