Sick of it.

Sorry, this isn't witty. It isn't especially intelligent, and may not even be intelligible. It's just shit I need to say.

In the course of three weeks, whe my husband started a new job with a less predictable schedule, the school bus forgot my kids twice. Completely forgot them. Apparently a teacher saw them but she didn't call me. No admin *ever* called me. My babysitter found them and called me. Both times I waited until evening to contact the school, *assuming* they would contact me since they knew.

Finally, after escalating this to the Superintendent, I got enough pressure to revise the dismissal procedures in a way that will make it harder to lose my children. We're talking every so *slight* revision, no great hardship to the almighty Walkers of Fall Creek. Apparently, this new plan was presented to the PTA last night, and got "much discussion." I wonder what there was to discuss??? Use the other fucking door so the bused kids don't get lost in the stampede.

Anyway... we didn't go to that PTA meeting. We went to hear the Super talk at a different meeting a few blocks away. We left our kids at the school's childcare, in the guardianship of our sitter who is also the caregiver and who assured us that kids bring friends to the child care all the time. Apparently not *bused* kids.

I just got an irate email from the PTA pres expressing her indignation that we should leave our kids in the PTA childcare, which is for PTA attendees only. Yeah, ok... sorry... didn't know. We asked several people if it was ok, we filled out the forms so that it would be totally clear, but apparently we can't do this. My bad. That said, you and I and trees all know *neighborhood* families do this all the time.

No, what I'm *pissed* about is that, in this ream-out, she talks about how obnoxious that was of us considering "the lengths that have been taken to secure [our kids'] safety and transportation stability." The lengths they've taken??? You mean, like, the absolute legal minimum, on a good day?? No way. Taking extremely *minor* steps in order to fix a school fuckup is not a favor to me or my children. It is mediation for a pretty significant screwup on the schools' part. And am *appalled* that there was even need for "discussion" about this! What's to fucking discuss?? The school lost my kids. Twice. Didn't deliver them home, and nobody apparently was going to tell me that. (Like I said, a teacher knew it, but just left it in our *off duty* sitter's hands) *That* is what should be getting discussion, because it could happen to any bused child. These people who are supposed to be our friends and allies should be getting irate about the dangerous conditions for bused kids, *not* about having to use the other door. This is typical, uncontroversial *procedure* at any other school.

And you know why I don't go to PTA meetings, anymore? Because of this. Because I'm sick of being the official poster child for the good little Southsider, showing how it *is* possible for bused kids to be full members of the community. I'm sick of pleasantly and politely asking people to please give me a way to sign up for conferences, to sign up for activities. Please, try not to lose my kids this week. It is *not* possible for a Southside family to join the community. The "allies" want a project, a nice, easy one, and if you're not there to make them feel good about All They Do for You, then apparently you weren't really worth it and all bets are off. Seriously, some days... I'm thinking, you know what? Have your little cliquey school. Go ahead. Live on your little island. The kids I know deserve better aren't showing anyway. The neighborhood folk don't want to budge. I think I'm the only one who thinks this isn't right, so maybe I'm wrong? I don't know. But I'm just over. it. today.