so how does one...

turn the other cheek? when what you'd really like to do is rip the person who is taunting you apart with your bare teeth..okay, that's very extreme. and gross. but still.

i have a parent who loves to yell. YELL YELL YELL YELL YELL! They love it! especially at me and cassie...because we're teachers and teachers, as everyone knows, love being yelled at.

but these complaints which are constantly being shot at us from this parent's mouth-rifle are not only totally unnerving, but also completely irrational.

"this late-homework rule is illegal!" he says, stabbing our letter-to-the-parents-reminding-them-of-the-late-work-rule with his finger. he glares at us, daring us to challenge him. we do, naturally. are you serious? what planet are you from? these are the same late rules we in America (he apparently has a high respect for America, so we play that card) have followed since pre-school. illegal? what is that?
another favorite of his is, "you're discriminating against my children! you yell at them in class and not at any of the other students, because we are Muslims!"

I'm sorry, but 1.) do you have a camera hidden somewhere where you are watching this, or are you actually making it all up? and 2.) WHAT?
he LOVES pulling the i'm-from-a-different-religion card (from nowhere, with no encouragement, mind you) whenever possible, because it's bound to win him a few points of guilt. even when there is NOTHING to be guilty for.

Anyway, his two children have a problem with late work. turning it in two weeks late doesnt exactly earn you much, if any, credit in any school in the world, right? i think im right when i say that. but, no, no, no. this is wrong. we need to give them FULL credit when they turn in 14 math assignments over three weeks late, because they are Muslims after all, and we can't be "discriminating". but forget the fact that every other child is expected to bide by the same normal school rules...right, no, those kids are the only exception..?

so, this week, there has been a lot of chiding (and yelling) at these two, to try and motivate(?)/impress upon them the urgency of turning in their late work/etc. sweet-talking, bribing, doing nothing, it doesnt work. not that getting angry does either. but we are up to our eyeballs in frustration, and just OVER it by now (get me home, dang it) and THIS EVENING we get a call saying to expect yet ANOTHER visit from this parent.

my god! a fiery knot inflames in my chest, and the feeling of drowning overtakes me. how can i go through this again? how can i keep myself from turning into a volcano of fury and exasperation at this parents accusations, threats, belittlements, and irrationality?

how, really, does one turn the other cheek