Feb 10, 2009

Hear Ye! Hear Ye!

On this the tenth day of the second month of the 2000 and 9th year, so let it written, so let it be done. I harken unto thee to heed these words and hold them close to thy chest. For they hold the key to a peaceful existence that is hitherto now been nonexistent for you.

It has been brought to my attention that many a Sunday School worker, Preschool volunteer and Mom's Day Out teacher has had a run-in or thorny word with my precocious youngster. That needn't be. For you see, just across the pond you will find me soaking up Scripture as the clergyman recites his verse and key...


(Okay, this has gone too far. I truly have no idea what I'm saying.
What I'm trying to say is this...)

On this day, Tuesday, February 10, 2009 let it go down in the annals (oh, I said it. Oh, yes I did) of modern history that what I'm saying is true and I mean it totally and completely and I. Ain't. Kidding. Because if you want to be able to enjoy your job and not dread it with every fiber of your being then you will want to hear what I am about to say.

Recently I have heard account of the atrocities my youngster is raising in one very well built Sunday School Program. I apologize now for this. But let me go on record as saying this, okay? Remember it.
Don't forget it.
Here goes...

Come get me.

Doesn't matter where I am. Doesn't matter what I'm doing. Doesn't matter if I'm singing in the choir. Or making notes in my Bible. I don't care if I'm on stage singing a solo and just about to break out into interpretive dance - Come. Get. Me.

This is how I was raised. And this is how she shall be raised.

When I was 7 years old my mother was playing the piano in the front of the church. I would not / could not shut up during the prayer time. My mother got up off of the piano, walked down four aisles, grabbed me by the arm and drug me up on stage to sit with her until the service was over. For another 19 minutes I sat while perspiration dripped down my 7 year old head. My stomach was in knots because I knew as soon as we reached our driveway at home I had indeed, met my doom.

Remi can look forward to the same kind of life.

So if she cries, or screams, throws tantrums or kicks. If she tells you she will not put down the play-dough and that she doesn't want to get off the slide. If she decides that Goldfish don't sound that great to her and she'd rather they fly across the room. Come. Get. Me.

If she growls or sneers, if she slaps or kicks. If she shirks or screeches or hits or rolls her eyes. Come. Get. Me.

And if you decide that coming to get me is too much trouble and I am, in fact, in the middle of the 2nd verse of a choir song, then I give you full authority to do your dead level best in correcting that situation - and sister, I back you up 100%! Because the rule that always applied in my home growing up also applied in the Attorney Generals home as he was growing up - and it stands for our kiddos as well - "The teacher is right and you is wrong."

So let it be written. So let it be done.

29 comments:

Anonymous said...

As a teacher, I wish that the parents of all the kids with whom I come in contact had been raised as you and the AG were and as you are raising Miss Remi. I've known for a while that you were funny as hell, but now I know you're brilliant, too.

Shelley said...

Amen. If our nation had more mothers like us, where it is actually possible that not every teacher is lying about their child, the world would be a better place. So you go sister.

StitchinByTheLake said...

Thank goodness! A mama with some common sense is a very good thing. blessings, marlene

Shawn said...

Who snitched? Remi is gonna have a vendetta against somebody!

Big Nanny said...

I'm the one who will have to pull said soloist off the stage and I've secretly been dying to do it for years...I sing the Revelation Song in the car all the time and I can grab that mic and take over without missing a beat...but I can't do the interpretive dance part.

Cheryl said...

I totally agree.

Melissa said...

I wish mroe mothers had this school of thought. Maybe our nation wouldn't be in the "annals" of the TOILET!

Lynda said...

AND if the moms all carried their spanking spoons!

Anonymous said...

Amen, sister! I'm all about the spanking spoon. As my 3yo told my 5yo when he started school this year,"You know if you get in trouble at school you will be in biiiig trouble when you get home". Our society would be a much better place if all parents held their kids accountable for their actions.

Anonymous said...

AMEN. My kids knew not to misbehave in public. We would leave grocery stores, resturants etc at the drop a hat. I also was know to go through McD's and leave one kid out of the ordering process if she/he was misbehaving. Nothing like the smell of fries and having to wait for just a sandwich when they got home to motivate a youngin'. I also would pull off the highway and adjust an attitude or two. This momma didn't mess around.

Andrea Frederick said...

As a teacher...thank you!
As a mommy....good luck!
As a friend...I'll pray for you!

Lisa@BlessedwithGrace said...

Well SAID!! I dread the day, when my 19 month old will be this way, in Sunday School. BUT, I know my time is coming!!!!
I remember once, when my father was filling in for the preacher. There he was, doing his best, to preach the WORD OF GOD. However, his children, my sister, brother, and I were snickering, giggling, etc. We were about 5 years old. He gave us the "LOOK OF DEATH",from that podium. I will never forget it. Oh, we were SO in trouble!

Nicole @ Four Real said...

Preach it sister! I second, third and fourth that for my kiddos! If only more parents felt this way because that is how I grew up too. It did not matter what I had to say or what I thought happened, the adult was ALWAYS right! :)

Nicole @ Four Real said...

Preach it sister! I second, third and fourth that for my kiddos! If only more parents felt this way because that is how I grew up too. It did not matter what I had to say or what I thought happened, the adult was ALWAYS right! :)

Ashley said...

Haha! Our church nursery has these little pagers so they can buzz the parents of the naughty children. Haha!

Outnumbered2to1 said...

Nicely stated. I'm so tired of those few moms who bore children who do no wrong regardless of the mounting evidence otherwise. I love me a realistic mom!

Wags said...

I for one would love to see the BigNanny snatch said microphone out of your paws... that may be just enough incentive for me to "encourage" sweet Remi on the next time your name pops up on the solo list... :)

Desha said...

I did the toddlers for the first time on Sunday, and I think a little girl in the class was devil's spawn and she decided to attend the day I was teaching. She ened up with a gash in her head after shoving someone and being shoved back (don't worry, it wasn't me) and her dad said, "I'm not worried about her. She probably did something to deserve it in the first place." WHAT?

Anonymous said...

I love you! Just sayin'

Kat said...

Amen, Hallelujah, and AMEN, AMEN, AMEN!

I'll say it again- AMEN!!!

Could you tell I am a teacher? =)

(Sometimes...I daydream that I am 1- still Catholic, 2- am a nun, and 3- teach in the small Catholic school where I went growing up...)

sharilyn said...

i love this! thank you! thank you! thank you! and this child shall grow up treating adults with respect. friends of mine have four kids that i have babysat since there were only two. they are a delight, not only because they are well-behaved and respectful, but also because they know i have full discipline rights and privileges... and 100% parental backing IF i use them. and, i've never had to use the most stringent methods BECAUSE THEY KNOW I CAN! it's so refreshing to hear of someone actually raising her children in a respectful way... and more concerned with her character than her immediate "feelings". good on ya, mate! :)

Rhonda said...

I totally agree!!! I WANT someone to either tell me, get me, or feel free to open up a can of whoop-ass on my kid if I'm not around to do it myself. That is how I was raised also. I'm still, to this day, scared of adults and the power they have, and last time I checked, I WAS one myself!

My daughter's soccer coach got suspended because he grabbed a girl's wrist as she was about to punch one of the girls. Can you believe that?

Teachers (here anyway, because of stupid parents) cannot physically separate two fighting minors.

I am not free to give my kid a whack on the cute little round bottom without fear that someone will make "that phonecall" and get our household in trouble.

And last, I think we are ALL Mr. or Ms/Mrs. to the younger people on our planet. It is a show of respect that we have earned, and, my friends, having kids call you "Jennifer" doesn't make you any younger. Too bad, so sad for you.

Wow. Did I go on a rant, or what???

Anonymous said...

Lord love ya!! You're raising that child right! Just like your Mama raised you right.
I taught the toddler class for almost a year at our church. I wanted to jerk a knot in a tail or two of a child and their "youjusthavetoloveahighspirtedchild" parent.
So Big Nanny........GO. Get. Her. Remi? Pad your tushie with a bunch of toilet paper when you see your Mama stomping down the hall with her mic. You're in for it Darlin!

Leighann said...

When I was a child, my dad was the sign-language interpreter. I will never forget the time he signed to the lady next to me to ask me and my sister to stop playing during the service. I was mortified. It wasn't like there was one or two deaf people. It was a full-fledged deaf ministry with like 200 people. I don't believe I misbehaved again during the sermon. :)

carsholtz said...

OK, this post alone makes me anxious for the day when one Remi Radke walks through the doors of Basic Training, soon to be known as Jungle Journey!! I have been threatening children for YEARS with getting their parents, but haven't had a good "example" for the kids to see! Sounds like you just might provide it!

We were just commenting on Sunday about how frustrating it is to have NUMEROUS Four and Five year olds in ONE class look at you like you're an idiot and then go back about their business when you ask them to stop doing something or cooperate with the rest of the class.

Would you be willing to pose as a random child's mother and "take care of it" the next time we have that problem? I'm just sayin' - it would be a service to your church and all...not to mention not one but TWO of your fellow altos (Big Nanny AND me!) ;)

Tracy P. said...

Here's an amen from the woman who has stepped off the platform while singing with the praise team to correct her child. Who once took him out of the service to the pastor's office during the sermon (wondering what in the world she would do next!), and showed him all of the pastor's books and how hard he worked and how inconsiderate it was of him to distract other people from hearing the Word of the Lord, and made him apologize to the pastor (who loves kids and told him "It's OK!" thankyouverymuch) after the service. Amen Sister!

Sissy said...

I so appreciate that attitude in parents. At the school I teach at, some of the parents are sure their child can do no wrong. I totally believe that children can AND DO act with other people the way they would NEVER act around their parents. I thank you for your attitude and wish you could spread that message across the country.

Anonymous said...

Applause!

Shonya said...

Good for you! In my family growing up, "if you get it from the teacher, you'll get it from me again when we get home."

Good principle, IMO. :)