“Watching TV can lead to fatigue. The rapid cuts and edits shift your orienting response into overdrive, which leads to fatigue.” Phooey, I say!
What causes fatigue? Working a job in your kid’s classroom!
It’s elementary, my dear room mother
Dear Ms. Yokelclinger,
I’m happy as Planter’s Punch you are my kid’s teacher this year. I look forward to working like a dogbreaking labor laws volunteering tirelessly in the classroom. After a seemingly endless summer keeping my kids entertained, hydrated, fed, culturally stimulated, lathered with sunscreen, and blooming like buttercups, I’m really thrilled to tears to be your complete and total slave parent helper.
Because I am deliriously dedicated to my child’s education, I will be on call 24-7 should you need anything. […]
“Watching TV can lead to fatigue. The rapid cuts and edits shift your orienting response into overdrive, which leads to fatigue.” Phooey, I say!
What causes fatigue? Working a job in your kid’s classroom!
It’s elementary, my dear room mother
Dear Ms. Yokelclinger,
I’m happy as Planter’s Punch you are my kid’s teacher this year. I look forward to working like a dogbreaking labor laws volunteering tirelessly in the classroom. After a seemingly endless summer keeping my kids entertained, hydrated, fed, culturally stimulated, lathered with sunscreen, and blooming like buttercups, I’m really thrilled to tears to be your complete and total slave parent helper.
Because I am deliriously dedicated to my child’s education, I will be on call 24-7 should you need anything. I love to stay up ’til 4:00 a.m. doing my own work so during the day I can organize your friggin’ field trip to the friggin’ moth museum, construct the goat cart for the Kwanzaa harvest, and cook 15 dozen gluten-free, apple crumb cupcakes for Earth Day.
How precious it is that you observe so fully every idiotic holiday known to mankind and that you do it via artsy fartsy crafting. Martha Stewart would be proud of your intent, but disapproving of the grossly inferior quality you inspire.
Because I’m not fully satisfied by the joy of supervising my kids’ tedious home work, running migraine-inducing carpools, making “healthy” lunches my kids won’t chuck in the nearest dumpster, snack preparation, clothing coordination, and insisting upon occasional baths… I give myself to you.
As your unpaid assistant, I will not expect any perks, nor will my child receive any special privileges like a pass on a particularly pesky pop quiz or those God-awful push-ups in gym class. I will not, for a moment, resent your generous benefits, union protections, plum pension, or the ultimate gift – the gift of time – yes, every summer off.
If for some reason you can’t reach me (say, around mid-November or early December), I’ll be in Rehab.
Back to school. Exciting. Bittersweet. Often overwhelming.
This may help.
Based on my experience…
Your kid doesn’t need a “Tiger Mom” to berate or shame him or her into being a good student.
They don’t need to be workaholics or spend all their time on homework, test prep, calculus or – God forbid – the violin!
All they need is a desire to succeed, positive motivation, respect, common sense and solid advice from a student who’s been there and done that – recently.
Help your kid! Help yourself!
I recommend this down-to-earth study guide from Princeton University graduate Suzanne Raga in an easy to read and entertaining eBook.
