Kris vs. Mrs. Plotner

Now when I was first hired at my current employer, I was never called Mrs. Plotner. I was always called by my first name, Kris. It's true when the first time you hear the salutation before your last name you do a double "what?" The first time I heard it, I looked around the room and wondered who they were talking to; Mrs. Plotner, who's that? Is my mother-in-law in the room? It has taken me some time to get used to the second name. I don't even allow "Mrs. Plotner" in my house. Mrs. Plotner no longer exists when I step into my car to go home. She stays at school and doesn't appear at my house. When my daughters' friends would come to the house and they would call me that, I would quickly correct them and tell them, that it's "Kris" or "Sarah's mom" or "Natalie's mom." I know that it is a sign of respect (I tell my kids to call their friends' parents "Mr." or "Mrs." unless told otherwise), but in my house, Mr. and Mrs. does not reside there or even at my church. "Mrs. Plotner" only appears from 8-3 Monday through Friday. The first time I heard "Mrs. Plotner" at church, I cringed; I'm "Mrs. Kris" at church.

But another situation...I don't like it when kids call me "Kris" at school." For instance, a student at the elementary called me "Kris" and I cringed at that as well. How dare they call me "Kris!" My name, as long as I am working at the school, is "Mrs. Plotner."

I know...I have issues.

Who is Kris? I like to think that Kris is someone who knows how to have fun; someone who enjoys her family; someone who enjoys a good laugh; enjoys time with her sisters; someone who can spend hours on hours on the phone with friends; someone who is not afraid to cry or get angry when the time is appropriate. I like to think that Kris knows how to step away from Mrs. Plotner and find who she is; she likes to create websites; she likes to read; she likes to watch TV; she likes to listen to music; talk with her family. Her house is a mess; her room is a mess; her life can be a mess as well. She can spend hours on hours at the computer and not get tired of it. When her kids were young, phrases like, "Are you supposed to say no to mommy?" or "Hon, it's your turn to watch the kids" used to come from her mouth. Now common phrases from her mouth are "If you don't get your hind in out the door at this minute, you're gonna be left home" or "Do I have to make supper?" or "Can we order pizza tonight, I don't wanna cook" or "What homework do you have?" and "No, you can't wear that out of the house."

Who is Mrs. Plotner? Well Mrs. Plotner can be kinda ouchy. She likes her room to be in order; she still has a messy desk from 8-3; but after school her desk is clear. She knows what she expects from her students and she expects a lot from them! She gets annoyed by the loud speaker because every time an announcement is made, it's right when she is in the middle of explaining something. She tries to be even keeled and when things don't go well, she tries to keep a handle on it into the next class. At the end of the day, she wants to just sit in solitude and figure out how to get ahead for the next week without interrupting into "Kris'" world. Mrs. Plotner also gets upset at the kids during lunch if they don't know how to throw away their trash. Common phrases are "Sitting with six legs at the desk" or "No long distance conversations" or "If I see anything thrown again, you will be cleaning this table for the next week." Mrs. Plotner seems kinda square. Such a by-the-book kinda person. I think if I met her in the hallways, I would try to steer clear from her. She'll nail you with something. She has eyes and ears like a hawk. You can't get away with anything in her room. She has beady eyes that will haunt you if you do something wrong. The looks she gives you makes you want to hide under a chair because you know you did something wrong and she knows it too!

"Mrs. Plotner" and "Kris" are made from the same flesh but wearing different hats is what the key is. Knowing when to be flexible but knowing also what the limits are. Too much of Kris...too much of Mrs. Plotner and not enough of Jesus.