Back in March, my daughter’s elementary school held it’s annual fund raising silent auction. One of the items up for bid was a lunch date with your child’s teacher. The highly coveted package included an excursion to Panera with your teacher and a friend on a school day.
Of course, my 8 year old was all over it. And me? The Queen of the Silent Auction Stalkerdom made it happen at the very last second as the papers were being shuffled away and the bidding closed. There may or may not have been shoving.
The date was set for today, May 28th, and my daughter was bouncing-off-the-walls-thrilled. As I was busy being snug in my Mother of the Year status, my darling came home from school with a question from her teacher.
Would I mind subbing for her for 90 minutes during their outing?
Hmmmmm…let me see here. I paid over $60 to “win” treating my daughter and my daughter’s teacher to lunch and now I’m fortunate enough to work in her place while they frolic at Panera?
Of course, I said yes, although I felt slightly cheapened.
Today was the day. I arrived at 11am as scheduled and took over the 3rd grade class while my daughter, her best friend and their teacher went out for the “prize” lunch.
It was fine. I love her class. The kids are always great for me when I’m in there volunteering each week.
They were gone almost too long and I was beginning to get nervous. Her instructions only led me to a certain point in the day and after that I would be winging it. Just as the class would have had to do some Kimprov, the happy threesome returned.
I left the school after receiving a giant bear-hug from my 8 year old and went about my day feeling secure in my cool momma cloud.
Later that afternoon, I had an interesting conversation with my daughter.
What did you do after you left school, Mom?
I went to the grocery store.
Oh, we did that too.
What?
Yeah, Mrs. Hardy needed to pick up a few things after lunch.
Oh? So, wait… you went SHOPPING?
Just to Safeway…
Just?
Oh, and the bank. She had to run some errands.
This the part where the title of my post comes in. So I PAID over $60 to treat them to lunch while I worked in her place and she ran ERRANDS?
Some fucking prize.
But this is not about me. And my daughter? Adores this teacher. And the feeling is mutual. They have a very good relationship. Am I going to make a fuss and stomp my feet? Not this time. Not at the end of the year when all is sunny and swell.
I am going to learn my lesson here, though. I’m not quite sure exactly what that is yet because swearing off silent auctions ain’t gonna happen. Maybe you’ll tell me? Until then, I’m going to try and focus on the smile my daughter held all day. All week.
And not on the two dollar good time gal feeling I’ve got going on.
Hmmmm. We got the ice cream outing for PunditGirl at our silent auction. I’ll have to grill her about where else they went! At least the teacher could have asked if you neede any milk or bread!
PunditMoms last blog post..I Would Have Sworn There Were Some Democrats in my Neighborhood
Oh - I get it! You love the teacher, you love the way your kid feels about the teacher… but c’mon?!?! Grocery shopping? She might as well have asked your kid to mow her lawn while you paid her to babysit.
Velmas last blog post..Woo Hoo!
That is hilarious and ridiculous. You were robbed. But at least your daughter is happy. So I guess that’s the ultimate prize.
the mama bird diariess last blog post..making a love connection
Absolutely right, Velma. I don’t want to mess with the good thing they have going on but holy heck! I’m a saint. A cheap saint
One reason I stay away from parent-teacher-school related functions. They suck you in…
InterstellarLasss last blog post..Memorial Day
Shouldn’t the teacher KNOW better than to not take the kid on errands? I’d be pissed that I bid on that.
Also, I would understand the subbing if she had no other options, but it isn’t like this came up last minute.
Kristabellas last blog post..Only In My Dreams
THAT is terrible. You are too nice to let it go. I understand it’s for your daughter’s sake. Did the teacher think you weren’t going to find out? I don’t like her. You have every right to be pissed. And you should ask for your sixty bucks back.
RubiaLalas last blog post..Look At Me, I’m Growing
You had to babysit the class? Seriously? You’re way nicer than I am!
Friglets last blog post..Parental vent
Ok, that is way crappy of that teacher to do. First, asking you to watch the class and THEN taking your kid on errands instead of spending a special lunch with her? That kind of stinks. I wonder if your daughter was mildly disappointed too and that’s why she brought it up.
Steph.s last blog post..MomCat Goes Green - Down with Phone Books!
The nerve!
Seriously, any teacher worth her/his salt knows that you can’t pull that stuff after kids are old enough to talk. Geez.
If I were you, I would feel the sting of that for quite a while.
Jennifer Hs last blog post..Name that tune…
Whoa, that is really not fair of the teacher. I mean, it’s one thing you subbing her class while she’s out enjoying the lunch, but to go SHOPPING and run ERRANDS is just plain old rude! I’d mention something, even if it’s just saying how you heard they had a wonderful time and got a lot of things done - she should know that you don’t appreciate being used like that. You never know - she might do this again sometime.
Damn! That’s a nervy teacher!
Miz Ss last blog post..Basking in the Done-ness.
That makes me mad! How DARE she?
I think I’d let the end of the year happen and then I would write a letter to her and cc it to the principal. (I’m nasty like that.)
I would write exactly what you wrote here - you paid a LOT of money for your kid to HAVE LUNCH with her teacher - not go shopping and to the bank. What kind of quality time was that? I think you got gyped! Not to mention that you covered the class. I would tell the principal that you feel the teacher took advantage and that is totally not appropriate!
You agreed to let her take your child to lunch - NOT to do errands. What if she had had an accident in the parking lot? What if some crazy old lady had hit your sweet child in said parking lot? She didn’t have permission to take your child anywhere but to Panera and back.
Let me know how it goes.
xo
LBC
Ladybug Crossings last blog post..Some People’s Kids
I would have raised HOLY HELL!!! But that’s just me, and I’m stalking the FedEx man and venting to Louis Vuitton on a daily basis.
You were robbed. I agree with Ladybug Crossing too. You agreed to have her take your daughter to Panera not any place else. At the least she should have called you and mentioned that she was taking her to the grocery store and the bank. Little too much trust there. I trust no one especially when it comes to my kids. Too many terrible people out there doing terrible things. I would be more pissed about that. I allowed you to take my 8 year old from place A to place B and back not anywhere else. I would at least mention that to the teacher. You can find a nice way to do it.
I am a little bit confused. I trust you… but doesn’t the school require background checks on people that sub? I mean you have to go through a process to be a sub… am I wrong? I find it a little odd that you were asked to do that and that the school was okay with that. There were a lot of other parents that could have potentially gotten really pissed about that.
And the errands? That was a little inappropriate. No, not a little - A LOT!
I would have blown it off like you, but seriously? That whole situation is just weird.
Misty,
Our county does fingerprinting and background checks on all school volunteers. So, yes, I am safely not a criminal. News to you, right? ;-)
That is totally wrong and stupid on the part of the teacher! (Did you have to pay for lunch too?) I would bring it up with the chairwoman (cuz I’m SURE it’s a woman!) of the auction. Maybe next year they should bring lunch in. (And arrange for the sub. *eyes rolling on that*)
Sues last blog post..Moving On
“Kimprov” — hahahahaha!
It is odd that the teacher extended the lunch like that with errands. But I’m guessing she must have felt her class was in good hands with you and your “Kimprov” (sorry, I just love that term. Wish my name was Kim too so I could use it.)
Nancys last blog post..Six by six by six etc.
Like, can they DO that? The asking you to cover her class seems presumptuous at best. I don’t know what happens in our school when they do that prize, because they do do it. I think the instructional aides cover. But? Groceries? and the Bank? Oh, no sister. Not with my kid you don’t. Grrrrr.
Megs last blog post..Gin & Tonic people of the world, unite!
Oh, snort, I am with Nancy. Kimprov?! And where *were* you when *I* was a teacher? Do you also paint toenails?! I so totally missed out on this deal…. We “won” a bowling date with my kid’s teacher. So far, she hasn’t asked me to paint her house while they are gone, but now I’m nervous…I better line up a babysitter for the little bro.
MamaBird/SurelyYouNests last blog post..The Great Sunflower Project
ummmm…… what??? i’d be pissed. did they drive? did the teacher drive the kids? and i’d be annoyed.
but, the kids are safe, and they had fun either way. something about the high road and the kids’ best interests or something blah blah blah.
Yolandas last blog post..clickety click, please
Class reading: 1st chapter of Tom Sawyer - whitewashing the fence!
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I agree with Ladybug. Wait until the school year is over and by-pass the teacher and put the principal on notice that this teacher put your child at additional risk without your permission. Looking at it with an ‘insurance perspective’, this teacher only had protection from the school system from the time she drove the girls to Panera and back. Any injury or harm that occured at the bank or grocery store could be considered outside the coverage of the school and the teacher’s personal risk.
Dumb, naive teacher that is probably used to taking liberties with parents …and others. It will happen again and could end up with serious consequences so you have an obligation to notify the school.
Your’s Truly,
Your mother and insurance adviser!
Unga Chungas last blog post..1
Well, that chick is SO not getting a gift cert to Aveda for her end of the year pressie, is she?
I say you go with one of my teacher mom’s all-time least favorite items for student gifts: a coffee mug (#1 Teacher!), a box of chocolate covered cherries or stinky hand creame.
JessicaAPISSs last blog post..Spinlash Mascara Giveaway & Review
Your daughter was glowing. The teacher was…REACHING. Are you sure they didn’t go out and get massages and manicures, too?
JCKs last blog post..Fishnets or cash?
Ha…that’s a classic. I don’t participate in school activities. It’s just a slippery slope - you sell one roll of wrapping paper or buy one silent auction item, and they’re on you like stink on poop for the rest of the year to do more.
Instead, I write them a nice thank you note at the end of the year and put in an instant scratch-off lottery ticket…. nobody has won yet, but they appreciate the sentiment.
Manager Moms last blog post..And Now, Politics With The MomFather
I’m with Mary (always)- it was just cheeky. Especially since it was pretty certain your 8 yr old would tell you about her lunchtime adventure. In any case, have a great weekend, secure in the knowledge that they probably thumb-printed the teacher some where along the line, too. xoxo
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Yep, I sell t-shirts, too. I know, you’re very excited.
Karls last blog post..Under the Tuscan Nap
OK, the real problem is school funding–and teh fact these events are so critical to providing a baseline of activities, in most schools these days. Particularly IN CA where I live. So it’s auctions and wrapping paper sales and cocktail parties (yes, they do taht at our school, pamper the big donors, get them to write a big fat check.) We are all whores for a good cause–art, science, PE at our school. It’s just wrong.
The teacher was probably under a lot of pressure to come up with something to donate to the auction. Now, this is not excusing her AT ALL. I think you should blow the whistle on her. But it reveals the desperation around these events.
Oh, my gosh, I’m back from a very acrimonious meeting at my kids’ school and now I’m just laughing over the idea of being asked to sub in a classroom. Maybe before tonight, but it sure wouldn’t happen now!
You are WAY nicer and more understanding than I’d have been.
Poppy Buxoms last blog post..Crocs
The hell?! Having a teacher your kid likes is priceless but that is whack! Bank…maybe. But grocery shopping? Kinda weird.
Jenny, Bloggesss last blog post..Another tiny sasquatch sighting!
do people think hell is gonna be fun…
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