Showing posts with label day camp. Show all posts
Showing posts with label day camp. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Introducing Uncle Fester

So I’ve decided to resurrect this blog but I need to change its focus. The point of starting this was for me to have somewhere to write about how I feel, how I am doing, how my family is doing, our struggles, our failures, our triumphs and our laughter…for me to feel connected and to celebrate the little battles we win on a daily basis. And for me to bitch about the battles we lose ‘cause Lord knows we do some of that as well. 

In order for me to be able to do this with consistency and I hope some success, I cannot write for an unknown audience; it just doesn’t work for me. I need to have an intended recipient even if it’s an imaginary one.  I think I will name this journal Uncle Fester. Why Uncle Fester? I’ll get to that one day. But that day is not today.

So buckle up my sweeties; we are off to the rides.

Dear Uncle Fester,

Today was my first day back at work from a week off. Dare I say it? Why not: I was actually happy to be back at work; weirdJ  Actually, I do enjoy my job. Obviously there are some aspects I enjoy more than others but overall I like working. Having time off is fun for the first couple of days but after that I get lazy. I find it hard to get motivated. For example, I was hoping to clean up the front garden that you, dear diary, are named after but I didn’t get to it. Well, in my defense it was pouring rain for most of the week but between you and me, I fear that even if it had been sunny, the garden would still be weedy. Anyway, I do like working and I like the people I work with.

Today for example Laura (one of my bosses) and I went on a field trip. My other boss (Cynthia) is stepping down from her post in a couple of months and Laura and I are in charge of finding a gift for her. She really likes jewelry and has an artist she visits regularly for handmade pieces. Anyway Laura and I got to step out of the office for a while and meet with her. She had actually made something special for Cynthia which at first I don’t think Laura and I were too thrilled with but the more we looked at it, the nicer it became. I think Cynthia will really like it. And university business was conducted as Laura and I reviewed some work stuff on the drive there and back so it was a win/win. I do so appreciate the fact that I have reached a point in my career that my opinion and comments are listened to – doesn’t always happen when you are an assistant.

Anyway, once we got back to the office, we got to eat cakeJ as it was Mariela’s birthday. Then I stayed to listen to a presentation on her major project and frankly Uncle Fester, I was bored out of my mind. Big mistake; ugh. It’s so boring I don’t even want to tell you about it.

Anyway, tonight I have a meeting with the Board for Ronnie’s day camp. We shall see how the first two days of activities have gone, especially today as I think we were expecting a full house and we are not sure how this coordinator is working out. I think he is a little out of his depth (I’m being polite).

Tomorrow should be an interesting day as well: Ronnie is having dental surgery to repair her cavities and fix the broken front tooth and Emma will be babysitting four kids. I know, four of them – that’s just crazy. Bless her heart that she has agreed to take this on for her first real babysitting job. Ok, so they are not that young (2 x 11 and 2 x 8) but still it is four kids. I hope it goes well for her. And she gets to make a bit of money which she’s happy about.

I actually feel really bad that we won’t be around to provide support or see her off. The kid already feels like she can’t ask anyone for help (long story) but I’d like her to know that she has our support and that we are so very proud of her despite what she may think.


My stop on the train is coming up Uncle Fester so I think I must end this first missive.  Until tomorrow.

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Democratic process... really?

So I don't get it.  Ronnie's day camp has a board of directors, and as a group we meet to discuss various issues; sometimes we even decide on things.  For example, it was decided that this year, no employee would use her personal vehicle to transport the kids to and from the various outings. 

Because we have to use an adapted bus, the cost of the outings can be quite prohibitive.  For example, tomorrow they are supposed to go to the beach and the price is $20/kid for 18 kids + shadows.  Unfortunately, only 4 kids have signed up for the outing.  So, rather than cancel the outing, we get this notice asking for our approval to have one of the girls who works at the daycamp drive Ronnie in her car... after the BOD decided this was not acceptable.

It becomes a matter of insurance: I'm not sure that the daycamp insurance would cover this type of activity if there was an accident and I'm pretty sure their personal vehicle insurance would not cover it either.  We could ask the girls to have this added to their insurance for the summer but then the camp would have to reimburse the girls the cost... As a non-profit, we just don't have the money for that.

Anyhow I call up the coordinator and sort of ask 'where you not at the meeting that this was discussed?...' and she says 'yes but I called this person (who happens to be the president of the Board) who said to do it anyway - just get the parents to sign this waiver;'.. I mean seriously... didn't we make this decision?  If your going to ignore the decision made by the Board, why discuss it at all?  I don't get it.

Needless to say, Ronnie is not going on the outing.

I'm done venting now:)

til next time.

 

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Thank God for Babysitters

So Brian and I are going to an information session for Ronnie's trip to Disney tonight and I'm really looking forward to it.  It will be interesting to see how they have this set up.  I've looked online and was able to glean some information but it still remains a bit of a mystery to me.


Ronnie finger painting at daycamp
We've lined up a babysitter who will take care of Ronnie and Emma will be hopefully doing her homework despite the fact that she has no school tomorrow (I hope she'll be doing her homework); but this got me to thinking about what we did before babysitters came along - qualified ones for Ronnie.  It's really simple: we didn't do anything.  No date night, no "us" time, no escape (yes that is the right word) from the kids and home.  Oh, don't get me wrong; I love my kids but to get a break everyone once in a while is wonderfully refreshing.  And as much as the family wants to help, they have busy schedules.

In came Summer day camp.  Ronnie started to go about three years ago and it has been fabulous.  Not only does it allow us to have jobs (good idea all things considered), but the girls who work at the day camp are all studying special ed.  This gives them an opportunity for hands-on experience and it gave us a couple of really wonderful young ladies who do respite care for us. 

Best of all they really care about the girls.  Its really nice to know that I am leaving my girls in good hands..

'til next time.