The Original “Karen”

Gracie Mae Byrd.

That name was enough to instill fear into the hearts of educators and students alike in this little town in Missouri, circa 1950-ish. When something happened to one of her children at school (corporal punishment was the norm back then), this woman was a force to reckon with, worse than any tornadic weather that could ever rain down upon the school. It was powerful enough for people to turn off the lights and lock their school room doors – and it was each man for him (or her) self when she decided to show up take matters into her own hands. There would be H*** to pay; someone was going to get it. And she had a lot of children in the school system back then, something like ten or twelve in the little one-room school, so her children accounted for almost half of the student body. All the school children knew Gracie Mae “Mz. Byrd” and would plant themselves by the window to get a good view when they heard she was coming, giggling, knowing that some adult was in trouble. I’ve also been told she could be heard for a mile or two but that might be an exaggeration, although thinking back on this woman’s presence in my life, it might not have been too far off.

So today I’m thinking that the Karen’s of the world really just want to be heard, and most seem to stand up for what they believe in, whether it is a mere parking space or significant event like their child’s rights. I say, instead of bashing or shaming them, how about listening? Perhaps they truly have something to say and won’t rain H*** down on the unsuspecting population, like my departed Mother-in-Law, Gracie Mae did on more than one occasion.

Way to go, MIL. We need more of you now more than ever.