(growing Pains) 9. It Isn'T Fair. Poem by Janice Windle

How was school today?
All right...
George was naughty.
Miss Foreman told him to stand outside.
I wasn't naughty.
Miss Foreman told me and Anna
we can't sit next to each other.
it isn't fair.

And Antonia bullied me.

I can't arbitrate. I can't deliberate
over the rights and wrongs.
I'm a teacher too.
And there are always two sides
and self-reporting is suspect
and how could I know how much
bullying, how much
jealousy, how many
were the wrongs
that were building evidence
against me?

There's no dress-rehearsal for motherhood.
I really wish there had been.
Or at least that the
prompt-box
had been occupied.
.............................................................................................................
This is a more focused version of 'It isn't Fair'. I've focused on the dilemma, not on my excuses for not solving it.


How was school today?
Okay....
George was naughty.
Miss Foreman told him to stand outside.
I wasn't naughty.
Miss Foreman told me and Anna
we can't sit next to each other.
it isn't fair.

And Antonia bullied me.

I could have arbitrated.
Maybe. Maybe
been less cavalier
about
indignities
she felt
so keenly
almost every day.

There's no dress-rehearsal
for motherhood.
I really wish there had been.
Or at least that the
prompt-box
had been occupied.