Category: summer reading logs

Dear Snarky – Help! A Rainbow & Unicorn Mom is Telling Everyone I’m a Bully

4 Comments

Dear Snardear_snarky_logoky,

Thanks to a Rainbow and Unicorn mom I have started off the school year being called a bully. Every year my kids’ elementary school has a “Winning Reader Picnic.” This picnic is for all the kids who completed their summer reading log goal.

Each “winning reader” gets a gold ticket which gets them into the picnic on the school playground. Well, the Rainbow and Unicorn mom was letting in any and all kids into the picnic. It was a disaster. We were running out of food and drinks, not to mention that the whole the picnic is for the kids that read over the summer.

So, I take it upon myself to tell the mom to only let kids in with the gold ticket and she says, “I’m sorry. I just can’t say no to a child.” WTF? That’s when I told her to watch how it’s done and I took over.

Now it’s a scandal because the Rainbow bitch tattled on me to all of her friends.  So FYI  I’m now a bully. Ugh. Help me Snarky how do I clear my name?

Signed,

So Not a Bully

Dear Not a Bully,

Brace yourself for this alarming advice. Do absolutely nothing. Yep, that’s right. Just own what you did. Proudly tell anyone that ask why you did it and walk with your head held high. You were not in the wrong. 

Mrs. Rainbow and Unicorn should not have been letting in kids that didn’t partake in the summer reading program. So sad too bad she got her mom feelings hurt when you pointed this out and then took control of the situation.  All I have to say is you go girl!

*If you have a question for Dear Snarky, 21st Century Advice with an Attitude, please email me at snarkyinthesuburbs@gmail.com or private message me on the Snarky in the Suburbs Facebook page.

Dear Snarky – The Summer Reading Log Cheater

12 Comments

Dear Snarky,dear_snarky_logo

I’m so sick of kids cheating! School starts in a couple of weeks and all summer my kids have had to keep a reading log. Every year their school gives an award to the student who has read the most books and every year the same girl wins because while other kids are reading Harry Potter she’s reading what amounts to board books (and she’s a smart girl so it’s not like that’s her reading level).

 Last year she wrote down that she read 115 books!!! That’s more than one a day. I doubt that really happened. Should I complain to the school about this or just suck it up and keep my mouth shut.

 Signed, Book Mom

Dear Book Mom,

Yes, you should complain but not about the girl who’s enjoying revisiting the books of her infancy. Your complaint or let’s call it a concern (because it sounds better) should be directed to the school about their summer reading contest that stresses quantity over quality.

In fact, I would take it a step further and ask the school why they feel the need to turn reading into a contest? Shouldn’t it be about enjoying literature and increasing reading skills and comprehension not about how many titles you can quickly shove down your book pie hole and then regurgitate on a log sheet?

 You also need to remember that your kids are already winners for embracing reading and tackling larger and more challenging books. Their prize is a bigger brain which trumps whatever lame award your school gives.

If you have a question for Dear Snarky please email me at snarkyinthesuburbs@gmail.com