Knee Jerk Reaction

I had to go to the middle school this morning.

I have a problem with school secretaries. I admit it. I have something against middle school and high school secretaries in particular. I really try to cut them a lot of slack - because frankly given the option between doing their job and having major surgery, I'd have to give it some long hard thought. Yes, I know that they have to deal with teenagers all the time - but then again, so do I. Perhaps the problem stems from the kind of teenagers that they spend time with. The ones that get sent to the office.

Once (9 or 10 years ago), the school nurse at the middle school called to have me pick Nathan up at school because he was sick. The school was only a mile away, so I just put Danny in his car seat without bothering to put shoes on him (he was about 4 years old). When I got to the school I left Danny and my purse in the car while I ran in (I could still see him) - the secretary wouldn't let me check Nathan out of school without picture ID. I explained that THEY had called ME. Didn't matter. I had to run back out to my car, get my purse, get Danny (and then carry him because he was barefoot), show the secretary my ID, then they released my son to me. I mean, give me a break - who would want to steal a middle school kid? They should be grateful that anyone would take them.