She lied through her teeth

[MarieL]

She sat there and denied that she ever told me that I wasn't needed, she said she never said I should leave and that she didn't understand why I would spread those lies and ruin her reputation. I'm not surprised at all. She said she had witnesses that would back her story. (Yes, conspiring with friends so they all look good, instead of bad.) She cried and said, "I thought we were friends". Ugh.

She said that when I came in, I demanded that she drop what she was doing and get me a chair. Of course, she was never asked to get me a chair, no one offered to get me a chair and I got my own chair from around the corner and down the hall, dragging it with one hand and my cane in the other. (Until a nice PTA mom offered to help me and no, it was not one of her group.)

I went over the basics...that I returned the volunteer form, that I said I would work Monday and Thursday that when I arrived I was told, "Didn't you get the email? We don't need you, you can leave now". She accused me of lying. I told her that she told me to leave not once, but 3 times and the third time another mom overheard her and said, "She's not going anywhere" and she said that wasn't true.

Then she said, "If this really happened, why didn't you confront me right there?" and I said, "Really? You wanted me to make a scene in front of the kids? You are questioning why I didn't get into an argument in front of a bunch of 2nd graders?". I also said that I know how my kids are, which is very excited when they get to go to the boutique and the last thing I would do is spoil some of the kids fun time when they were there.

She said I said goodbye to everyone when I left and that I happily left. That, of course, was not the case. I didn't look her or anyone in the eye and simply said, "I guess I'm not wanted here" as I left.

The Principal and the district rep were trying to make it all good...."Oh, I'm sure it's just a misunderstanding and that it's all miscommunication....you know, sometimes you say something one way and it's taken another way"...but how can you take, "We don't need you, you can leave now" the wrong way?

I asked what possible motivation I would have to make this up and she said she didn't know but that it has ruined her reputation. Please.

I asked why she didn't schedule me for Monday and Thursday as I indicated on the volunteer form and she said that she had gotten other people scheduled before me....yet she did verify that only 6 sent back the forms and that she asked people who had not returned the forms to volunteer and scheduled them in, instead of me.

Her wish was that everything be made confidential and that nothing be said of this again. I would not agree. I said that the school was a public school, the PTA event was a public event and that I would not be gagged. That I had the right to say what happened and that if she didn't agree, she would be free to tell her side of the story and let people believe who they wish to believe. She was not happy.

I did agree to: The board would once again discuss that all volunteers are welcomed and that no one should be turned away as a general reminder.

The PTA president did apologize for any bad feelings (saying she wasn't there and couldn't say who was telling the truth). The Principal and district rep said it was a case of "he said, she said" and that they could not tell which of us was telling the truth. They both said that they hoped that this wouldn't stand in my way of volunteering in the future and I told them I would never again do anything to help PTA. The district rep invited me to be her guest at Founder's Day Dinner and I politely declined. (She said, 'Oh, we're such a good group of people and we all have the kids best interest in mind and really, if you came to the dinner, you'd see that.". No, thank you, I've seen enough.)

The Principal said that I was always welcome to volunteer in the classrooms and I told her I already do and I'm also a room mom. The other gal left, in tears. I shook hands and thanked everyone for their time. I left with my head held high. I know I told the truth...that's all I can do. I have my integrity intact.

[Adrienne]

B*tches!!!!

[BC-NanceLee]

Unreal. Yes, you can hold your head high, which that woman knows she cannot do no matter what she tells others (and herself).

[3boys2luv]

Marie, they may have not said it, but from the logic and the way you handled yourself, they HAVE to know you were telling the truth. You did a splendid job putting her in her place in front of them! Good for you!



Now, I must go and spend time wish armpit fleas, eyebrows falling out, halitosis and near fatal clumsiness on her.

[Pat in St Louis]

Do you remember that book about queen bees among girls and the emotional/control games? I happened to pick up the sequel about adults behaving the same way. Sounds like this lady has a big dose of that going on.

http://www.amazon.com/Queen-Bee-Moms.../dp/140008301X

[virga]

I missed the original mention of this experience, but yuck. Glad you were able to tell the story.

[SC-Sherb]

I missed it as well and sorry you had to deal with it. Sounds like a bunch of immature little brats in women's bodies! Good for you to hold your ground. You handled it gracefully and properly.

[Lois]

I think you said and did just the right thing under the circumstances. I think the fact that she left in tears and you were calm and polite says a lot. I'm so sorry you have to deal with this cr*p on top of everything else. HUGS.

[KittyAB]

You can tell by behavior who is telling the truth.

I wouldnt volunteer again either.

[coffee cat]

I'm sure they could see through her story and she'll probably do something else to somebody else and make it even clearer to everybody. I would guess that they were trying to be kind and allow her to save face when they said it was a case of he said she said.