I did have something to write about...

We got up too early and managed to get out the door in time to get to Goodwill just as it opened. We found a couple interesting things. I got a pair of scissors that looked fun. I wasn't sure what they were for, I just figured they'd be amusing at work. As you can tell from the link, there is a use for them that has nothing to do with kids or crafty stuff.

Eric mentioned that since Oregon legalized the weed a few weeks ago, those scissors might come in handy. Ha.

No thanks, not for me.

Found a book for the kids at work. Two shirts. Nothing spectacular.

We went to Coastal Farm Supply. Cracks me up that there's even a store like that in a city this size.
Eric got new boots. And some socks.

We did the weekly grocery store trip. Did the turkey shopping. Matt and Amy will be coming over for dinner. I'll be cooking a ton of stuff. Bought apples for Eric to peel and slice because I have to bake pie. Or pies, actually.

My brain decided to get crabby today and I ended up with a migraine while we were shopping. Could have been worse. I had a nap. Did something easy for dinner.

I was reading back through some old posts. I have been writing here since 2005, although I didn't really get going until 2007. Did a post a day for a really long time, then I got sick and missed a few days. Mostly keep up, but life gets busy, ya know?

I got a nice compliment at work the other day. The cafeteria supervisor told me she appreciates me because at some of the other schools, the cafeteria person and the site director don't really get along.

I'm not sure why, I didn't ask what's going on in other schools.

But it got me thinking.

My assistant was promoted this week. She is taking on her own site after several years of working with the company. She asked me to email her some advice, which I will do later this weekend.

I think the single most important thing I can tell her (she already knows how to take care of things with the kids) is to develop the relationships with her school staff.

Every day I stop in the office. On my way out in the mornings I stop by and say hi. We talk about whatever's going on, how was your weekend, how's the new grandbaby, will the kids be allowed on the grass today (if they're not, I don't have them on the grass either). In the afternoons, I stop in again when I arrive for my shift. I check my mailbox, touch base with them about kids that might be missing from my program or changes in their schedules.

On Friday afternoon, we were missing Jerry*. No one had notified us of a schedule change, but he didn't show up. I let the office know, and they started their procedure to find a missing child.

No Jerry.

The secretary said she was told that Jerry 'left with some guy'.

Great.

The buses were held for 20 minutes. The office made phone calls and finally located a parent who verified that he was with a grandfather.

::whew::

So much difficulty could be avoided if people would just check in and let people know about schedule changes and differences in who picks up the kids.

I am always so impressed with the professionalism of the office staff at the school, they make sure the kids are safe and they don't give up until they figure out what's going on.

They often thank me for helping them do their jobs, and I do the same. We really back each other up.

We figure we're on the same team, really.
I have been at that school for five years. This fall marked the beginning of my 6th. And the value of developing those relationships is an integral part of what makes my program successful.

So that's my most important piece of advice for anyone who wants to do a job like this. Cultivate the relationships with the school staff.

It's not difficult, though. They're really a great bunch of people.
I can't imagine being anywhere else.