S-P-R-A

When I was in my third year of teaching (actually my last full year of teaching before I became I stay at home mommy) I was teaching an accelerated fourth grade math class. I had approached our Head Teacher about not using the fourth grade textbook, but rather pulling from other resources that was better suited for the kids I was teaching. The Head Teacher fully agreed and I was on my way.
About three weeks later a representative from the textbook publication was visiting our school and happened to stop in on my math class and questioned why I wasn't using the textbook. Ironically the Head Teacher was showing her around and looked at me and sputtered, "Mrs. G I had no idea you weren't using the textbook." I was floored. I couldn't believe adults lied, were conniving, and manipulative. I just wasn't used to it, not after my place of employment, a small community private pool, from the ages of 13-21. I have come to learn what a rarity my first job was and miss the seemingly innocent nature of it.
Don't be fooled, we worked hard. We cleaned up other people's unmentionables, had garbage juice running down our leg at the end of the day from doing trash runs to the dumpster, and smelled of stale popcorn from the endless batches we would make for patrons, but we respected each other, and I really think had an unconditional love for the pool, our bosses, our patrons, and our fellow staff members. I feel really fortunate that my first boss I have ever worked for could always put you at ease with his smile, respected you, so you in turn respected him, and you knew at the end of the day had told you things straight forward and would have your back in any given situation.
I have tried now in my adult mind to go back and wonder if the success of this work dynamic was because we grew up with these people and some were our best friends. Both points are true, but I worked with a kid who wanted horns instead of a trendy haircut and I loved him just the same as my best friends that I had the privilege of guarding and coaching with too. There was just a perfect recipe there that I haven't found to be duplicated in any of my workplaces or my husband's.
Unfortunately the "textbook incident" wasn't the last time I have felt so let down by adults in workplaces and think what I wouldn't give just to be in that pool environment again, even if I did have a little garbage juice running down my leg.