Earlier this afternoon, I had the pleasure (and I use that term loosely) to take our older kids to the movie to see Shreck 2. The last time I took them I vowed that I would never return, and now I remember why. My kids were great! They followed directions, they say quietly, they didn’t kick or rock chairs, and they even held their bodily functions to the end of the show (thanks Derek). However, another daycare, Johnson Child Care, made this experience pure hell.
Here’s what I learned about Johnson Daycare. They are located at 1935 Medary Avenue, 19141 operates out of what appears to be a church. They provide care (allegedly) to approximately 160 children. They also have a summer camp program.
On this particular day, 3 adults were charged with taking about 60 kids (ranging in age 6 -15) to the Pearl Movie Theater at Broad & Cecil B. More.
Pause: The ratio; as set by the Office of Child care Development (OCDEL) as well as the PA Department of Welfare (which licenses daycare providers), is 11 children to each staff member. You do the math!
Anyways, the kids were out of control and the staff (if that’s what you want to call them) were not equipped to deal with them. The staff were crude (and I’m being very nice) , they yelled at them , degraded them by calling them names and mocking them, I heard them tell at least 15 of the kids to Shut The Heck up, and one of them called two teen age boys N’s.
Once the movie started, children as young as 6 were allowed to go to the bathroom alone… completely alone!
Pause: I am 28 years old, and every time I go to a public restroom, I think of that scene out of Vanish when Sandra Bullocks got herself all kidnapped cause she had to pee. Zoë, who is 7 still pees with the bathroom door open... In our own House!!!
Okay, let me finish. During the movies the “Staff” were nowhere to be found. The kids were randomly walking around, and talking about all kinds of nonsense. There were 6 year old girls sitting in between 14 and 15 year old boys talking about stuff that would make Hugh Heffner blush. Close your Mouth…
By now I’m furious! All I can think about is how I would feel if I found out that my daughter was sitting in the middle of a conversation about D**ks and Boobies. I excuse myself from the madness, and I step out into the lobby. I see one of the “staff” smoking (in a theater!!)and , shooting the breeze with all the rest of the staff. I walk over to Ms. Thang; with her too short shorts and too small halter top, and I ask her if she’s the chaperone for JCC. After she looks me up and down like I stole her mink, she admits that she is. It’s real hard, but I’m trying to remain calm. I tell her that the kids are acting up, and being a little unruly, and she says “Oh, Okay” and smiles at me. She turns away, and continues her conversation. I go back into the theater after maybe a good two minutes have elapsed, and I check in on my four, and they’re all good. There’s about 5 minutes left to the movie and guess who decided to join the fun. The Staff from JCC. They come in, but never sit down. At the end of the show, on our ways out, one of them had the nerve to tell me (to my face) that they would call my boss to let them know how I was today. I laughed out loud at that notion, and gave her the telephone number. (she never called)
When I got home I did call to complain about what I saw, and how I felt. The director of the center seemed to express genuine concern, and she even apologized for her staff’s behavior. I told her that I intended to write a formal complaint, which I have already mailed out.
The point to this whole story is that you have to be extremely careful where you send your children. When you select a so called home away from home, you have to make sure that you know what kind of home the staff/owners/directors come from/live in. And where their principles lie. I don’t mean to make another daycare look bad, but it seems as though a lot of daycares are doing a good job on their own.
As a parent, (with alot of Old School values) I am extremely concerned with who my children’s friends are, and the type of care and education my own children receive. It hurts when I see children (especially little children) that are not properly cared for, and I really believe that misconception that economics and/or demographics have anything to do with the level of care you give your children.
As a daycare owner, who is still trying to find my way, I look at these poor examples as learning experiences (for myself, my staff, as well as the children I provide care for). On our way back, I discussed with the children appropriate and inappropriate behaviour.
And no matter how much “bling” I end up with in life, I will never loose focus of what got me started in this business to begin with.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Monday, August 11, 2008
Day # 10,462 - What I've Learned from My Kids
These little people have taken over my life, but They've taught me so many valuable lessons. Here are a few that I'd like to share:
- There is no such thing as tiredness
Every time either one of them is going to bed is because they want it, not because they're tired. It’s like a little concession thay make to us, the parents, when they sees that we barely can keep our eyes opened. Tiredness is a state of mind. The way theyre is connected with other sources of energy, and their uninterrupted flow of actions, are just so incredible. I just want to reconnect to those sources sometimes… - No hard feelings
She’s never having any regrets at all. I start to believe that regrets are the invention of the grown up people. It’s something that we invented in order to escape happiness. The gap between her sadness and happiness moments is zero. She’s moving through her emotions with zero efforts and zero regrets. Whenever I manage to do this I’m experiencing an incredible state of joy and happiness… - Don’t hate, ignore
I’m amazed about the way he's treating other kids. If he likes them, he’s playing with them. If not, he’s simply ignoring them, regardless of what they are doing. He doesn’t know the word “revenge”, nor the concept itself, and even if he’s forced to share the same space with an aggressive kid, he’s just ignoring him. It’s like the other guy doesn’t exists in the same space. So much to learn from this… (Update: Miles has had his first taste of flesh (sorry DCGF),but other than that he's no hater;)) - Everyone can (and sometimes wants) to be manipulated
The moment she learned to conscioussly cry, she learned how to manipulate us. We’re doing our best not to fall for these phases, but it’s not about that. It’s about the fact that most of the people can (and most of the time want) to be manipulated (please read “influenced” here), and that’s one of the most important things she's taught me. Don’t think everything or everyone is set in stone, you can change everything or everyone - including yourself - if you really want…
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Day # 10,457 - Baby got a peg leg
It's only the 6th and already I have had my share of ups and downs.
This month kind of beat me up a little (alot actually). Some things did not go as I would have liked them to, and I was getting a little depressed.
Kyle, being the good guy that he is, tried to encourage me to stay faithful, but couldn't hear hear it. I was so angry, and I started to shut down internally. I needed to take a nap.... (I go to sleep when I'm mad, It's my way of internalizing things, so if it's the middle of the day and I look tired, chances are I'm upset about something....)
A few hours later we were all sitting downstairs watching So You Think You Can Dance. I was feeling a little better, but I was still in a bad mood. Zoe was back and forth between Disney.com, and the TV show, and Miles was walking around with an insulated cup of ice(don't worry, we were careful to make sure he didn't choke) Twitch (one of the dancers from "so you think you can dance") was doing a dance number and then all of the sudden it happened. Miles had a silver peg leg. I saw this cup on his foot, and immediately ran for the camcorder.... (Now if you know me at all, you know that I'm the one that bursts out in laughter at the most inappropriate times. Sorry, I cant help myself... )
After a good 5 minutes of literally rolling on the floor laughing, I felt so much better and I couldn't even remember why I was so up set.
I guess this was my sign from God letting me know that things are not as bad as I think they are. I laughed so hard that I had tears rolling down my eyes. I truly can't remember the last time I laughed that hard and with so much sincerity. It was a blessing... a funny blessing, but a blessing nonetheless.
Update: I Submitted this video to America's Funniest Home Video...
This month kind of beat me up a little (alot actually). Some things did not go as I would have liked them to, and I was getting a little depressed.
Kyle, being the good guy that he is, tried to encourage me to stay faithful, but couldn't hear hear it. I was so angry, and I started to shut down internally. I needed to take a nap.... (I go to sleep when I'm mad, It's my way of internalizing things, so if it's the middle of the day and I look tired, chances are I'm upset about something....)
A few hours later we were all sitting downstairs watching So You Think You Can Dance. I was feeling a little better, but I was still in a bad mood. Zoe was back and forth between Disney.com, and the TV show, and Miles was walking around with an insulated cup of ice(don't worry, we were careful to make sure he didn't choke) Twitch (one of the dancers from "so you think you can dance") was doing a dance number and then all of the sudden it happened. Miles had a silver peg leg. I saw this cup on his foot, and immediately ran for the camcorder.... (Now if you know me at all, you know that I'm the one that bursts out in laughter at the most inappropriate times. Sorry, I cant help myself... )
After a good 5 minutes of literally rolling on the floor laughing, I felt so much better and I couldn't even remember why I was so up set.
I guess this was my sign from God letting me know that things are not as bad as I think they are. I laughed so hard that I had tears rolling down my eyes. I truly can't remember the last time I laughed that hard and with so much sincerity. It was a blessing... a funny blessing, but a blessing nonetheless.
Update: I Submitted this video to America's Funniest Home Video...
Monday, August 4, 2008
Day # 10,465 - 2 Cups+2 Straps = Pure Bliss
The Perfect Purchase
I am writing this post from a very comfortable place. You see, I have been fortunate enough to find the most perfect brassiere a few weeks ago. In my short 14 years of wearing these “gatekeepers” I must say that this one takes the cake.
Let me tell you how I met her……
I was in the middle of a retail therapy session when I got the strange feeling that something awaited me in the lingerie department. I tried to shake the feeling, since my usual “lingerie” purchases consisted of grabbing a bag of drawers from Wal-Mart or Target. Anyways, I mosey on over, and I’m nearly accosted by what is the biggest bra I’ve ever seen, I try not to laugh, but I can’t help myself (now you know why I shop at Wal-Mart for my unmentionables). I continue venturing further and further into the lace and chiffon jungle, and I feel like a pre-teen boy accompanying his mother on underwear excursion. Yes! Panties make me blush… not in a freaky weird way, but in a “I hope aint nobody watching me look at panties” kinda way… What do you expect?? I was raised by my single father… So, I’m just about ready to hit the eject button, when something caught my attention. I don’t know what made me look at it, but I did. and When I did, I immediatley remembered my grandma’s “bra basics” (feel, check for underwire, and check for size). I touched it, and it was soft. I checked for an under wire, and there was none. I checked the size, Bingo! I was pleased, so I purchased it.
All the way home I thought about this bra, wondering if it would be like all of the other useless , yet pretty bras I had back home. I prayed that it wouldn’t. I also wondered if this bra is the same one a friend of mine bragged about for over three weeks after she got it…. I hoped I was as lucky.
A week later, I give this new bra a test drive. And let me tell you, this thing lifts, separates, and hugs your girls in all the right places. The straps stay in place all day, and because its made of micro fiber its totally seamless. My favorite part is that it has built in petals to prevent those embarrassing moments, you know the ones where you get a cold chill and all of the sudden you’re giving directions (you know what I’m talking about). There’s no under wire, so you’re not getting poked, and it’s so thin (yet supportive) that you can easily forget that you have it on. And the best part, it costs less than 60$. Not bad eh…
The Bra is by Warner’s and it’s amazing, I urge you to go and get one for yourself. It’s definitely worth every penny, and you’ll love the complements from your significant other (and total strangers too) . They come in a variety of neutral, and if you’re daring bright colors (nude, brown, black, red, pink, blue etc…)
Tell me about your perfect purchase….
I am writing this post from a very comfortable place. You see, I have been fortunate enough to find the most perfect brassiere a few weeks ago. In my short 14 years of wearing these “gatekeepers” I must say that this one takes the cake.
Let me tell you how I met her……
I was in the middle of a retail therapy session when I got the strange feeling that something awaited me in the lingerie department. I tried to shake the feeling, since my usual “lingerie” purchases consisted of grabbing a bag of drawers from Wal-Mart or Target. Anyways, I mosey on over, and I’m nearly accosted by what is the biggest bra I’ve ever seen, I try not to laugh, but I can’t help myself (now you know why I shop at Wal-Mart for my unmentionables). I continue venturing further and further into the lace and chiffon jungle, and I feel like a pre-teen boy accompanying his mother on underwear excursion. Yes! Panties make me blush… not in a freaky weird way, but in a “I hope aint nobody watching me look at panties” kinda way… What do you expect?? I was raised by my single father… So, I’m just about ready to hit the eject button, when something caught my attention. I don’t know what made me look at it, but I did. and When I did, I immediatley remembered my grandma’s “bra basics” (feel, check for underwire, and check for size). I touched it, and it was soft. I checked for an under wire, and there was none. I checked the size, Bingo! I was pleased, so I purchased it.
All the way home I thought about this bra, wondering if it would be like all of the other useless , yet pretty bras I had back home. I prayed that it wouldn’t. I also wondered if this bra is the same one a friend of mine bragged about for over three weeks after she got it…. I hoped I was as lucky.
A week later, I give this new bra a test drive. And let me tell you, this thing lifts, separates, and hugs your girls in all the right places. The straps stay in place all day, and because its made of micro fiber its totally seamless. My favorite part is that it has built in petals to prevent those embarrassing moments, you know the ones where you get a cold chill and all of the sudden you’re giving directions (you know what I’m talking about). There’s no under wire, so you’re not getting poked, and it’s so thin (yet supportive) that you can easily forget that you have it on. And the best part, it costs less than 60$. Not bad eh…
The Bra is by Warner’s and it’s amazing, I urge you to go and get one for yourself. It’s definitely worth every penny, and you’ll love the complements from your significant other (and total strangers too) . They come in a variety of neutral, and if you’re daring bright colors (nude, brown, black, red, pink, blue etc…)
Tell me about your perfect purchase….
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