I remember how excited I was when registering for kindergarten, for my eldest one, we got her in with the “favorite” teacher; Mrs. Baker.
But then we learned that she got bumped and that a rich and prominent family in the community (the husband would go on to become the school superintendent; which was a popularity and money bought position.) got her spot. The worst of it is that these girls were friends. I knew the mom. She was one of my neighbors good friends, who had introduced us and having kids the same age we got along and I genuinely liked her, even if she was a bit compulsive* and materialistic. 🤷🏽♀️ She wasn’t obnoxious about it.
I went to complain to the principal and finally told them I’d be happy to bring in the entire school board or a lawyer to contest how a rich white girl got a mixed race poor girl kicked out of her spot in class even though legally we were entitled to enrollment before her because it was based on who registered first and I had camped my ass out to get her in at the start.
So after that unnecessary and uncalled for battle that had me in a tizzy, the school year wasn’t much better.** At one point Mrs. Baker threw my daughter’s drawing in the trash and told her it was not good enough right in front of her friends. KINDERGARTEN!!!!!
My child has paid the price a few times for people not liking me, but also probably in times I wasn’t even aware she benefited because people do like me or out of sheer kindness also I suppose. She’s also paid a deep karmic price as far as who I chose to marry. Our Karma will always be intertwined, my child and I and on and on the Karmic wheel goes. And one day I’ll fully get to see that record. One day indeed.
Teach Your Children Well– Crosby, Stills and Nash
This song always makes me cry, it’s morbid though. I know. 🤷🏽♀️😢
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*Although we are all compulsive in our own ways.
**Even though I was technically right in that situation had we accepted the transfer of teachers she may have had a better experience and teacher that year. We will never know but life has taught me enough to believe so and to know that the ego of knowing your right can do more harm. One doesn’t have to give so much unnecessary energy to things that aren’t truly all that important in life. When maybe a lesson in acceptance was an ok lesson. Even if it seemed the lesson being taught their children by that family seemed a very bad one to me.
