Go Ask Mom

Fayette-Mom: Scared of teacher

True confession time: I'm a little scared of my child's teacher.

Posted Updated
Jennifer Joyner
By
Jennifer Joyner

True confession time: I’m a little scared of my child’s teacher.

Don’t get me wrong; she’s an excellent teacher and the kids really love her. No, I’m pretty sure my fear is born out of my own insecurities rather than a flaw on the teacher’s part.

But still…I’m a little afraid.

She’s really strict, which I’m sure is good for the students, even in first grade. They need structure, and why not set the bar now so when they get to higher grades, they are prepared, right?

But she’s pretty strict with parents, too.

Forget to sign a form? The hammer comes down (well actually, you just get a polite but firm reminder sent home, but for some reason, this feels to me like one of those slaps on the palm my first grade teacher used to give with a ruler).

Bypass your nightly reading assignment? It’s duly noted on your child’s daily report (perfectly standard practice, but I tend to take it as an indictment against my commitment to my daughter’s learning. P.S. It only happened once!)

I’ve come to feel as though I am her student, too, which may be good in theory (I’m on a cool learning adventure with my child!) but is not so good in practice (um, I’m an adult and I shouldn’t be intimidated. Right? Right????)

So, we have Parent-Teacher Conferences coming up, and I’m busy preparing myself. I will be calm and I will listen. And my questions and comments will be focused and productive.

And perhaps if I can put aside my unwarranted fear and insecurity, I may actually learn a thing of two!

Jennifer is a mom of two and WRAL-TV assignment editor in Fayetteville. Her food obsession memoir, “Designated Fat Girl,” came out in September. Read more about Jennifer and her book on her website. Find her here on Go Ask Mom on Tuesdays.

 

Copyright 2024 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.