Passive-Aggressive AND Hypocritical!

Last week I forgot to send Summer to school in sneakers on gym day. She came downstairs in a sweater dress with white tights and black Mary Janes. I packed her onto the bus with her snack money. She came home with no tights on and a huge band-aid on her knee. The following letter, painstakingly printed, was in her folder:

10/8/09
Dear Mom I need help remebering to bring or wear my sneakers for p.e. class. I forgot my sneakers today, and I am not participating in today's physical activities. Could yo please help me remember to wear mu sneakers for Thrsday.

The letter is not signed because in the middle of administering this draconian little task, so obviously designed to make the parent feel like shit, Summer's gym teacher realized that the sides were not even for whatever game they were playing. So she called Summer off the bench and had her participate in the physical activities after all. Which resulted in Summer wiping out on the blacktop, tearing her tights, and mauling her knee.

I'm trying to figure out the best way to handle this. Cheery email? Handwritten note on non-threatening floral paper? Casual conversation next time I see her in the school hallway? BRICK THROUGH WINDOW?

Comments

[Julie]

I'm going to advise against the brick through window and say as painful as it is (since she actually survived) that it's just lesson learned. And I bet she'll remember her sneakers next time.

[jill]

Really?! Don't you think I should tell the gym teacher that if she has a rule that you can't participate without sneakers, then it was wrong for her to let Summer participate?

[cate]

I'd write a note. But I have a long-standing grudge against gym teachers.

Seriously, your kid got hurt and wrecked some tights. That's not cool. The teacher should know that even sides are not that important.

[jo]

All the rules and not playing if you forget your sneakers, fine.. but that guilt trippy note? Making Summer write it? Not having the sense to just send you a form note, (because we all know darn well you are not the only one to forget)... That was classless! I would be pissed too. Reminders are one thing, little power trips with your kid in the middle are another thing indeed. Or maybe it just reminds me of the nuns, and the "write 100 times on the blackboard that I will not forget my homework again" where learning by humiliation was all the rage...