Welcome Back, Apple

I have two wonderful teaching assistants (or paraprofessionals, if you will) in my classroom. We make each other laugh, even when times are crazy and we all want to cry. We have a very popular expression, "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree."

Now, this is a very common saying. But it takes on a whole new meaning when you teach special ed.

So today was the students' first day back at school. I got there crazy early (like I always do, because that's what I am, crazy) with treats for my staff. I put my phone on vibrate, like I always do. At 7:50 my cell phone started to go off. I smiled, thinking that here it was was on the first day and one of my paraprofessionals was already calling in saying they were going to be late.

But no, my phone flashed a very different number. Umm . . . "hello?"
.
.
.
Yes, indeed, it was the mother of one of my students calling me.

Now, I have a very good relationship with all of my parents. I talk to them frequently, write notes about their day every day (yup, each one gets a note every day), call about both good and bad things, and talk to them probably more than most teachers do. When you have 6 students, it's not hard to develop a relationship with parents. Plus my sparking personality wins them over every time, and we get along great.

Nevertheless I was still surprised to see the mother of Cassie calling me. She's never called my cell phone during school(ish) hours. (one might be wondering why she has the number at all . . . that's another story!). Most school business is done on the school phone line. So she started with asking about my vacation, all those pleasantries. I was a little bewildered, but we made some chit chat, and then she told me why she called.

Cassie broke her arm.

Friday.

Still doesn't have a cast on it.

Really? No cast yet? So Cassie would not be in school, they don't know how it happened, and she was going to get a cast on that day.

But wait, it doesn't end there. Oh no! So I naturally called the house (from the school phone, where such conversations should take place!) after school and couldn't reach anyone.

And then at 7:45 pm, while I was eating dinner, my phone rang again. It was Cassie's mom. Again. Somehow, it was decided she would go to the doctors at 12 noon, without an appointment to get a cast on her arm that she broke 2 days ago (she has a splint on now, which she apparently removes). Naturally, the doctor could not fit her in, but she now has an appointment for 2:00 tomorrow.

When Cassie got on the phone to say hello, her voice had reached a pitch that was wholly inaudible to anyone except dogs (never a good sign).

So Cassie will be in school, with a broken arm in a splint that she takes off.

Fantastic.

Welcome back to school!