An actual post. And two rants.
But here's what happens in my evenings.
First, my last three parents picked their kids up at 6 on the dot.
Their usual mode. It is so rare for my kids to all be gone before six that I wouldn't know what to do if they were. And on the days that the regulars are actually gone before six, some luck of some draw somewhere decrees that a child who is NEVER picked up late has a parent who waits until six for some reason.
I even have one family who makes a habit of showing up at 6:05. Or 6:07. JUST enough that they can get away with it indefinitely. Which really pisses me off.
Grr.
One of the regular 6 pm parents likes to chat, and I don't want to be rude, but I continue picking up the last few items from the floor, shutting down the computer, making sure all the paperwork is finished.. you know, getting ready to go home.
She usually just keeps talking to me as I do these things. That's okay, it doesn't slow me down.
Around 10 minutes past six, I am done with my routine, have waved goodbye to that particular parent as she leaves, made sure the back door is locked, turned out the lights and I check with the custodian or monitor to make sure they know I am on my way out of the building.
Most evenings I am in my car about 6:15 or 6:20, although I ordinarily just clock out at 15 past. If I were to be paid for all the extra time I've put in at my job in one swell foop, I'd have a pretty big check.
I get home about a quarter to seven, and if Eric has made a meal I don't love, I find something to eat. Tonight was two scrambled eggs and a piece of toasted french bread with a bit of apple butter. Yum.
I wake up the computer, (discovered a crack starting across the lid of my laptop this evening. I need to just leave it open so that it won't get worse) and then it's time to check in with some of my imaginary online friends. And my mom.
And I sit and chat with them, and read news headlines and leave snarky comments on newspaper websites and read my email and talk to my family as they wander past me and think about stuff I want to try at work for the kids so they have a good time and I get warmed up a little sitting over the heater and then I have to brush and flush and wash and it's already bedtime around nine.
Not much time to sit and really write or rant.
I still want to write about our spy week.
I took a bunch of photos with my own camera of things we did (no children in the photos, of course) and will show them to you sometime this weekend, hopefully.
So sometime soon I am going to rant about two things that have been in the news quite a bit lately.
#1, what the hell is up with all the battalions of school counselors who are called in from here and there when something bad happens to a kid or family? I'm not saying that it doesn't affect anyone when a horrible thing happens, but I don't know that I agree that all the counseling is needed.
#2, kids are hormonal at 12 and 13 and 14 and on up. The thing is, the hormones kick in before the brain power that helps regulate behavior. And hormonal teens do really stupid things.
I once handled an incident of inappropriate touching when I was about 14. And you know what? It NEVER happened with that particular guy again. And I am willing to bet that he never, ever thought about harrassing another girl. Actually handled another incident when I was in my late 20s. And I'm sure that guy is still very circumspect in his dealings with women in the workplace.
So.
Write and rant at you later.
Management are takings the p***. Are you paid by the hour? Then damn right you should be paid the 15min each day to pack up shop. And as for the parents who leave their kids for as long as they can get away with... I'd engage in some awkward conversations about wherethey had been and how late you are. Grrr
ReplyDeleteI am /was like you very few people who "tangled" with me ever forgot or likely tried again. I think through enough fell through the cracks even then that didn't have the wherewithal to deal with the situation. The fallout later was likely damaging , that and the fact that we have become so hyper-vigilant with kids worrying about lasting damage to the psyche and the likelihoods of lawsuits it has created its own monster
ReplyDeletecourse I could be full of crap too
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your dedication to the kids but it is the parent's irresponsibility that bugs me most. You would think everyone would get the hint without having to force the issue but unfortunately there are always a few who just won't follow the rules. Thanks for your incredible patience and sacrifice - it doesn't go unnoticed. W.C.C.
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised you have that problem. Most after school programs & even daycares in Florida charge a dollar a minute after 6:00 pm to discourage that kind of behavior. Of course, the employees never see that money either in their paycheck or in increased supplies for the program. It does seem to be a good deferent though. Hope you enjoy your weekend and can't wait to see the pics.
ReplyDeleteI don't remember ever having a counselor at school when I was young. Guess we just toughed it out, back then.
ReplyDeleteI'm right there with you.
ReplyDeleteAnd I have to say though, our after school charges $1 a minute after 6pm. That means that if I was there at 615 on night, to pick up both kids, for ANY reason, I was looking at a $30 fine.
If it happened twice, they were out of the program. No exceptions. When there's a wait list 50 kids long, they don't have to cater.
When I had Baby Boy in afterschool care (before I saw the homeschool light) I was definitely charged a $10 late fee PLUS $1 a minute after 6. No exceptions!
ReplyDelete