05/05/2020
Being the Principal’s Kid can be a good thing and a bad thing. Teaching the Principal’s Kid is the same way. It’s wonderful. It’s awkward.
People are nice to you because you are the Principal’s Kid, but people are mean to you for the exact same reason.
People think highly of you when you teach the Principal’s Kid, but some people are mean to you simply because of who is on your class list.
The Principal’s Kid knows the Principal isn’t PERFECT and can give you specific examples of her shortcoming, so can the Principal’s Kid’s Teachers.
Having Silas King with me at OBIS this year was a literal dream come true for both of us. Dreams coming true can be awkward, uncomfortable, and wonderful. This year was just that.
The awkwardness reminded me of being at the park when little Silas was just learning to walk. I’d spent half my life on a playground. Why did I suddenly feel so awkward in a place I’d once ruled? My natural stance authoritative, hands on my hips, seemed awkward now with my toddler on the playground. I remember fidgeting around because I didn’t know what to do with my hands without looking like the city had hired me as the new playground monitor. 🤦🏻♀️ Seriously, it took me months to feel comfortable with being in a crowd of kids and escaping into a world where only Silas and I were playing. I had to learn to leave my Principal posture and move into “Mommy Me”
on the playground.
This year was similarly awkward, only rather than leave a posture behind, I had to learn how to be so many parts of me all at once. I’ve experienced this school year at OBIS as the Principal, a Parent, and Momma. Three similar, yet distinct roles.
The 4 smiling faces in this photo know more often than not I allocated my time toward Principal way more than Momma. I didn’t eat lunch in the cafeteria with Silas many times at all. I didn’t go out to the playground or just stop by to visit very often either. When he came in my office at the end of the school day, he was usually met by a Principal who was rushing to finish something, navigating a situation he couldn’t be privy to thereby relegated to wait on the couch in the mailroom, until his sister arrived from OBE where he’d run interference for what was happening in mommy’s office until the door finally opened or sister broke free and busted in.
Principal and Momma Me didn’t want people to think I was showing favoritism to Silas or his teachers. I erred on the side of indifference. I guess, “Principal Me” felt like that was best thing to do. But, in hindsight “Mommy Me” regrets allowing what someone might think to dictate how I spent one moment of my precious year at OBIS with Silas.
Today, I’m erring on the side of Mommy Me! Dalton Hurt and Jerrica Stafford Barnes, we love you!!! Thank you for graciously navigating the awkward waters of what was new for all of us!
Thank you for loving Silas, but even more importantly for loving his classmates just as much. Kids notice so much more than some folks think. 💕
We are going to miss you more than a Facebook post can express. Thank you for everything you are and have done for my boy.
Mommy, Parent, & Principal Rosie King (aka just Me)
PS— This song is my heart, so I can just be Me! https://youtu.be/0VRUU8UBXCk
