Your Public Child

We yuppie, Pottery-Barn, media-darling parents show up to parent -teacher conferences all puffed out. Our wunder-child - perfect in every way - yet clueless.....

First grade, first child, I am expecting compliments and congratulations. Instead, I get reprimanded, very early in, because I made a comment about her not being responsible enough. Mrs. Urso says, "Your daughter is so responsible, I let her take the handicapped child in our class to the nurse for her medication. And you talk about her less than perfect behavior when she gets off the bus? All children have to misbehave somewhere. She is PERFECT in school. Accept her misbehavior at home."

It was hard to be so harshly corrected. But I listened. Teachers know your "public" child. You do not.

Be humble enough to let other people share their opinions of your daughters. You are not objective.