"They Shall Know We Are Christians By Our Love, By Our Love"
Days don't make sense these days.
Turning the other cheek is a great motto until you actually are called upon to do it--then it's remarkably crappy.
Where to begin?
How I do tell the story without going back into the hurt and the anger?
One of mentally unstable parents has begun an attack campaign against me, spreading lies about me to my collegues and superiors. Not only is she saying nasty things about my ability to teach properly, but she contacted the religion teacher saying I was destroying the faith and that I should not be in a Catholic school because I was doing things that go against everything she is trying to teach her kids. She based all of these venemous accusations on the misinformation from an 11 year old girl withouth even thinking to ask me to clarify what actually happened. She would rather spread lies. If she has gone behind my back to my collegues, I am certain that she has been calling parents and telling them the same nassty fabrications and 1/2 truths. I will let a lot of things go, but attacks on my character and faith are things that I cannot let abide.
She has also begun attacking and slandering the name of another one of my coworkers, leveling dangerous and absurd allegations.
When I got these emails, I was so angry that I was literally shaking. I ran to the principal who was actually very kind and supportive.
In fact that's the only thing that is keeping me sane. Everyone has been universally supportive and kind to me.
Apparently she is going through a nasty divorce and people agree that she is generally unstable--not that this makes what she did any easier to deal with, but I'm trying not to let myself get consumed by anger. It's hard because my first instinct is to lash out--a very primitive thought, I know.
Aside from my first momentary thoughts of wanting her to suffer hidelous boils on her face, what I really want is for her to be sorry for what she did. She crossed a boundary that was completely unacceptable. What I want is an apology.
I have not decided how to deal with the situation. The principal has called in the parents to sit down with us next week--I'm putting together a file on the situaton with every word that was said, and I think I will also write a letter expressing my disappointment with the way she handled the situation and my need for respect. We'll see what happens from there. I have stopped responding to her, but I can only hope that she does not cause any further damage.
I was telling my parents that I may, with time, be less angry, I may be less hurt, but I will never not be angry or not be hurt.
It's funny and sad how the words and actions of one person can seemingly suck the joy out of a situation. I am really trying not to let it, but the nasty words of this woman are negating all of the positive ineractions I've had with parents. I don't know why I am fixated. It just hurts.
The truly strange thing is that in class this afternoon, her daughter was all smiley, trying to get my attention and wanting to chat with me. She apparently does not see that her misrepresenting the truth to her mother has caused so much pain. I feel bad for the girl. Her mother's actions have destroyed my relationship with the student. I can't even look at her. That's not fair.
I guess what it comes down to, though, is that as deeply hurt as I am about the whole thing, I am glad I am not her. On my way home I got two supportive calls from coworkers and also got the love and support of my parents and my sister. Then I got to come home to a man who loves me for who I am. My life does not revolve around hate, bitterness and lonliness like hers does. Tonight I hope she chokes on it, but when I sleep on it I might even feel a little sorry for her.
Happy Catholic Schools' Week.
