To feel upset at this being left on my answerphone by the school?

[pacinofan]

I received an answerphone message this afternoon from dd's school to let me know she was unwell and needed picking up. At the end of the recorded message, the teaching assistant obviously thinks the receiver has been replaced and says, 'that's a difficult woman'. I know it's difficult to judge without actually hearing it, but the comment was obviously made about me.

I am really upset, particularly as I had thought we had a very good relationship with the school, though it would appear that I'm wrong. The head teacher has called and said that he has spoken to the members of staff concerned and their story is that they said 'it's a difficult one', referring to my daughter's current problem with leaving mum in the morning. My recording is clear as a bell - the word used is definitely 'woman' and not 'one'. The tone in the voice changes, it is very clearly an unpleasant comment. The head teacher is quick to point out how professional his staff are and that they would never do this, yet I have this unpleasant comment on my answer 'phone! I have left it with him, stating that I am unhappy with the way things stand and would like an apology. Or is one supposed to accept this?

Twinset has it bang on the nose.

I say this as she once told me I seemed abrasive on a school issue, and I didn't think I was at all, and my post didn't seem that abrasive to me -- but she was damn right. So if she doesn't think it seems difficult then I reckon it's a good instinct.

However I wouldn't follow it up with the school. Just no bottles of wine at Christmas.

obviously you have all moved madly on

I think it sounds like she was taking part in another conversation - nothing to do with you
I can't think why she would say that's a difficult woman when she had spoken only to your answer machine.It just makes no sense -especially when you have a good relationship with the school

I think it sounds like she was taking part in another conversation - nothing to do with you
I can't think why she would say that's a difficult woman when she had spoken only to your answer machine.It just makes no sense -especially when you have a good relationship with the school

Who dares to start the thread in chat "What message would your child's TA secretly like to leave on your ansaphone?"

Like mine could be: "Your rfamily has the quirkiest kids in school, but it's no wonder when you look at the mother."

Mine would have been "you might think your dd looks sweet in her snuggly fitting gym slip - but she can't get out of it for PE! And how on earth can your dds look better dressed than you - even in their school uniform?!"

They did eventually pluck up courage to say it - well only the first bit....

You may well have heard a comment that was nothing to do with you. Either way there is nothing you can do-kick up a fuss and you really will be a difficult woman!
I have pointed out to people before on here that if they make some of the fuss that they are asking advice about they will become either the parent that all staff avoid or the staffroom joke. School staff are only human, if you are difficult you won't build up a good relationship. You just have to let it go-and prove them wrong (if it was about you in the first place, in my experience of school offices at least 3 conversations are taking place at once!)