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Lindsay Metcalf
on May 22 2013 - 06:00 AM
When that tornado siren sounds, I'm in the basement
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mara williams
on May 21 2013 - 06:00 AM
Summer break has this mom on a house upkeep war path.
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I wouldn't say that I'm an overbearing mom. I'm not really a hovering kind of mom, either. Not necessarily. I don't think I'm controlling, really. I think I would say I am, if anything, a needy mom. Hm. No, that's not it. Maybe I'm a clingy mom. Maybe I'm an undercover spy. An undercover mom?
When my son was born, I really didn't want to have to leave him to go to work. However, our financial situation commanded my income. My way around this was that I found a job in the same building where Marc's child care was. This was my entry into the world of Montessori, as well as the world of teaching as a whole.
It was wonderful. I had found my heart in Montessori teaching, remained working with a stable income, and could always be in the same building as my new, sweet baby. I could check in on him on my breaks and lunches. Is he sleeping? Is he playing with the other babies? Is that lady that's rocking him breathing on him too hard? No? Okay, back to work!
Eventually, I moved from teaching to nanny work, where I could still bring my child and care for him myself while bringing in an income. From there, the two of us moved to another Montessori school. His classroom was adjacent to mine, and for three years I could peer over into his classroom on my breaks, lunches, or anytime I wanted to really. Is he working? Does he have friends? Is the teacher being nice to him? Why is he picking his nose like that? It doesn't matter. Back to work!
We were separated for a while after we both outgrew that school. He went off to a charter elementary. I went off to finish my degree. But it wasn't long before I became a substitute teacher at his elementary school. I'm not there all of the time, of course. But occasionally I get to share a building with him. Sometimes I get to actually be in his room.
Yesterday, I worked in the second grade room next to his third grade room. In the afternoon, I had my class in the hallway, ready to go to recess, while Marc's class passed us in the on their way to somewhere. "Hey, Mom!" Marc said. "Hey, dude!" I replied.
"Did that kid just call you 'Mom'?" one little boy observed. "Yeah!" I said with a proud grin. "That's my son!"
Later, on my break, I passed by Marc's classroom. I doubled back to look in the window. Is he working? Is he following directions? Why doesn't his teacher see his finger in his... Oh, never mind.
Another second grade teacher passed me in the hall while I was doing this. I felt immediately embarrassed that I was caught doing what I was doing. She asked me how my day was going. I noticed her noticing me peering in the window. I put my fingers to my lips as though I didn't want all of the words of my confession to come out of my mouth.
"I'm spying on my son," I said with a guilty smile.
"Oh," she said. She smiled at me to let me know that my secret indulgence was completely justified and walked back to her room.
I don't do this because I'm nosey. I'm not really controlling. He can do what he wants. I guess I'm just a little obsessed. I'm kind of a mama spy. I'm an undercover mother posing as a teacher so I can stalk my son. Well, I don't mind if he doesn't mind, and he doesn't seem to mind!
BTDT Not obsessed, but intensly fascinated by them. Yes. BTDT No reason to control, because that would put an end to the bewitchment in watching them as they grow. Interference of any kind from you, as parent, ends the observation. Most enchanting. Will confess, I'm same kind of mom.I don't think you're nosey or controlling, I think you are just being a really good mom who has a great connection with your kid. That connection was proven when he said "hi mom!" to you first:) I think when you have that bond with your kiddo (and yes, yours is still young) that it helps keep the doors of communication open-even at school in front of friends:) Heck, I am jealous! I would love to be a fly on the wall and see how my kiddos are doing during their time at school. Great job!Loving and caring is how I see it! I know DH and I are involved in DS's school just so we can know more about what is going on. DH even does the Watchdog dad program so that he gets to spend time in the classroom with DS. I think you are just being a great parent!I love spying on my son. I love getting caught by him, too. Gives me an excuse to smile at him, encourage him, tell him I love him if his buddies aren't around or pretend he needs to check his nose for hanging boogers if those friends are around. Haha!I would totally do the same thing! What a great view you'll have, a peek here, a sneak there...awesome!That is such a fun age too--the other kids get excited to see you and probably wish their parents could be at the school too!That is such a fun age too--the other kids get excited to see you and probably wish their parents could be at the school too!
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