Well that's awkward...part 1

This morning when Gabriel's mom dropped him off, I asked her if she would need a fall registration packet, as I have one with her name on it.

She said no, that they recently moved and that Gabriel is just finishing the school year with his class (and me) and that he would be attending school next year in the district where I used to work.

Then, she said, "Have you ever heard of Fluffy's Disastrous Day Care?"

I said, "Yes, I worked there for 12 years. I quit to come here."

"Oh! Then you know a lot about it! What do you think?"

"It would be unprofessional of me to tell you everything I find wrong with them, but I can tell you that a lot depends on which site director you have. What school will Gabriel be attending?"

She told me.
Shit.

Although I have no experience with that person, I am still in contact with Carey. Until Fluffy forced her out, she was the site director there.

Her friends still work in that school and they keep her up to date on what's going on there.

The site director this year was horrible and mean to an autistic child and his parents ended up not only removing him from the program, but there was talk of them filing a lawsuit. I don't know if they did, but I wouldn't blame them.

And Gabriel is autistic. Or his mannerisms and almost complete lack of speech lead me to think that. I haven't actually received an official diagnosis. I don't need one, of course, I treat her child the way I'd want someone to treat mine. He's a nice little boy. Just different.

So I said, "I don't personally know the site director there. I would suggest that you go by while school is still in session this year and observe the program. See what you think. And that you drop in unannounced if you decide to place Gabriel there."

She thanked me. Looked like I'd given her food for thought.
I hope she doesn't enroll her child in that program, but the sad thing is, there are very few child care choices and most of them are crap. I don't know a nice way to say that.

And Fluffy is a shitty manager who hires assholes to run the programs. It's pretty amazing to see how many programs are now in the low double digits or even down into single digit attendance. We were a powerhouse team and we did an amazing job for a company that didn't give a shit for any of us.

Today seemed to be my day for awkward conversations regarding day care.
I'll tell you about the other one next time.