Ego Trippin'

This is one of those blogs that has been saved for a slow day.

At school, we have a program called Watch D.O.G.S. It is for fathers, grandfathers, uncles, stepfathers, and other positive role models in our students' lives. They come to school for a day to be seen around the school as a positive male role model (cause there aren't many around a school with 99% female teachers). They have a schedule that allows them to be seen many times by the students throughout the day all over the school. We've had many dads, etc. that have volunteered multiple days.

Last year we had a dad who volunteered once a week (or so it seemed). Each time he was on morning broadcast introducing himself, he felt the need to go on and on about his life story and what has brought him here. The kids in my class even got to the point of making comments about him and his ego. I found it funny that they picked up on the same thing I detected on volunteer day one. Well, we would see him many times and when the year was up, we were hopeful that he was finished.

Not quite! We were in need of a cafeteria monitor this year and guess who applied. Now might be a good time to mention his credentials...Army veteran who served all over the world and was in charge of some other people--high up in the chain of command, and blah, and blah, and blah. I stopped listening after he told us how many places he's ever visited and how he is retired at age 35 or something like that plus some more blah, blah, and blah. Seriously? His life ambition was to be in the army and then a cafeteria monitor?? Something smells fishy to me!

With all this ego and being in charge experience, he is now in charge of the cafeteria. Well, he thinks so anyway. He walks around with his badge, walkie talkie, and whistle kind of like a security guard does at the mall. Too bad he doesn't have a golf cart with a flashing light on top. If our cafeteria was big enough, he might request one. He gives teachers reports about their students like they were his servants in the army. I ignore because I don't like how he talks to us and doesn't understand the kids. With that being said, I do tell my kids that if something happens in the cafeteria, there is no negotiating and you have a few minutes out of recess. There are too many kids in the cafeteria for ANY playing around. But, when this man tells me something they've done, I often check for accuracy and to see if any exaggeration exists in his story.

A little reminder...once you've done all kinds of "extravagant" things in your life, don't come home to be a cafeteria monitor, but continue to dwell on your past life like it was so much better. You are the owner of your choices...make ones you're proud of!