private caller....

just so you know....if you're a parent of a school age child and you receive a phone call mid day from 'private caller', odds are it's re: your child or your child.

with that said, i got a call today from matt's swim teacher "mrs. van ness, i'm here with matthew in my office, this is the 4th time this semester he's been without his swim trunks.  his grade is suffering." 
me: "oh, well....ok.  yes, i'm am looking at his trunks now.  assuming these are the ones he's been using.  looks like he listened when i suggested he bring them home to be washed sometime soon" 
teacher:  "this is the 4th time he's been without his trunks, his grade is suffering"
me: (thinking to myself:  yes, you've mentioned that...or did you for get you mentioned that like my 13 yr. old forgot to take his trunks back to school) "ok, thanks for letting me know"
teacher:  "his grade is suffering"
me: "ok....thanks for the call.  have a good rest of your day"
click

now, i'm not even sure how many weeks in we are (& truthfully giving all we've been through the start of this year, don't really care) but i do know that the 1st week of school matt attended 1 day and week 2 only attended 3 days.  he remembered to take his trunks on friday of the 2nd week.  was absent the thursday of the 3rd week and his stuff was stolen out of his locker so when he returned on friday he was without trunks.  i remedied that by purchasing new trunks, 2 pairs to be exact because who knows when another pair will be stolen. 

and if i'm being honest, i really don't care.  there i said it.  end of story.  why?  well, it's 8th grade swim.  experiencing the class for what the instructor calls the 4th time without trunks isn't devastating to anyone.  frustrating to the instructor...yes.  detrimental to his grade...evidently, but to life...not so much.  and if i'm being really honest, i don't care or put much stock in grades.  especially at any level before high school. 

i want my kids to do their best.  but like me (& most of us) they're human, & they on occasion forget to take something with them.  i do it ALL THE TIME. 

i know this, matt can swim.  and he can swim well.  he can swim many different strokes.  he can float.  he can dive.  and we thank you mr. yordy for teaching him such things.  i have also learned from his time in 8th grade swim that he can be a victim of theft & it not really matter...as it's his fault he didn't have the $5 necessary to buy/rent the lock to protect his stuff while it was in the locker/locker room.  theif = 1; matt = 0 & docked grade! 

all this leads me to wonder....what if.....the instructor forgot to lock his door & something came up missing from his office....would his pay be docked?  or his evaluation be less than honorable?  what if....the instructor forgot something he needed for that days lesson plan?  again, would that error in judgement be reflected?...ANYWHERE?  (feel free to chime in here teachers if you have input....not enough copies for the day??? grades not returned in a timely manner???  left something at home, therefore must improvise, plan B if you will???  what's the penalty?  if any.)

so to my private caller....thanks for the update.  to my son, thanks for bringing home your disgusting swim stuff after a couple of weeks/weekends in the locker...wet, so that it may be washed and fungus free for further participation in the class.  oh & in case your teacher didn't tell you while you were held up in his office...your grade is suffering.  ....i on the other hand am glad you haven't drowned, however it sounds as if you're barely staying afloat!  ....suppose we could opt for speedo's as underwear....then you'll always be prepared! :)