Special Snowflake Stories

[PastryGoddess]

For the opposite of Special Snowflakes
Until last year it wasn't unusual for some students to beg us not to close for Thanksgiving, Winter, or Spring Breaks. If you asked them why they would say - No breakfast or Lunch. Now we have a local group that delivers a couple  hundred sack breakfasts/lunches every Friday. On long holidays they come every day at 11:00 and deliver the sack breakfasts/lunches to those that are signed up.

It used to be that not feeding your kids was called "neglect" and authorities were called.  When were schools designated this parental responsibility?  I can understand a lunch program because kids are there all day, but failing to feed them on school break is outrageous.  We have welfare, food stamps, community kitchens, churches, etc.  There is no excuse!

You are right there are no excuses, but people do have reasons for not being able to feed themselves or their children adequately.  I went to school in the inner city and even when I transferred out to the county my school had a ton of students who NEEDED the school lunch program, and it's not a cut and dried as you may think.  There are many "bad' parents and SS out there.  But there are a whole lot more families who are one medical issue/cut hours/paycheck/etc away from losing everything.

Many government and community programs have to do a whole lot more, with a whole lot less and everyone suffers for it  It's slightly judgemental and a bit pearl clutchy to be outraged over a problem that you only see from the outside looking in.

[Wulfie]

Hey guys, lets take the lunch subject to it's own thread before this one gets shut down.

[CharlieBraun]

Hey guys, lets take the lunch subject to it's own thread before this one gets shut down.

You're right, Wulfie.  Although I have to admit that I was typing "are there no workhouses?" when you put this in.

[TurtleDove]

A's grade school policy, which is well stated, is that no students should be dropped off before 845.  School starts at 9am.  Every other Thursday A and I need to leave the house early because the cleaners come at 815.  We get donuts and then hang out in the car down the street from the school.  He can leave at 845.

When I worked the bookfair, I needed to be there at 830 every morning to get ready.  The number of kids already on campus is amazing.  The principal sends home numerous phone messages about this - but no change.  Same with the red zone parkers, white zone parkers, and double parkers.

That policy must be awful for a lot of working parents!

[Twik]

A's grade school policy, which is well stated, is that no students should be dropped off before 845.  School starts at 9am.  Every other Thursday A and I need to leave the house early because the cleaners come at 815.  We get donuts and then hang out in the car down the street from the school.  He can leave at 845.

When I worked the bookfair, I needed to be there at 830 every morning to get ready.  The number of kids already on campus is amazing.  The principal sends home numerous phone messages about this - but no change.  Same with the red zone parkers, white zone parkers, and double parkers.

That policy must be awful for a lot of working parents!

I agree - does the school think that only people who work within 15 minutes drive send their children there?

[Moonie]

The DMV witnessed snowflake "Ibrokethelawsoiwilldestroystuff"-icus. Woman comes in to register her vehicle because it is in the tow lot for having a counterfeit tag from another state on it. BUT....she has no title, no paperwork proving ownership of the vehicle, so she is told she can't register it without proof of ownership. What does she do? She goes out into the hallway, pushes the elevator button, looks around to see if anyone is watching, and proceeds to donkey kick the glass on the mail chute. The beautiful antique mail chute is shattered. She was unaware that this was all on camera. The tow lot and our other office has been warned to be on the lookout for her. She will now face criminal charges for destruction of government property. Oh yeah, best part? She did this in front of her small child who was with her.

[ladyknight1]

A's grade school policy, which is well stated, is that no students should be dropped off before 845.  School starts at 9am.  Every other Thursday A and I need to leave the house early because the cleaners come at 815.  We get donuts and then hang out in the car down the street from the school.  He can leave at 845.

When I worked the bookfair, I needed to be there at 830 every morning to get ready.  The number of kids already on campus is amazing.  The principal sends home numerous phone messages about this - but no change.  Same with the red zone parkers, white zone parkers, and double parkers.

That policy must be awful for a lot of working parents!

I agree - does the school think that only people who work within 15 minutes drive send their children there?

As I posted earlier, there are other options. Many tutoring centers or clubs like the YMCA provide before and after school care. It is not the school's job to care/supervise children dropped off earlier than the allowed time.

[Otterpop]

You are right there are no excuses, but people do have reasons for not being able to feed themselves or their children adequately.  I went to school in the inner city and even when I transferred out to the county my school had a ton of students who NEEDED the school lunch program, and it's not a cut and dried as you may think.  There are many "bad' parents and SS out there.  But there are a whole lot more families who are one medical issue/cut hours/paycheck/etc away from losing everything.

Many government and community programs have to do a whole lot more, with a whole lot less and everyone suffers for it  It's slightly judgemental and a bit pearl clutchy to be outraged over a problem that you only see from the outside looking in.

No pearls to clutch here, I grew up on the INSIDE of that problem:  raised inner city with a working-poor widowed mother.  She made sure there meals available, even if we went to the local food bank.  Sometimes my uncle (who grew up during the depression) dumpster dove behind the local markets and sent us home with packages of still viable cheeses and such.

The SS parents next door would send their kids over to us for breakfast because of the smells coming from our kitchen.  My mother obliged, and once even gave them a bag of groceries.  The NEXT morning, the kids were back at our door because their mother couldn't be bothered to scramble an egg.  The ladies on the other side of us fed their kids oatmeal 3 times daily despite having cupboards stocked with groceries from our local charity.  They did party a lot and had food for "guests."

So to keep on topic, it is very SS to expect schools to not only provide education but also the basic needs for your child even when that institution is CLOSED for the holidays.  At that point, authorities with appropriate training and resources need to step in.  If it is a case of genuine need, and not neglect, help will be obtained.  I worked in the social services field for 8 years and never had one client go unaided.

Respectfully moderator, please delete this comment if you think inappropriate but it fits the topic (and clarifies my initial post).  This thread is too good to be locked.

[Winterlight]

The DMV witnessed snowflake "Ibrokethelawsoiwilldestroystuff"-icus. Woman comes in to register her vehicle because it is in the tow lot for having a counterfeit tag from another state on it. BUT....she has no title, no paperwork proving ownership of the vehicle, so she is told she can't register it without proof of ownership. What does she do? She goes out into the hallway, pushes the elevator button, looks around to see if anyone is watching, and proceeds to donkey kick the glass on the mail chute. The beautiful antique mail chute is shattered. She was unaware that this was all on camera. The tow lot and our other office has been warned to be on the lookout for her. She will now face criminal charges for destruction of government property. Oh yeah, best part? She did this in front of her small child who was with her.

Oh, charming. Poor kid.

[Shalamar]

Adelaide, your iPod story reminds me of one time when a co-worker brought in doughnuts.  After thanking her, a few of us helped ourselves.  Suddenly, a nearby co-worker started screaming "FOR PETE'S SAKE!  ALL I CAN HEAR IS YOU PEOPLE MAKING DISGUSTING 'MMMM' NOISES!  IT'S MAKING ME SICK!" before slamming out of the room.  We all stared at each other in stunned silence (we hadn't been making much noise, for the record). 

It turned out later that that co-worker was on a diet. 

[pierrotlunaire0]

The DMV witnessed snowflake "Ibrokethelawsoiwilldestroystuff"-icus. Woman comes in to register her vehicle because it is in the tow lot for having a counterfeit tag from another state on it. BUT....she has no title, no paperwork proving ownership of the vehicle, so she is told she can't register it without proof of ownership. What does she do? She goes out into the hallway, pushes the elevator button, looks around to see if anyone is watching, and proceeds to donkey kick the glass on the mail chute. The beautiful antique mail chute is shattered. She was unaware that this was all on camera. The tow lot and our other office has been warned to be on the lookout for her. She will now face criminal charges for destruction of government property. Oh yeah, best part? She did this in front of her small child who was with her.

Par for the course, I am afraid.  What probably would make it a classic is if the customer darts in 30 seconds before closing, screaming that they have to get what they need, AND from what little paperwork they have, it is obvious that the car was towed over a week ago and today is the last day to redeem it back before it goes up for auction.  But it is still MY fault that they are going to lose their car.

[Virg]

Shalamar wrote:

"It turned out later that that co-worker was on a diet."

Sounds more like she needed to be on meds or a psychologist's couch.

Virg

[SCAJAfamily]

A's grade school policy, which is well stated, is that no students should be dropped off before 845.  School starts at 9am.  Every other Thursday A and I need to leave the house early because the cleaners come at 815.  We get donuts and then hang out in the car down the street from the school.  He can leave at 845.

When I worked the bookfair, I needed to be there at 830 every morning to get ready.  The number of kids already on campus is amazing.  The principal sends home numerous phone messages about this - but no change.  Same with the red zone parkers, white zone parkers, and double parkers.

That policy must be awful for a lot of working parents!

I agree - does the school think that only people who work within 15 minutes drive send their children there?

They have on site daycare. And I can think of a number of moms who make extra money by taking kids in the morning and walking them to school with their own kids and then picking them all up afterwards and keeping them until 5 or 6pm.

[Daquiri40]

One of my acquaintances was recently in the same bathroom as three other girls and myself and we were getting ready for the evening. Another asked me to put some music on, so I turned on my iPhone. I have a bad habit of leaving the same song on repeat, and the one that popped up happened to be a Taylor Swift love song. A couple of run-throughs in and acquaintance has gone quiet and has started sort of slamming cosmetic utensils around. I barely register this as I'm trying to get dressed. She yanks on her clothes and is sighing and acting generally exasperated. Finally she explodes and says "UGH, can you change it to something else besides that stupid love song?! Is that all you have on your [bleeping] iPhone?!" and before I can open my mouth to say that I didn't realize it was on repeat she stomps out. A friend informed me that the girl had broken up with her boyfriend two days before and apparently it had been quite a scene. :/ Had I known I would have tried to find something better but...I didn't know.

The SS part is that she expected you to read her mind.  Politely saying, "did you know that song is repeating?" or "Can you play something else please?" is non-SS.

I had a friend who broke up with her boyfriend and got upset when another co-worker told us plans for her wedding and was excited about it.  How dare she be happy when friend was so unhappy?  Sob!!

[Shalamar]

That reminds me of when I was on another forum's thread that was talking about, among other things, food.  One poster said "Can we please talk about something else?  You know that I have an eating disorder, and this topic is really distressing me." 

At least she was polite about it, but c'mon.  Maybe it's just me, but I visit so many forums, I have trouble keeping track of who's who.  So, even if I'd known in the first place that she had an eating disorder (I didn't), I probably wouldn't have remembered.