Parent Teacher Conferences...What the Heck??

These last few days have been some of the most stressful up to this point in my teaching career. Parent-Teacher Conferences had me second guessing myself on everything that I have ever done this school year. My confidence level was a 1 on a scale of 1 to 100...not exaggerating either! By the end of day 1, my confidence had not improved!

CONFERENCE 1
The first conference was with a student that I really enjoy (I do enjoy all of them). I was glad that his conference was first because his mom and I have a pretty good relationship. I figured that I would be able to get the jitters out with this one, which was definitely not the case! First, mom let the baby brother out of his stroller and instructed my student to watch him during the conference. The baby found everything to get into. It didn't seem to bother mom though because she was able to stay focused. Next thing I know, out of the corner of my eye, I see the baby take a pencil and try to put it in his mouth. My student ran to stop him. In the process he knocked a chair off a desk, fell down, and the chair landed on his finger! Screaming and tears followed soon after. Mom looked at him and then turned back to me to continue on with conferences...WTH?? Wouldn't you have wanted to check on your son?? My student then asked to go get a drink. He didn't make it out the door, however. He stopped at a trashcan and THREW UP instead!! Again, mom looked at him and then turned back to me to continue on with conferences...WTH? I then had to tell her to take her son home for the night. Not only had he gotten sick, but his finger was huge!

When school started the next day, in he comes walking through the door...after having been sick 10 hours earlier. His finger was still huge and purple! I sent him to the nurse for ice immediately. The nurse took one look at it and called mom. After a trip to the ER, I found out that my student did indeed break his finger!

Happy to report that conferences did improve, minus the parent who told me that I was dumb and an idiot for thinking her student wasn't gifted (keep in mind, this third grader reads below grade level)...WTH??

What are some people thinking??