Too Quick on the Draw

In this day and age, it's all too easy to step in a steaming pile of remorse. Buyer's remorse, dieter's remorse, driver's remorse (usually brought on by a speeding ticket) and even texting remorse can lie in wait for you like a vat of quicksand on an otherwise beautiful stroll. Life is just a button push away and we all know how easy it is to push a button. But what if you press enter without thinking it through?

Enter Email Remorse center stage, please.

Last week, my 3rd grader came home two days in a row feeling rotten because the teacher had scolded her in class. The first instance was for talking during quiet time. She claimed that she wasn't the one speaking out of turn (shocker) but got in trouble anyway. "Not a huge deal," I told her. "It happens. Your teacher is still getting to know you all. Just try your very best to behave and I'm sure Mrs. Davis will notice."

The following day, Friday, my daughter stepped off the bus with a very sour expression on her face. When she got in the car she unloaded, "Nina asked me a question during our spelling test and the teacher yelled at me again. (sad pause) She thought I was cheating."

Oh no, she DI-IN'T!

I was pissed. My daughter is a lot of things, (sloppy, sassy and occasionally unwilling to bathe) but she's no cheater. I did what any of you would have done. I flew right into the house and typed out a scathing email to that damn Mrs. Davis (who will be caring for my child 5 days a week until June) and hit the send button feeling both redeemed and most righteous.

Yell at my kid and call her a cheater, will you? Ha!

Gradually over the weekend, I grew a little pink in the cheeks over my unusual lack of grace. That feeling multiplied like a fed Gremlin after midnight during a conversation with my daughter about the situation.

"We don't yell at you. You've never had a teacher that yells at you so you're not used to that kind of treatment. You shouldn't be. There are many ways to get your point across without yelling." I heatedly explained.

"But you're yelling at me right now."

"Wait...you call this yelling? I'm just talking to you with emotion. (I wasn't yelling. I swear.) Is this how your teacher "yells" at you? " 

"Yes," she sheepishly replied.

Well, crap.

After a few rounds of damage control emails and a visit in to speak with (not yell at) the lovely Mrs. Davis, I am happy to report that everything has been worked out. And I have learned a great lesson. No more spontaneous & emotional emails from this sender...well, at least not to the general public. The people who love me are used to it.

---

You can also find Kimberly in Petroville where she lives and writes daily.