School supply lists are completely ridiculous these days. And overwhelming, and in some cases, amounts to extortion. When you're only buying school supplies for one child, most items on the list can be managed. Multiply your lists by three, and it gets more stressful. But with my oldest two children being in middle school and having multiple teachers, each teacher has their OWN supply list, and it's INSANE! I'm getting a migraine, and my checkbook is cowering from fear of the assault about to be inflicted on it.
Pencils, red pens, paper and folders, I can totally get on board with that. But every classroom is asking for Clorox Disinfecting wipes, 4 or more boxes of tissues (multiply that by 5 teachers, times 3 kids....) Some classrooms want Tennis Balls (for the chair legs... what happened to last year's tennis balls on the chair legs?). Some classrooms want batteries, dry erase markers, fish food and water tank conditioners (seriously? I have to feed the teacher's pets? And take care of its living needs? Don't I have a family to care for???), light bulbs, ballons, air freshener sprays (I know good and well the school employs janitors!), Ziplok bags, and Band-Aids.
(Insert scream of frustration here)
But wait! That's not all! Behind door number 3? A lovely USAGE FEE for each child to use the computers for their homework. What computers, you may be asking? The very same computers that the school received a grant for. The very same computers issued to each child at the beginning of the school year. The same computers that the teachers REQUIRE the students to use in order to complete their homework! $50 per child.
( I know you can't see it, but I seriously have my mad face on right now. )
Now, I offer suggestions to the public school system. Stop buying new books. Stop changing the books you use every year. And while you're at it, stop buying DOUBLES of the new books. Yes, they buy twice the amount of books they need, so the child can leave one at home, and have one at school, so they don't have to lug them around for homework. Ya know what? I lugged books, didn't hurt me a bit! That way, the school might be able to provide the science classrooms with the tin foil and light bulbs and batteries needed for 7th grade science experiments.
Another suggestion: perhaps your football field go forgo the massive million-dollar makeover, and you could apply that money to... I don't know... teacher's salaries? Or a healthier lunch menu? Or even Kleenex! Because 4 boxes of Kleenex per student, per classroom? RIDONKULOUS!
And yet another suggestion: Since you, the public school system, received a grant for those precious MacBooks, perhaps you should only charge us, the parents of the children to whom you issue them, if said CHILD loses or damages said MacBook. CHILD being the operative word there. Because if you issue a brand new computer to CHILD, you can be sure something bad will happen to it. I'm not saying all children are irresponsible, I'm just saying... Expect it to happen.
I'm not saying I have all the answers. I'm not saying our schools don't need money. What I'm saying is perhaps the public school system could be a little more responsible with how they spend the money the state and federal governments give them. And I'm not saying I shouldn't have to buy any school supplies. I am all for giving my children the tools for success. But I'm not going to go out and buy the teachers dry erase markers and zipper bags and tennis balls, just to make their jobs easier. I don't ask my clients to pay for my business cards or my Zumba Gear. Teacher's shouldn't be asking us to pay for the tools they need in their jobs. What teachers DO need and DESERVE are bigger salaries.
And teacher's salaries? Well, that's a rant for another day. Thanks for listening to me rant. Now I'm off to buy some school supplies.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Thursday, July 21, 2011
If you can't play nicely...
A few days ago, I posted something on my Facebook page to which Someone took offense. This Someone -who is in my profession, and works where I work- behaved very badly on my Facebook page. I responded in private, hoping the matter would resolve itself. Alas, it doesn't seem to be going well at all. Someone now seems to have made it her mission to hurt my business. Someone is going after my clients in an attempt to woo them away from me.
On one hand, I giggle. It's kinda funny. A little healthy competition isn't necessarily a bad thing. We can all grow and learn from the experience. Or not... whatever.
On the other hand, I'm just that little bit angry. I haven't done anything wrong. I was merely marketing my business to the best of my ability. I can't help it if Someone was offended by my strategy.
On another hand (because I'm a mom, I must have more than 2 hands, HAH!) it's a little sad. I never set out in this business to make enemies. Most of the people in this business are friendly, to the point of being one big happy family. So this direct attack feels a little foreign to me. I'm trying to not feel threatened by it.
I've even considered apologizing, though I don't believe in false apologies. And any apology I made towards Someone would be false, since I haven't done anything wrong.
I'm trying to stay professional, to not let on to those clients that there is a rift, a problem. But this rift or problem or whatever has the potential to touch every client I have, and I don't want them caught unawares. I also don't want to stir the pot any more than necessary. I'm trying to believe in my clients' faith in me, and hoping for the best. But I can't help but feel like I should head Someone off at the pass, just in case.
Exactly what do I have to do here? I mean, am I required to do anything at all? Do I apologize just for the sake of Playing Nicely? Or do I let well enough alone, be the bigger person, and hope for the best?
I can hear my Momma telling the neighborhood kids: "If you can't play nicely, take your toys and go home."
If only it were that simple.
On one hand, I giggle. It's kinda funny. A little healthy competition isn't necessarily a bad thing. We can all grow and learn from the experience. Or not... whatever.
On the other hand, I'm just that little bit angry. I haven't done anything wrong. I was merely marketing my business to the best of my ability. I can't help it if Someone was offended by my strategy.
On another hand (because I'm a mom, I must have more than 2 hands, HAH!) it's a little sad. I never set out in this business to make enemies. Most of the people in this business are friendly, to the point of being one big happy family. So this direct attack feels a little foreign to me. I'm trying to not feel threatened by it.
I've even considered apologizing, though I don't believe in false apologies. And any apology I made towards Someone would be false, since I haven't done anything wrong.
I'm trying to stay professional, to not let on to those clients that there is a rift, a problem. But this rift or problem or whatever has the potential to touch every client I have, and I don't want them caught unawares. I also don't want to stir the pot any more than necessary. I'm trying to believe in my clients' faith in me, and hoping for the best. But I can't help but feel like I should head Someone off at the pass, just in case.
Exactly what do I have to do here? I mean, am I required to do anything at all? Do I apologize just for the sake of Playing Nicely? Or do I let well enough alone, be the bigger person, and hope for the best?
I can hear my Momma telling the neighborhood kids: "If you can't play nicely, take your toys and go home."
If only it were that simple.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Sunday, in review
Up at 8:30, after a night out with my hubby and some great friends. Less than 6 hours of sleep, and that sleep was riddled with active dreams, flipping, flopping, tossing and turning. The bedroom was too hot, i was uncomfortable, and hubby took up more than his share of the bed, sheet and pillows.
Coffee, Facebook, Email, more coffee, and then get dressed. Pick up the kids at 10:00. Come home, Help the oldest boy pack for camp, give him a quick haircut, give a close friend a new hair cut, and out the door by 11:20 to drop the son off for camp.
Cry on the way home, because, my LORD!!! When did he get so big? He's seriously almost as tall as me. I'm 6'1" ya'll... he's 14. FOURTEEN YEARS OLD!! And almost 6 feet tall. Geez. And he's handsome, and smart, and responsible. And I must say, we've done a pretty good job raising him. But our time together grows shorter everyday, and that's why I cried on the way home.
Where was I? Oh yeah... get home at about 12:20, get dressed for Zumba, gather remaining 2 kids, and out the door by 1:15. Zumba at 2:00. Six fabulous people showed up, and we worked out HARD. Show up at Bree's house for a quick shower (Thanks Bree!) and off to a meeting of the minds with some highly organized and talented women in Inola. Home by 6:15, start cooking, cleaning, laundry, shine the sink, eat dinner, and then Facebook and more coffee. Because by this time, I'm sleep-walking. Dead on my feet.
Early to bed? No way! Give hubby a haircut, put away the dinner leftovers, answer Facebook messages, and ... now what? My coffee just kicked in! Nope, not going to bed. Maybe I'll vacuum the floors. And change over the laundry. And work on Zumba routines. Because a mother's work is never done.
Coffee, Facebook, Email, more coffee, and then get dressed. Pick up the kids at 10:00. Come home, Help the oldest boy pack for camp, give him a quick haircut, give a close friend a new hair cut, and out the door by 11:20 to drop the son off for camp.
Cry on the way home, because, my LORD!!! When did he get so big? He's seriously almost as tall as me. I'm 6'1" ya'll... he's 14. FOURTEEN YEARS OLD!! And almost 6 feet tall. Geez. And he's handsome, and smart, and responsible. And I must say, we've done a pretty good job raising him. But our time together grows shorter everyday, and that's why I cried on the way home.
Where was I? Oh yeah... get home at about 12:20, get dressed for Zumba, gather remaining 2 kids, and out the door by 1:15. Zumba at 2:00. Six fabulous people showed up, and we worked out HARD. Show up at Bree's house for a quick shower (Thanks Bree!) and off to a meeting of the minds with some highly organized and talented women in Inola. Home by 6:15, start cooking, cleaning, laundry, shine the sink, eat dinner, and then Facebook and more coffee. Because by this time, I'm sleep-walking. Dead on my feet.
Early to bed? No way! Give hubby a haircut, put away the dinner leftovers, answer Facebook messages, and ... now what? My coffee just kicked in! Nope, not going to bed. Maybe I'll vacuum the floors. And change over the laundry. And work on Zumba routines. Because a mother's work is never done.
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