The other day I was picking up my kids from school as I do every day. Nothing special, just doing my job, trying to not have Child Protective Services called.
What struck me about this particular day was the Kindergarten teacher. She said “Thank you for being here on time every day to pick up Ciárán.” I replied “It’s not that big of a deal. I’m a stay-at-home parent and I live a block and a half away.”
“No, really, thank you.”
I tried to tell her that it really wasn’t a big deal, I’m not making any special effort and I’m just doing what I’m supposed to do. She wanted me to know she appreciated that I was there every day on time to pick up my kid. And it got me to thinking. Who isn’t there to pick up their kid on time every day?
There have been a couple of days when I’ve been a minute or two late, but I’m always there if not before the bell I’m walking toward his classroom as the bell rings. With twenty-some kids in two Kindergarten classrooms there should be close to 50 parents there. Some go to on-site day care, but there are no busses so that leaves plenty of kids getting picked up by their parents or caregivers or whatever.
Often there’s less than half of the parents there as the bell rings.
Where are these parents? Why aren’t they picking up their kid on time? Granted, I have the advantage of being a unencumbered with traditional employment, but at this point in the school year you would expect arrangements to have been made. Heck, we’re on the slippery slope towards the end of the school year.
I am uncomfortable getting accolades for doing what I am supposed to do. There was a comedian who had this bit about entitled people and the culture of giving awards for every little thing and how some people are expecting praise for not being in jail. Essentially they want to be lauded for doing what they are supposed to be doing in the first place. I wish I could remember who this comic was (or still is) but it’s a sentiment that I share. I’m just doing my job, nothing special. Don’t thank me for being on time, instead ask those other parents why they don’t show up on time.