Dearest Debby,
I want you to know that I gave you my opinion, not what I would or would not do in your situation. I know it is hard to let what is going to happen actually happen, but I don't think that losing in this case is actually losing in the end. I took a terrible defeat at our April election. It was mean and cruel. It was meant to be. Do I want these same people in charge? No. Did I have a choice? Yes. I could have 'packed' the room like they did. I actually considered it. Thing is, that would make me like them. And that is something I refuse to be. I was complimented the day after, by our asst. principal who said that "when everyone else got down in the muck and the mud, you conducted yourself like a true lady". When the children look at the way this election was conducted, that is what I want them to see. That even though life isn't always fair, you can rise above it. I think one of the most valuable lessons my mother taught me was that No One Has To Look Bad For Me To Look Good. In my case, it was very obvious the lengths that the winner went to to win. I just didn't think I should lower myself to that level. In the last presidential election, I think that Al Gore did a lot of damage to himself by fighting the way he did. Not that he was wrong, mind you, just the way he went about it. I think that there are other ways to end up the winner. I have always told my kids that just because you didn't win something, it doesn't mean you aren't the winner. In the long run. My case? How long do you think the skunks that were cruel to me are going to last? Right now, as I write this, I think of the respect they have already lost. I also know that the decisions will be made from the body of the membership. The people who came and voted them in do not attend meetings. They do not do grunt work. They have no desire to do anything but be a clique, either having a title or moving along on the coattails of someone with a title. I do not need a title. I do have faith in our membership to vote down the crap (sorry Tim) and do what is right.
The lessons I learned this year? I can't make everyone happy. I can't do it all myself. I am a difficult taskmaster. Teachers respect me. Staff members respect me. Children respect me. Working parents respect me. My family respects me. Most of all, I respect me. That makes me a winner no matter how you look at it.
It is only a matter of time before things fall apart for our new prez. No worker bees, no imagination, no desire to do the right- not necessarily the popular- thing. Will I be able to fix it the following year? Yes. Will it affect the kids? Yes, but not too much. I think the lesson the children learned watching the election will affect them more. Will I be there to help the PTO next year? No. I will be there to help my son's class and grade. I will be there to work around the school, in the office, in the cafeteria, etc. Will I bake for, or work the bake sale? No. Will I call to get the door prizes donated as I've done every month for the last 3 years? No. Will I provide my teenager and husband for childcare during the meetings? No. Even as a lady, I can still be very angry at how it went down. Now I just have to regroup and find another way to help my 750 children. And I will. Everyday. Same as I did this last year. I guess it all comes down to, for me anyway, in the end, I'm still a very lucky, very respected, very happy, very loved Lady. I can live with that. That and the knowledge that I did a better job than they are willing to do. And the kids know that.
