Wednesday, October 08, 2008

Moments of Panic and Appreciation

*brrrrinnngg, brrrinnggg*

Me: Hello?

Instant Alert: "This is the middle school vice principal. Your kid's not here, and you failed to call us. Do it now."

Me (calling the number given): Hi, I just got an instant alert that my kid's not there and she's supposed to be.

Secretary: Let me transfer you to attendance.

Attendance Secretary: She was marked absent in homeroom.

Me: !!!! Well, can you please check, because last time I saw her she was at the bus stop, and if she's not in school, I have to call the police.

Attendance Secretary: Um...hold on.

Me: *holding, annoyed*

Attendance Secretary: She's in Algebra.

Me (ignoring the fact that she takes Geometry--it's the same teacher, so whatever): Well, phew!

Attendance Secretary: I'll ask the homeroom teacher what happened.

Me: No, thanks, I'll do it.

Me, e-mailing teacher: WTF?

Teacher, in amazingly fast response: So sorry, miscommunication here, you're a great parent, etc.

Me: *iz pleased*

So, from panic to pleasure in 5.6 minutes. I still need to find out why Number One wasn't in homeroom, but I'm sure she has a good explanation. If not, well, I'll just have to switch my perspective from Beaming, Proud Parent of Mild Overachiever to Suspicious, Paranoid Parent of Master Manipulator.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yikes, I would have panicked too.

Natalie J. Damschroder said...

It was more It was more panic in theory. While I was on hold, my mind was racing through the steps I'd take if she honestly wasn't there. I'd have to make the school find the other kids who get picked up at our stop, so they could ask if they saw her, if they saw someone pick her up, if she got on the bus, etc., and I'd have to call the police, etc. But really, I was absolutely certain she was there and it was a mistake. I don't panic easily, or fret much, until there is something definite to panic or fret about.

But it's one of those things!

Vicky B said...

I'd have been panicked. Glad all turned out well!