Mama Bear Awakes...uh oh

Okay, today...wow, what the heck?

Maybe we should actually start with yesterday...no wait, we need to briefly go back to November! Inauguration day in the classroom. There were pictures of Obama on the blackboard, happiness and Obama talk everywhere, the kids were coloring pictures of him and the teacher was going to do a study of Bush vs Obama. That day a letter when home to parents of how Obama is our hope and inspiration (also it should be noted, a peace sign was at the top of this letter). You get the picture. Not exactly objective things going on in the classroom. Needless to say, I wasn't happy. The school was immediately notified by me, as well as the Superintendent of our school district. My girls are in 2nd and 3rd grade, they don't need this bologna at this age. My 7 year old was crying that Obama won...she was so confused and couldn't understand why people didn't like John McCain. Anyway, this situation was handled and I felt confident that the school realized not all of the parents were Obama supporters!

Now, to yesterday. I am at the school helping out in my kids class (I do this every Thursday afternoon). This particular Thursday there is a substitute. One of the kids runs up to the blackboard and draws a peace symbol. When the substitute turns around and sees it, he chants out Peace Obama! I was in shock and just stood there. I wanted to ask "excuse me, what does that mean"? But, I just stood there. I came home that night and told my husband and we just kind of laughed at the stupidity of the statement.

Then, we get to today. I arrive at school about 20 minutes early and sit in the car for 5. It's hot and I decide to go in for "circle time". Once again, there is a substitute (actually it is one of the parents). They are sitting in a circle, passing around a rock, and each kid gets a moment to say what they are thankful for. At the end of the first child's thankful list, he says "AND OBAMA". Immediately chanting from almost all of the kids starts. "Obama, Obama, Obama"! I look at my girls, and they are clearly uncomfortable. This continues with just about EVERY KID! Finally, they get to my child. I know she wont say she is thankful for Obama, she says she is thankful for her family and her mommy. Suddenly, one of the kids yells out "and Obama! The chanting starts again. Then the same thing happens when they get to my other daughter.

Okay, needless to say, I'm just super annoyed. Especially that they were allowed to sabotage my two girls thankful lists. However, it was a sub and I felt I should just let it slide. I told myself I'm sure she is handling it the best she can. There were tons of things I could have said, but these are 2nd and 3rd graders, and again, I'm giving the sub the benefit of the doubt. So I decide to just let it go. I just wanted to leave and get my girls out of this "Obamanation"!

Now to the stupid part! Try to keep following me. One of the kids (the worst behaved kid in the class) knocks down a chair twice. The first time, his mom is in the classroom and picks up the chair and says it is too big for the table, but turns it sideways and it fits. The second time, his mom was outside, but heard the chair fall and ran in to pick up the chair. She once again blames it on the chair being too big (as if it just fell all by itself). As she is taking the chair away, the child that the chair belongs to gets upset that his chair is being taken away. He was very upset and she just kept telling him his chair is too big for his desk. So, since she didn't see what happened, I decide to tell her that the chair isn't too big, but her son knocked off the smaller chair, which in turn caught the leg of the bigger chair and they "all fell down".

Holy Cow! You would have thought I told her son pulled out a gun and tried to shoot a child! She looked at me and said "What are you going to do about it". What the? I turned around, knowing I was already irritated at the chanting. I really didn't want to get into anything. I was in shock at her reaction. Well, then she gets in my face and says "It's none of your business". Excuse me woman, I saw what happened (which wasn't a big deal). You were outside. Now you are right in my face saying it is none of my business? She kept going off and finally I told her to JUST SHUT UP (so not like me to react this way).

Great, now I am finding myself completely pissed off. Not only at her, but at the whole chanting, the school, everything! This was like the icing on the cake that I didn't need. I went up to the front of the class and tell my girls we are leaving NOW. I find myself asking the sub if this type of chanting has been going on all day and tell her I'm sick and tired of my kids having to be exposed to the indoctrination every day of their lives! Whoa...Mama Bear is appearing. Crap, I hate when Mama Bear comes out! She is so unpredictable!

Meanwhile, crazy chair mom is rambling things in the background. I hear her say she is glad we are leaving the school next year and I hear her say God Bless You (this was her making fun of me, her child tells my girls there is no God, so I know she doesn't believe). I tried to tune most of her ramblings out.

Finally, as we are going to the car, I see a friendly face (Debbie). I begin telling her what happened and suddenly I hear Mama Bear telling my girls to clean out their desk because they won't be going back at all. UH OH...this isn't good! The bear has been awakened.

Seriously, all I wanted was to go home, vent to my husband about the chanting and talk about how glad we were they were going to a different school next year.

On a good note, I have gotten kudos from 3 different parents for telling crazy chair mom to SHUT UP. Evidently, several people have wanted to do this! She just got me on the wrong day at the wrong time!