Wonder where she gets it....

One of the camp kids is a little rude to the adults on the staff.

She has a superior attitude/demeanor. We talked to her yesterday (her first day with us) regarding her open toed footwear and told her that she needed to wear tennis shoes or shoes with closed toes, as it was a safety rule. She sniffed, said, "I don't have to wear something else, because MY MOM said these were FINE."

So in today's communications was a little notation to remember to talk to her mom about the footwear.

Her mom came to pick her up today and I learned a little about Ms. Summer's attitude. Mom was the last parent to pick up, coming in at two minutes past closing and telling her daughter to hurry up, they had somewhere they needed to be.

While she was signing her daughter out, I explained to her our policy regarding footwear (no open toed shoes).

She was not a happy mom. She told me that it was 'stupid'. Practically stomped her foot and asked why we had such a 'silly, asinine rule.'

Informed me that her daughter has been in other programs offered by our company and that has NEVER been a rule anywhere else. She put forth the opinion that perhaps I was mistaken and demanded to know why "you have this rule when no one else does."

I smiled and said that I had no idea why it wasn't enforced in other programs, as I could only speak for ours, and that it's a safety issue. Company policy. (It is, too. One of the things we covered during training.)

I don't find it unreasonable, but I work with kids. The first time you see a kid running in sandals or flip flops, the toe of the sandal catches on the pavement, and they crash, you understand the wisdom behind a rule like this.

We had a child a couple summers ago whose mother did not put her in closed shoes on her first day. She ran across the blacktop on her way to the playground and crashed. Her skinned up knees were an ugly, bloody mess for a week, the poor thing.

So today's mom threatened me with the possibility that she 'might have to take her child elsewhere.'

Well, okay. I'm sorry for trying to keep your child safe and you informed. Have a nice weekend. Crabbypants.

Of course I didn't say that. I merely produced the company business card with our customer care number on it, wished her a nice weekend and did the same for her daughter, and went on getting ready to close the program for the weekend.

I am once again reminded of an old saying or two. Something about apples and not falling far from the tree. :)

But I AM professional. I may not appreciate someone acting like that, but whatever.

People taking good care of children seems to cause some hot feelings now and then, I guess.

Now on the good side of things, I have had to ask several parents for identification this week. I've been working a different shift the last few days, so when they have arrived to pick children up and they're not known to me, I ask for their driver's licenses.

Again, company policy. But even if it were not, I'd still ask. Because the kids are my kids during the time they're in my care, and I will do whatever I have to do to keep them safe.

About six? seven? years ago, a gentleman came to pick up one of his children from summer care and went ballistic when I asked for his ID.

I don't have total recall, but I remember his words quite well.

"You fucking people are unbelievable!" he said angrily, slamming his car keys down on a table. The sudden silence of the children still remaining in the room should have gotten his attention, but he continued to storm. "Every fucking time I come here there's a different person watching the kids. How the fuck am I supposed to know whether or not I need to bring my license?"

I didn't answer, "Well, Dipshit, if you're driving a fucking car, you should have your license with you, as it's a legal requirement."

I said,(quietly) "Could I ask you to keep this conversation on a professional level? There are other kids here. I'm filling in for someone who's on vacation, and I haven't met you. I need to make sure you're authorized to pick up."

He ranted and growled and whined but eventually went to get his driver's license. He had to drive three whole blocks back to his house to get it.

I thought he was acting like an asshole. The seven years or so since then haven't changed my mind.

But you know, I don't care if people are inconvenienced. It's my job to take care of the kids, and I will do it.

This week, asking for identification from people hasn't been a problem. All of them have been appreciative. They've given me positive comments and have expressed how safe it makes them feel that we're checking ID.

::shrug::: Not doing it to impress anyone.
Just a safety thing.
Like the shoes.
Just a safety thing.
Nothing personal.

So would the shoe thing make you crabby with your child's care provider? Are we unreasonable?