Roller Coaster 8/2/2001
Today has definitely been a roller coaster. It's weird, but it's almost like every other day my kids behave. Obviously, this was not one of my good days. Two of my boys were sick and were forbidden by their parents to go to karate. So I had to split up with my counselor in training (CIT) Megan. I felt terrible leaving her with seven kids, but she didn't know where the medical cabin was, and she didn't know where to go to place our lunch orders. So, I played Superman and ran the errands and took care of two sick kids.
One of the boys, Matthew, is more homesick than actually sick, in my personal opinion. The kid was hysterically crying and grabbing onto his mother when she dropped him off. She just kind of brushed him off and walked away. Lady, do you understand that I have enough to deal with and I don't need a hysterical kid to top everything off??? She told me yesterday that he has brochitis, but is on antibiotics. Lady, why don't you act like a mother and let him stay home if the kid is sick?
The other "sick" boy is Nick. Nick's a great kid, but he's definitely an actor. He has a deadbeat dad and a 23 year old mother. (Nick is seven, by the way). I understand that he needs attention, but he's getting ridiculous. He's finally found his trump card--acting sick. He gets out of all the activities he doesn't want to do and magically "recovers" during pool time and lunch.
Anyway, to top off the day, the camp is putting on a talent show tomorrow. My kids are dancing to "Mambo #5" by Lou Bega. I have fifteen kids, and maybe six are actually going to get up and do it. Some are sick, some come every other day, and some just refuse to do it. (Did I mention that I now hate children?) Nick was "just too ill" today, Caleigh (my devil child) promised that she'd finally practice tomorrow, Jonathan downright refused, and two new kids came in late in the week so they don't have time to learn the dance. One of the mothers assured me that her child was eager to sing. Yeah right sweetheart. I'm seriously considering making a videotape of how the kids act during the day and then showing it to their parents. Then the parents can tell me what little angels their children are.
So, two of my girls and I are practicing the dance when they suddenly start complaining that they can't see. I figured it was sand, pollen, or dirt, so I tok them to the bathroom to get their eyes washed out with water. They were still complaining so I figured they were just trying to wriggle out of practice. I ended practice and let them sit while the other kids packed up for lunch. By this time the two girls are crying that they can't see at all and their eyes are stinging horribly. By now I'm a little scared. I let the rest of the kids go eat lunch while I left the two girls with Megan. I found my boss, Diane, and told her what was going on. Diane assured me she'd get someone to help and hurried off. Twenty minutes go by and no one is coming and my girls are still weeping. The other kids are going crazy and just not listening. My co-counselor, Teal, is still not here and it's 12:00.
I ran down to the main lobby and i find Diane talking to the manager of the gym (my camp uses the facilities of a gym) and two secrataries. She sees me and says, "Oops, I totally forgot." I wanted to strangle Diane so badly I had to put my arms behind my back. Diane finally called a nurse, who is also Teal's mom, who washed the girls' eyes out with saline solution. One of the girls was feeling better, but the other one was still in pain.
The manager of the gym is named Lisa. Lisa's sister saw what was going on and just started bitching me out. I felt so low...Teal's mom suggested that I call the girls' parents so they could pick them up. Lisa's sister says, "No, don't have HER do it. Get Kevin to do it." (Kevin's co-head of the camp). Kevin is a big hulking guy who I figured would definitely yell at me. He was the nicest person in the world when I told him what happened though. It just calmed me down...Anyway, so we kept saline pads on their eyes and Kevin bought them Italian ices. They felt better at the end of the day, which relieved me to no extent. Megan was an awesome help; I'm glad I had her helping me out that day.
Some of the counselors were bitching me out of the end of the day, which didn't help. My kids were scheduled to go to the aerobics room to watch a video. As my group approached the aerobics room, Suzy, the counselor gave me the once-over lovely little snobby stare. I wanted to sink into the grouond. I felt so unwanted. My kids were calling me mean. (Hell, after the shit they pulled today, I had every right to yell). After camp was over I basically bolted for the workout machines. I didn't come out of the gym until about 45 minutes later. I did two miles on the treadmill and I was using the Stairmaster. It felt sooo awesome...Even though I was much calmer, I got into my car when my mom picked me up and started crying. I felt like such a loser.
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