The Parent I Have No Patience For

Like many teachers, I keep all student work on file. Students may sign out their folders for one night. At the end of the term, after report cards, I send all the work home from that term.

The Wednesday before school vacation, I had a B student approach me with a stack of work her parents had made her redo from the previous trimester expecting me to correct it.

I spoke to the mother and explained my policy (no redos unless I approve it), asked that she not do it again, but agreed to do it. She wanted immediately, but I told her I wouldn't have it until after vacation.

Over vacation, as I corrected work, I noticed that this student had suddenly stopped doing well on our daily reviews. On the Monday we returned, I sent a note home to mom letting her know the corrections were fine, but that I was concerned about some recent low grades. I mentioned that it appeared to be an issue with reading the directions carefully and asked that she reinforce this at home. I also sent the folder home for the night for her to look at and arranged to stay after with the kid for extra help.

That Wednesday, I got an email from mom wanting to meet with me. I suggested the afternoon that I'd be staying with her daughter (the following Monday). When mom said she wanted to meet sooner, I explained that I wasn't available sooner. She then called and decided to grill me about my schedule including a sarcastic comment : "Well, don't you get a lunch." When I didn't budge, she agreed to Monday. She then called the principal to complain that I couldn't meet sooner AND sent in copies of all the child's work asking him to look it over.

The principal and I met with her. She, of course, was sweet as pie, but while I kept my composure, I could not extend any pleasantries. She said that my note and actions made her think I was dismissing the issue though she admitted that my note said I was concerned. It took everything I had not to respond with how much I had gone out of my way for her and how offended I was by her phone call.

I can normally get over it and make nice, but in this case, the mother has left such a bad taste in my mouth that I can't stand it.

She claims she's never had a teacher who couldn't meet with her the same day. I told her I've never had a parent who expected me to meet the same day and reiterated that I really was unavailable earlier. I also told her that I didn't like the suggestion that I was lying to her about my schedule.

I basically did everything that I could possibly be expected to do, and she claims I was dismissing the issue. I can't wait til I no longer have to deal with her because I don't think I could stand anymore of her rudeness and demanding attitude or her constant suggestions that I don't care about her child's progress (that's what she uses to get her way).

Ugh, ugh, ugh. Can you tell I'm really mad about this?