5 Ways Teachers Can Become Parent Whisperers
Rethinking how we approach the “Angry Parent”
Most interactions with parents are positive. But, there are exceptions:
“No wonder the kids don’t listen to you. They don’t respect you.”
“You think you are better than my kid with your fancy suits and pretty ties? Well, you’re not!”
“Your classroom looks boring. That’s why my son can’t focus.”
“No, you don’t get it! My whole child is failing and nobody cares!”
I know how it feels. It feels like you’re the problem. It feels like they’re mad at you. You’re not sure if you should respond back with the same emotion. Nobody has ever spoken that way to you and gotten away with it. You really feel like they’re not being reasonable. You think that you’re right. You think that they’re wrong.
These thoughts have gone through my mind in those hypertension-inducing moments:
“I sat through the hundreds of hours of classes to get this degree. I trained for this job for five years. I know what I’m doing. I’m the one who is thousands of dollars in debt for this. Who are you to question my abilities? Do I go to your job and tell you how to do it? Do I go to your house and tell you how to parent? I’m trying to help. Honestly, I’m…
