I hated school.
Not a day goes by where I watch my kids pack up their backpacks and lunches and think, “Man I’m glad that’s not me!”
It’s really hard to work up enthusiasm to go do something you’re not good at everyday. Note taking, tests, math, LISTENING…none of these things suited me. And forget about studying for tests. I never studied, but then secretly hoped some sort of brilliance would strike during test time and I’d just miraculously guess all the answers right.
I remember my Mom complaining about another failed test, “I don’t get it Kathy!! What do you do, just avoid studying and then hope some sort of brilliance will strike during test time and you’ll just miraculously guess all the answers right??”
I was all, “Pshaw, NOOOO!” but really I was thinking “How does she KNOW that!?!”
I went to college because I had no plan B to draw from. There was no other skill set. No hidden talents or gifts. I decided to become a teacher because I thought maybe the terrible student in me could think of a better way to teach other terrible students. I hated college, hated exams, hated living away from home, hated LEARNING stuff, but my boyfriend had hinted that he would probably propose when I graduated so I figured I should actually finish school less I spend the rest of my days raising cats as an old maid.
If you ask me now, there’s something quite comforting about the old maid cat plan. But I suppose I missed that boat. For now.
I can’t help but feel a shred of sympathy when my new Kindergartner whimpers about going to school because it “takes too long”. I hear him today and I think about how many more days he has left and I feel so bad for the little unknowing soul. As the mother, however, I can show no mercy because I have learned that the moment you let your guard down and feel sorry about their school hating shenanigans, they’ll lay it on thick every morning for the rest of the year.
I just can’t.
So this morning when my son was doing his usual, “Ughhhh I don’t wanna goooo!!!!”
I was all, “the bad news is, you will be doing this everyday for possibly the next 18 years…the good news is I’m willing to support you financially during this very difficult time…”
You can imagine my words did not offer much comfort, but he pulled himself together and climbed onto that bus for another day.
And as the bus drove away I made the sign of the cross and thanked God again that it was him and not me.
Karen and Gerard says
I don’t miss school either, never liked it much even though I did pretty well. School now though seems to be a lot more fun than when I went–I can’t ever remember going on a field trip and we sure didn’t have computer classes (which I know I really would have liked)! By the way, the old maid cat plan doesn’t sound bad at all to me.
Stacey says
Bwahahaha! I may have to use that one! I don’t miss school. I look at adults going back to school and think they must be insane. I was actually a decent student, I just didn’t like it. I had skipping class down to a science!
Jessica says
I was actually really good at school work, but I thought it was (usually) completely boring, and a lot of the kids were mean to me. So I hated it, too. My son, on the other hand, loves it. I hope, for his sake, that he always does… but somehow I doubt he’ll always be this enthusiastic about it.
Southern Angel says
Yeah I had years where I loved it and times where I hated it. Mainly because we moved so much in the middle school years.. I don’t miss it at all trust me.
Laura says
Amen to that! Ironically, I DID NOT like school either. But never wanted to be anything other than a teacher…still a mystery!
Kat says
Somehow it’s a lot more fun to be the one in charge. :)
May says
One of my nephews hated Kindergarten as much as Mr. K. About this far into the school year he came home one day and announced to my sister, “OK, here is the deal. I will go to school for five more days. Five days. But I am only doing it for you.”
For the next five days my sister walked on egg shells. When well meaning folks asked about school, she would shush them frantically. Not another word was spoken about his plan. On the 6th day, he got up and went to school without question. And it was never spoken of again…..well, until I brought it up when my nephew became the father of a Kindergarten hating boy!
Gigi says
This made me laugh because it reminded me of a co-worker’s son. When he was in kindergarten he informed his mother that when he got to be “big” (i.e., 10) he was DONE with school! So far, that plan isn’t working out for him.
Angelina Costenaro says
I never would’ve expected someone who hated school to even consider becoming a teacher! I’ve been a teacher for seventeen years now, but I kind of liked school as a kid. Yeah, I’m a nerd.
The funny thing is that I now hate being a student. Teachers are required to keep taking classes to keep up their licenses, and I hate sitting still in a desk. I want to be the one at the front of the room talking and moving around, not chained to chair-desk combo.
Loved your line about supporting your kindergartner financially through this very difficult time! Oh, if only kindergarten were the worst of life’s problems.
Andrea says
I LOVED school, yet it would take a miracle to get me back there. The distractions would be too many, and I’d have to move to a quiet retreat in the country so I could study without anybody bothering me…
Wait a minute.
Shana Norris says
I didn’t hate school, but I didn’t love it, either.
I AM a homebody, so when my little guy whines about not wanting to leave home to go to school (or anywhere else) I TOTALL Y identify with him.