Stupid Mistake

Last week I did something really stupid. I was in charge of one of our Para-professional's birthday celebration. This involves getting a cake and other refreshments, a gift, and card. I bought Curious George plates, cups, and napkins. My birthday person liked nuts, so I bought her three containers of different kinds of almonds. I was looking for a card with squirrels and nuts when I found this cute card with a squirrel on the front holding two big walnuts, one in the right hand and one which was elevated in the left. What was on the inside got me in trouble. The card said, "Scooter the Squirrel would give his left nut to make sure you have a happy birthday."

The card struck me as funny, so I thought the para would think it was funny because the squirrel was cute, innocent looking, and not take the meaning any further than the squirrel's Happy Birthday. Was I ever wrong! I knew the card might be perceived as crude since an animal was offering to sacrifice a body part, but I never thought she would take it at as sexual. At the time she laughed. As she was leaving gave me a hug and thanked me. The next morning I received a notice that I had a complaint for sexual harassment. I felt terrible that I had offended the para. As I told her, it grieved me that I had offended her and that is was a very idiotic thing to do to give her that card. I still can't believe that I didn't think that the card could be taken to an extreme. One of my problems was also that my perception of this person was not accurate.

I am going to have a meeting with the entire Special Ed team and apologize with the principal as the moderator. I am the only man on the team,which has been a challenge in itself. Something I have discovered is that most elementary teachers do not have a sense of humor. They do not exchange witty comments or laugh about how crazy life can get. One of the teachers told me that my humor would be appropriate for junior high or high school teachers, but not elementary. I had to go through the harassment power point presentation again and sign papers that I had went through it. The complaint was placed in my file.

Hopefully, I will overcome this mistake and finish strong this year. Being a man in elementary school is a challenge. Women interact very differently when they are together than men. I still love my job and enjoy working with young neurologically diverse students.

Have you ever made a mistake that was really stupid?