So, I think I realized I am a way better writer than communicator.   My brain has officially moved over to the other side.

Actually, I have known this for years.  I shouldn’t be surprised.  Chris and I would have an argument, and everything would come out wrong; we would walk away from each other and then I would draft a letter that explained everything eloquently and forgivingly.  I don’t know what happens when I sit down in front of a keyboard that all the words just line up ready for proper placement.

My brain to mouth doesn’t work that way.  At all.  Ever.  Period.

When it comes to dealing with people and situations, my brain just wants to get the information out and I don’t’ know how to put the information in a nice comprehensive way.  So all the words just come flying out of my mouth in a “Let’s just get it done” fashion!!!  And then I deal with the backlash……

I do carpool two mornings a week.  Monday and Friday.  Those happen to be my only two ‘organized’ workout days with Heidi.   I drop the kids at 8:20 and head to Heidi for 8:30.  When all goes well, I make it on time.  But sometimes I get excuses from these kids (usually one in particular) for why they aren’t outside and waiting.  And I’m totally over being late to my class.

Last week, on Friday, I went to pick up carpool and as I pulled into one of the kids house, I said, “Can someone text him?”  at which time two of the kids said, “OHHHHH…..we forgot to tell you, he told us to tell you he is sick”.  (Okay, fine – whatever!  His mom should have texted me, but I’ll let it go).  Kids don’t remember anything that doesn’t pertain to them.

So when Monday came, I went to pick up and I get a text from my habitually late kid that he’s going to be late.  As it’s already 10 minutes after 8, I told him if he isn’t there when I get there, his mom can take him to school (so I’m already peeved at this point).  Thankfully, when I get there, he is ready to go.  Then as I pull around to the sick kids house, he’s not out front and I haven’t received any text or message and even the kids aren’t sure where he should be.  I call and he answers and says he is sick………. And I went off!!!  Not in an angry I will beat you sort of way, but more like a, “You’ve got to be kidding me, this is the second time in two days” sort of way.   I told him that either he or his mother needs to contact me.  And my tone is already irritated thanks to ‘habitually late with excuses’ kid.

When I drop off the rest of the kids and get to my class (Late thank you very much), I am fired up!!!  And I find that there is a mixed opinion on how others would have handled this.

Some would have coddled.  Some would have spoken nicely.  And some would have only talked to the kids mother…….

Now, I’m sorry, but if you are in 7th grade, shouldn’t you be held responsible on some level???  Do I need to check in with the mommy still?  Because at 7th grade level, I don’t have time to be hand-holding someone elses kid, when I won’t even do it to my own.  They start teaching is in FOURTH GRADE to start letting our kids fall to prepare them for older grades.

So when I leave my workout that day, I’m fraught with mixed emotions.  The kid isn’t the issue, per se, just the fact that he didn’t call me either time and put me off a few minutes.

But still, as the words I said to him replayed in my head, I realized I was a bit harsh on him.  So I called him back after my workout and apologized for my tone (only) and told him he is a good kid, but next time just remember.  He was very cool with it and thankfully, I didn’t have to hear from his mom that I ‘yelled’ at her kid (because I heard this does happen).

When I have something to say, I don’t have time to mince words.  I just need to get it done move on.  But apparently it’s not a popular way to go.  And if I have to go back and apologize, it’s not really an efficient way to go either.   But my brain to mouth communication just doesn’t work as well as my finger to keyboard communication.  I’m not sure what I can do to fix that other than to have my keyboard ready for mopping…..  But until then, I will just have to deal with the backlash of my poor verbal communication skills.

There are worse things….

Happy Tuesday