About those Project Objectives

I have a project objective sheet for each activity the kids do. I probably would not have so many of them (I really do have one for every single thing the kids do) except we had manager a few years ago who was one of the most difficult people I've ever had to deal with. I learned to have things in order that had never come up before. Tried to anticipate the things she would find to nitpick talk about and be ready just in case.

Vicki wasn't with us long, but each day was more of a treat than the one before, let me tell ya.

I'd have a difficult time deciding whether she was more clueless or more abrasive. She was becoming well known for walking into our sites and pointing out everything that was wrong. She definitely did not have a future as a diplomat.

She was especially tough to deal with because the manager we had before her was the total package... professional, flexible, supportive, understanding and did I mention professional and flexible and supportive?

When she left, we were all sad about it. Georgia's been gone since January 2012 and we all still miss her.

I remember the first time Vicki walked into my site.

Looked around at what we were doing and said disdainfully within five minutes, "You're not teaching them anything. All they're doing is playing. You're offering them too many activities."

Hence the project objective sheets.
They're not 'pretending to have a restaurant' at all.

They are doing consumer math. Spelling. Handwriting. Learning interpersonal skills. They're learning cooperation. Organization.

I didn't make those things up, either. The job of children is to play. They learn so much from the playing they do. I see my job as a facilitator in their learning. I see an interest or several interests and do what I can to cater to those interests. 

Sometimes that means that when I'm in Goodwill and I see something like the magic kit I bought a few weeks ago with Greg in mind, I buy it. I actually found two of them, and the kids can check them out, take them home and practice the tricks and come back and entertain us.

I have furnished a ton of things for 'my' kids because I can and because I want them to have those things. They still technically belong to me, but if they get broken or ruined, I don't expect to be repaid for them.

If I ever leave this job, except for a couple of the larger ticket items, most of what I've bought for my site would remain there. I wouldn't take those things away from my kids.

I consider the money I spend on my program as an investment rather than an expense, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't appreciate being reimbursed, at least some of the time. That's something that used to happen, but it's not happening anymore. I'm not sure why, no one bothered to explain.

So when we were visited on Tuesday and the guy asked me what would be helpful to me/my program, I mentioned that on my way to work I'd stopped and purchased two rolls of blue masking tape. The kids were making giant marble runs with the pool noodles and tape. There were marbles and noodles and kids excitedly running everywhere.
Everyone was engaged and having a blast.

I had asked for blue tape from my manager, but she hadn't had a chance to get it for me yet. In order for us to do the activity, I needed to have it so I got it.

I said that it would be nice to be able to turn in my receipt. That I would greatly appreciate it. I explained that we used to be able to do so, that I wasn't sure what had happened to change it.

I said some of what I said here, too. That spending money on my kids is not an expense, it's an investment. And that I'm fully invested in my program financially as well as emotionally. But that I really would appreciate getting some of my money back. "For example," I explained, "the suitcase over there. That contains the children's emergency contact information, first aid supplies and goes everywhere with us. It's also our bugout kit."

When queried, ("Bugout kit?") I went and got it. Opened it up and showed them the contents, starting with the inventory list on top. I have a lot of first aid supplies. I have t shirts in ziploc bags. I have a bottle of water in case of needing eyewash. Chemical ice packs. Activities in case we are required to evacuate our program. Everything I can think of. Even a pair of reading glasses. I explained that if we were in a hurry to evacuate, I wouldn't take the time to grab mine from the table.

The child sized rolling suitcase cost me seven bucks at Goodwill. I told them that. And that I bought a new one this week to replace it, as it's six years old and starting to fall apart.

"I know I'm not required to have this. I understood when I bought it and stocked it. But I'd rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it."

It was deemed 'brilliant'. I believe the words innovative, smart, terrific and fantastic were also tossed out there. They were taking photos of the marble run activity, all my tri fold boards, the bulletin board that features pictures of my kids doing fun stuff. They whipped out their cameras again to take photos of the first aid kit.

So the visit was a success, I was able to explain what I do and why I do it, and able to ask once again to at least be able to turn in my receipts.

The only thing marring the visit was the email I received this evening reminding 'everyone' that 'you must wear your company-supplied uniform shirt'. Since I was the only one not wearing one at the sites they visited, I know where it was directed. I'm 'everyone'.

::sigh::

This is (another) new manager. She is not aware of my allergic reaction to non-organic fibers. I have to wear cotton. The company is not providing cotton shirts, they're half poly. I can't wear polyester. I even have a note from my doctor, which was insisted on when the issue first came up.

One of the corporate people dismissed my allergy, saying airily, "Oh, just have her wear a shirt under it." (the uniform shirt)

Um, no. First, you don't tell a woman in menopause to wear two shirts. ;)

Second, my allergic reaction to the polyester is covered under the ADA and I don't *have* to wear the shirts.

Since our manager is new, she doesn't know. I have the letter to show her when I see her next. Shouldn't be an issue.

And you thought I was just a babysitter, right? :)