A hint of things to come..........

I'm going to start by digressing- I know, weird way to start, but I feel it is necessary.  My mom married that guy up there.  Then she had my brother and I.  When I was about 3, that guy and my mom divorced.  My relationship with his has been spotty.  I rarely saw him as a child (due to conditions or choice, I do not know).  I visited him at about ten yrs of age and ended up living with him.  We sailed from New york to Florida.  I remember my main caretaker being his psycho girlfriend, though, not him.  It might have been difficult for him to deal with an almost teenager girl, he might have tried, I don't remember.  My adult years have seen him sporadically.  He stopped by for a few hours when my son was about 6 months old. He sent money when my other son died.  He sent a present a few winters ago.
What leaves a negative feeling in my bones is how he communicates.  He is not a happy man.  He feels he has been wronged.  I'm a listening ear.  But- he bad mouthed my mom to me! My mom- the woman who never said a negative thing about him- the woman I respect and revere.  He said mean things about her.  Mean things, that even if they were true, would not matter to me.  When he sent the gift a few winters ago, my kids sent him a thank you note- they did not refer to him as grandpa, they do not know him as grandpa- and he was mad.  BUT, if you ask him what their names or birthdays are, he couldn't tell you without looking it up.  He even asked why he sent me money on my son's death day- he was looking through his check register and couldn't remember what that money was for.  
Anyway, this post is not a "feel sorry for me- he's done me wrong" post.  because he hasn't.  Even though we don't have a relationship now, he picked the best mother for me that anyone could have.  He taught me about sailing.  He introduced to me to things I would never have known about.  He could be a really cool man to know- if he just didn't say mean things about my mom- if he just didn't expect too much out of a relationship just because he helped conceive me.
So, The reason I am blabbing all this- is because when I speak of him, I don't know what to call him.  Dad doesn't fit.  Sperm donor is unnecessarily cruel.  I'll call him my birth father.  Since this digression is sooo long.  I think I'll finish this post tomorrow.  I had something else to say but I wrote forever on this subject!

Correct teacher attire

Someone I know on facebook keeps posting about how her children's teacher are dressed inappropriately.  Then her friends post about how horrible teachers dress and how they should wear dressier clothes.  I suggested they wear scrubs as that would fit the job more and the parents might be happy with a uniform, however that was struck down with rudeness and anger and chiding.  One of the comments that keeps getting made is that the students have to stick to a uniform code and the teachers should have the same code.  I was going to rebutt this on her post, however one of the parents just keeps saying "you knew what you signed up for when you signed up for the job"- um, no- I didn't know I signed up to deal with bitchy judgmental parents who care more about my fashion sense than my hard work and creativity.

The children are required as a uniform to wear sleeved shirts, longer shorts or skirts, and closed shoes.  This is for their safety. If they are running around or playing PE, all three of these things keep them covered and safe.  Bending over for PE in short shorts and spaghetti strapped shirts are a bad choice.  Running in sandals is just asking for a stubbed toe.  The teacher's uniform is less settled.  I don't think they have set rules because they are grown ups and hopefully can appropriate attire.  Some days work is dirty and laborous and appropriate attire might be sweats or jeans.  Some days cooking or painting might be involved and those clothes can get stained.  Some days the classroom is boiling and the teacher is standing all day (I rarely sit down, even at lunch) and sandals are the best choice.  It is rare in the lower grades that a teacher should wear a pencil skirted suit and heels.  These clothes, though shown in old Doris Day movies, are harder to be a diligent and communicative teacher in.  I kneel, squat, and sit crisscross applesauce in all the grades.

I suggested scrubs to shut the bitchy woman up.  Even scrubs didn't make her happy.  Apparently looks are more important to her than an involved teacher.  She just kept saying her stupid "You knew what you signed up for" quote- what the eff? Yes, I so want to cuss about that idiotic comment.  I am so glad she is a friend of someone I know- not my friend.  I am so glad I do not have to deal with her as a parent of one of my kids.  The parents I come into contact with are also very involved and will get messy with the kids.  They understand that my jeans, sweater, and ballet flats are very appropriate.  They understand if I have a big stain on my shirt it is because I was involved with a lesson and was actually working.  They see my dirty kness and know I knelt down to talk to a child who needed to see me at eye level.

I'll make one more comment to bitchy mom on facebook.  Then I'll shut up.  No matter what i say she is never going to see it from any point of view of her own.  I conceded to some of her comments ( i think flipflops and spaghetti strapped shirts should not be worn by a teacher- nor tube tops, short skirts, or very tall heels- but I don't judge those teachers, they could be awesome)~ but I know that shallow people can never concede to a messy sloopy fashionless teacher like me.