“Just a little reminder about respect,” I replied.
“And never underestimate a retired teacher.”
“I deserved it,” she admitted. “Can we — can we start over?”
I smiled, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders. “I’d like that, Veronica.”
From that day on, things changed.
Veronica started calling more often, asking for advice, even inviting me out for casual dinners — which she actually paid for.
Last week, she asked me to help plan Michael’s surprise birthday party.
“I need your expertise,” she said. “You know him best, after all.”
As we sat at her kitchen table, poring over party plans, I couldn’t help but marvel at how far we’d come.
“You know,” Veronica said suddenly, “I never thanked you properly.”
I looked up, surprised. “For what?”
“For teaching me a lesson I’ll never forget,” she replied, reaching out to squeeze my hand.
“You’re tougher than you look, Ruth.”
I laughed. “Well, I did wrangle middle schoolers for four decades.”
She grinned. “Remind me never to cross you again.
I still can’t believe you pulled all that off.”
“Let’s just say I had some practice dealing with troublemakers,” I winked.
As we went back to our planning, I felt a warmth in my chest. Sometimes, a little tough love is exactly what’s needed to set things right.
And who knows? Maybe one day, I’ll even tell Michael about our little adventure.
But for now, it’s our secret — a reminder that respect isn’t given, it’s earned.
Even if you have to teach that lesson the hard way. I may have left the classroom, but I’m not done teaching just yet.
Source: amomama
