Taking One For The Team

Probably, one of the biggest challenges Roger faces being a First Grade Teacher isn't the students. It's being a member of a large group of co-workers who are almost 100% female (the gym teacher doesn't count here, because he gets to hide out in the gym and do manly sports stuff all day).


As an early elementary school educator, Roger is called upon to participate in a whole bunch of activities that most people (and I'm talking most MALES here) would categorize as strictly female activities. Some even slop over into the *gasp* "girly" variety.

Not a week goes by at school without some type of "social" event. This could be anything from a faculty theme meal (tomorrow's theme is Baked Potato Lunch) or a wedding or baby shower. I remember the time, early in his teaching career, when Roger was trying to figure out the whys and whatfors of all the celebrations. He looked me straight in the eye with a puzzled look on his face and asked me if all the parties and get togethers was a "female thing".

Bless His Heart...it must HURT to be so clueless. Of COURSE it's a female thing. It's what women do best, take something and make an EVENT out of it. We can even make an event out of NOTHING if we have to, and sometimes, apparently we DO!

As women, we are nurturers, and we understand how important it is to celebrate when life is good and even more important to celebrate when life isn't quite as good. It's a gift we give willingly to each other, our children, and any and all poor unsuspecting males who happen to be in our path - like Roger.

That's why I always encourage Roger to participate in all the activities and festivities, no matter how "girly" they might seem. I'm proud to say he listens to me, most of the time, as the above pictures will tell you.

These are pictures of Roger taking part in two of Floyd Elementary's Red Ribbon Week Festivities - Crazy Sunglasses Day and Wild Hair Day.

I'd like to go on record as saying that he WOULD have participated in PAJAMA DAY, but he "forgot" to tell me about it. Uh huh.....like we believe THAT one.