Page 85 - She's One Crazy Lady!

this pre-visit we crammed into two days what took five full days with the children! It was a frantic and hilarious weekend and we got on so, so well. We had an amazing residential trip too, and loved France – so much so, that we were later to spend several holidays there, in different regions, enjoying our precious and very special friendship.
Marilyn became my very able
Classroom Assistant and was keen
to improve her qualifications, so
worked closely with several of the
Special Needs children and signed up for various courses, with exams to take – and pass. Her ‘hands-on’, down-to-earth approach with children, and with the Staff and Parents, was an asset to the school and it was wonderful to see her confidence and popularity grow. We made a great partnership! Away from school, and after our adventures in France, we went out together a lot. Marilyn had sadly been widowed in the years before I knew her, left to bring up three young girls; girls she loved with all her heart; girls that she would do anything for. Looking back, she did a marvellous job, and I can fondly say that her whole family became a family for me too and, although I am sure they despaired about some of the things we got up to, I believe they knew that the timing of our friendship was good for us both.
Marilyn was, indeed, a true friend and confidante, whilst I was enduring the fears of protecting my job, my credibility and my sanity following the aforementioned. May I add, as well, that Dave and Dusty also bore the brunt of my frustrations and anger and were also brilliant in supporting and encouraging me to obtain legal advice and support. Both Dave and Dusty, and Marilyn, and most members of staff were incredibly supportive. They listened, they gave me time and were so patient. I chose not to confide my problems with my family as I knew Dad would have gone in, guns blazing. This was something I had to deal with in my own way.
Marilyn’s eldest daughter, Sarah, was married to an army medic and was based in Catterick, Yorkshire, so we drove there on many occasions at weekends when, poor Marilyn would have to endure my rabbiting on about ‘the situation’, trying to think of all the reasons why it had come about and all the possible solutions we could employ to get it over with. We both grew to love Yorkshire and returned many, many times.
Marilyn told me repeatedly that I HAD to go to school every day – that I was not to give the Head any satisfaction that the accusations were getting to me, by avoiding school. “Keep going Glennis, just do your job. Don’t let it get to you; don’t let this beat you. You’re a good teacher.” It would have been so easy to stay away, and keeping going
“I chose not to confide my problems with my family as
I knew Dad would have gone in, guns blazing. This was something I had to deal with in my own way.
”
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