Last week, The Hubs and I went to a local restaurant. After we ate, we were sitting outside, in the hopes of running into a friend of ours who works there. Within several minutes of waiting, I happened to see a man walking in our direction, from the other side of the parking lot. I pretty much knew within a few seconds who it was. My kids' first principal. The man I have nightmares about. The man who I (in said nightmares) hide from, sneaking in and out of his school. Maybe to get in trouble. I don't know. The dreams are kind of a mystery to me.
I was facing him, so I tried to act like I hadn't noticed, while telling my husband in a quiet voice what was going on. As I was looking down at my bag of Kettle chips, I heard "Hey guys, how's it going?" I was hoping to God he was talking to the bunch of ladies sitting at a table behind us, but nope. He was talking to us. I lifted my head up to say hello, as he and my husband were shaking hands. He asked how the kids were doing, how old they were, etc.. and thankfully didn't stay to chat. (He probably recalls we're not his biggest fans. To say the very least).
Jump forward to Saturday night, when our town did a local "Fun Run". While waiting for the start of the race, and then at some point early on in the race, a bunch of teachers from that same school passed by us. I felt pretty positive we were recognized by Jack's old Intervention Specialist. But did she say hello to any of us? To him? Nope.
This is probably just me making a TON of stupid assumptions here, but.. I always feel like they remember how "bad" he was back then, and assume he must be the same now. They have no damn clue. He's always been a great kid. Even when the behaviors got the best of him. Even when he was angry. he wasn't angry 24-7. He did have some really great moments. He still does.
I did not see the woman again after the second time. Had I seen her again, part of me wanted to out her for not saying hello. Like, "Hi, Mrs. So-and-So". I wouldn't even have to say another word. I'd say it in that way that suggests "I see you. I know you see me. I know you see my kid, and you didn't say hi. Yeah. I see you".
I was facing him, so I tried to act like I hadn't noticed, while telling my husband in a quiet voice what was going on. As I was looking down at my bag of Kettle chips, I heard "Hey guys, how's it going?" I was hoping to God he was talking to the bunch of ladies sitting at a table behind us, but nope. He was talking to us. I lifted my head up to say hello, as he and my husband were shaking hands. He asked how the kids were doing, how old they were, etc.. and thankfully didn't stay to chat. (He probably recalls we're not his biggest fans. To say the very least).
Jump forward to Saturday night, when our town did a local "Fun Run". While waiting for the start of the race, and then at some point early on in the race, a bunch of teachers from that same school passed by us. I felt pretty positive we were recognized by Jack's old Intervention Specialist. But did she say hello to any of us? To him? Nope.
This is probably just me making a TON of stupid assumptions here, but.. I always feel like they remember how "bad" he was back then, and assume he must be the same now. They have no damn clue. He's always been a great kid. Even when the behaviors got the best of him. Even when he was angry. he wasn't angry 24-7. He did have some really great moments. He still does.
I did not see the woman again after the second time. Had I seen her again, part of me wanted to out her for not saying hello. Like, "Hi, Mrs. So-and-So". I wouldn't even have to say another word. I'd say it in that way that suggests "I see you. I know you see me. I know you see my kid, and you didn't say hi. Yeah. I see you".
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