Memorable moments in parenting - Page 7

renaultssoftware · 09-15-2010, 08:29 PM

I once had a friend when I was younger; we got to disagree about a ton of stuff. I decided we wouldn't be friends anymore -- I never told him, but he seemed to get the message.

fazstp · 09-20-2010, 10:16 PM

My son (four and a half) has begun spelling words and learning how to read and write by sounding them out. The other morning he had paper and pen and was sounding out a word "Huh" and he asked me "How do you write h?" So I showed him. Then "Ay" and he asked "How do you write a?" So I showed him. Then I asked him what are you trying to write? He said matter of factly "I hate Amelie" (his sister). I laughed and said I'm glad you are learning to write but I wish you were trying to write something nicer. He said "Well wishes don't come true."

acme.mail.order · 09-20-2010, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by capitalj


	My daughter doesn't actually take the bus to school because the bus company prohibits children carrying medication, and my daughter carries an Epi-Pen for her peanut allergy.

Is that legal? I would think the bus company would have a liability nightmare for banning essential medications and a discrimination nightmare for banning children with medical conditions. Got an ACLU office in your town?

capitalj · 09-20-2010, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by acme.mail.order


	Is that legal? I would think the bus company would have a liability nightmare for banning essential medications and a discrimination nightmare for banning children with medical conditions. Got an ACLU office in your town?

It seems to be a combination of litigation-anxiety and zero-tolerance ad absurdum. They ban the medications and drivers do not administer first aid - because of liability. The company policy is for the driver to pull over and either call 911 if they have a cell phone, or radio dispatch to call 911. However, seconds count during anaphylactic shock. We already battled the school to get permission for our daughter to carry her EpiPen with her rather than leave it in the nurse's office. We put our daughter in a private, peanut-free kindergarten and met with the public school principal and nurse several times during the school year. To their credit, they made a number of changes and we are now comfortable with the school. We tried talking to the bus company, but made no headway. We have considered legal action, but haven't pursued it because other problems needed to be dealt with (there's never enough time). There is a special needs bus, but that's for children with different conditions than our daughter's. Maybe that's all the loophole they need. Once she becomes old enough to be considered capable of self-injecting (a somewhat subjective decision made by her doctor), many problems will disappear.

acme.mail.order · 09-21-2010, 01:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by capitalj


	It seems to be a combination of litigation-anxiety and zero-tolerance ad absurdum. They ban the medications and drivers do not administer first aid - because of liability.

The bus company needs a better lawyer - that policy runs head-on into the standard-of-care and reasonable person concepts.

Quote:

Originally Posted by personal injury lawyer


	"Mr. Bus Driver, please explain to the jury why you sat back and watched while the grade 4 student bled out on the floor."

Afterthought: aren't school bus drivers required to have first aid certification?

renaultssoftware · 09-21-2010, 07:39 AM

Been years since I quit riding the school bus. It takes over half an hour, going through the east end of town, when we live seven minutes to the west of school. I now ride with my Dad, who teaches at the school.

capitalj · 09-21-2010, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by acme.mail.order


	The bus company needs a better lawyer - that policy runs head-on into the standard-of-care and reasonable person concepts.

It's standard policy in this state, from what I've been able to gather.

Quote:

Originally Posted by acme.mail.order


	Afterthought: aren't school bus drivers required to have first aid certification?

Requirements vary by state. I've gotten conflicting answers, but according to the MA RMV:

Quote:


	To qualify for a full-sized or restricted School Bus Driver Certifi- cate, you need to meet the following requirements: Have three continuous years of driving Pass a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) check Pass a Sex Offender Registry Information (SORI) check Pass a Department of Transportation (DOT) physical exam Have a clean driving record Pass the required RMV written exams Pass a DPU road test

And reports about this choking incident (the boy died the year before my daughter started kindergarten) mention that training did not include first aid.

When we spoke to our local bus company the following year, we were told that drivers had first aid training but would not administer first aid due to liability concerns. Our question about the liability of having first aid training but not administering it stumped them. I think the fact that first aid could, in our daughter's case, include administering medication complicates matters.

I'm a stay-at-home dad, so we have the option of driving to school (and we had a series of the types of curve-balls life tends to throw, now largely resolved), otherwise we probably would have already pursued the matter further, at least to find out if we have a legal leg to stand on. Maybe that will be my New Year Resolution. That and finishing the drywall.

capitalj · 09-21-2010, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by renaultssoftware


	Been years since I quit riding the school bus. It takes over half an hour, going through the east end of town, when we live seven minutes to the west of school. I now ride with my Dad, who teaches at the school.

We live about two miles from the school, leave after the bus comes to our stop, and beat it to the school by at least ten minutes, plus I get to spend a few more minutes with the kids. I could have worse problems.

acme.mail.order · 09-21-2010, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by capitalj


	It's standard policy in this state, from what I've been able to gather.

I could have so much fun with that one.
Headline: "SCHOOL BUS POLICY: LET THEM DIE!!"

Quote:


	Our question about the liability of having first aid training but not administering it stumped them.

Where I'm from (Alberta) that would be rather straightforward professional negligence and a go-directly-to-jail sentence.

Quote:


	Maybe that will be my New Year Resolution. That and finishing the drywall.

I hear you there. Is the wiring in place yet?

capitalj · 09-21-2010, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by acme.mail.order


	I hear you there. Is the wiring in place yet?

Mostly.

capitalj · 10-06-2010, 09:20 AM

My five-year-old son was playing in the back yard while I was repairing my front steps. There was a crash of broken glass followed by screams. I found him in front of a cellar window with a ball shaped hole in it, waving his hands in the air and wailing like a Shakespearean actor about the police coming to get him. I told my son not to worry because I knew it was an accident, I was just happy that he wasn't hurt, and nobody would be calling the police.

A sheet of plywood was added to the next day's shopping list. My son loves tools and was happy to be at Home Depot - until he remembered why we were there. He clung to his mother in the parking lot and cried, "Not the window police! I don't want to go to jail!"

renaultssoftware · 10-06-2010, 07:48 PM

They're coming for him!

capitalj · 10-12-2010, 05:53 PM

I leapt out of bed after checking the calendar on my iPhone. "Get ready for school as fast as you can" I yelled as I ran through the house trying to accomplish an hour's worth of preparation in ten minutes.

"But Mama said there's no school today," Mama had left for work some time ago. My daughter showed no inclination to move. My son wouldn't even wake up. "Why wouldn't there be school?" "I don't know, but that's what Mama said." I checked my iPhone again. "Get dressed, now!" "But there's no school!" "Oh, for cryin' out loud…"

I checked the printed calendar on the fridge, with it's 14 different symbols and colors, and confusing layout, and eventually realized that there was, in fact, no school, in honor of Columbus Day. I never remember Columbus Day. Even when it's the reason I roll over and go back to seep, apparently. "You're right, there's no school. Sorry."

"Why did you say there was school?" I started to explain about the confusing school calendar, with it's 14 different symbols and colors, and confusing layout, leading to a mistake in iCal, and being overtired, but my daughter interrupted with a concise, if impertinent, summation:

"So, you were being dumb."

renaultssoftware · 10-12-2010, 05:59 PM

How could you forget a day off? I can't ever forget, especially when at school

capitalj · 10-12-2010, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by renaultssoftware


	How could you forget a day off? I can't ever forget, especially when at school

Like my daughter said…

renaultssoftware · 10-12-2010, 07:08 PM

I can remember, when my dad told me a story about his Dad. He worked for Campeau, an electrics company, back in the '70s. Occasionally, he'd have to take someone's parking spot when he worked inside apartment buildings.

One such time, one man who was sick of having his spot taken, pulled in behind my grandpa's Citroën DS. He said he was sick and tired of not being able to park; Grandpa explained it was necessary and temporary. But the man wouldn't budge. The fun part of the story is that the DS had a hydraulic suspension and could be raised. So Grandpa just raised the DS' suspension, mounted the curb and drove off, before the man could react.

Another such time, another man came behind him. Grandpa told him to move, even threatened to call the police; he still wouldn't budge. So Grandpa took his hammer, said "if you don't move in 3 seconds…" and the guy hurried to back out, presumably predicting the destiny of the hammer.

Both stories made me laugh till I cried.

capitalj · 10-14-2010, 12:44 AM

While getting my son ready for kindergarten, I put down the comb and told him to look in the mirror. He said, "That's not rock star hair."

fazstp · 10-16-2010, 09:30 PM

In my son's further explorations of all things spelling he has decided that k is redundant as the k sound is already covered by the c. He calls the ck combination half-c half-k but says he is deleting k. He even sings the alphabet skipping from j straight to l.

renaultssoftware · 10-17-2010, 08:31 AM

'Where's the P?'

tw · 10-17-2010, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fazstp


	In my son's further explorations of all things spelling he has decided that k is redundant as the k sound is already covered by the c. He calls the ck combination half-c half-k but says he is deleting k. He even sings the alphabet skipping from j straight to l.

wow, with an attitude like that your kid is destined for academia...

09-15-2010, 08:29 PM	#121
renaultssoftware MVP Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Pembroke, Ontario Posts: 2,051	I once had a friend when I was younger; we got to disagree about a ton of stuff. I decided we wouldn't be friends anymore -- I never told him, but he seemed to get the message. __________________ Get Icon Creator and support me.

09-20-2010, 10:16 PM	#122
fazstp MVP Join Date: May 2004 Location: Melbourne, AUS Posts: 1,576	My son (four and a half) has begun spelling words and learning how to read and write by sounding them out. The other morning he had paper and pen and was sounding out a word "Huh" and he asked me "How do you write h?" So I showed him. Then "Ay" and he asked "How do you write a?" So I showed him. Then I asked him what are you trying to write? He said matter of factly "I hate Amelie" (his sister). I laughed and said I'm glad you are learning to write but I wish you were trying to write something nicer. He said "Well wishes don't come true." __________________ Inspire you of think the elephant dint Inspire you of think the elephant dint

09-21-2010, 07:39 AM	#126
renaultssoftware MVP Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Pembroke, Ontario Posts: 2,051	Been years since I quit riding the school bus. It takes over half an hour, going through the east end of town, when we live seven minutes to the west of school. I now ride with my Dad, who teaches at the school. __________________ Get Icon Creator and support me.

10-06-2010, 07:48 PM	#132
renaultssoftware MVP Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Pembroke, Ontario Posts: 2,051	They're coming for him! __________________ Get Icon Creator and support me.

10-12-2010, 05:59 PM	#134
renaultssoftware MVP Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Pembroke, Ontario Posts: 2,051	How could you forget a day off? I can't ever forget, especially when at school __________________ Get Icon Creator and support me.

10-06-2010, 09:20 AM	#131
capitalj All Star Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Plymouth, Massachusetts Posts: 659	My five-year-old son was playing in the back yard while I was repairing my front steps. There was a crash of broken glass followed by screams. I found him in front of a cellar window with a ball shaped hole in it, waving his hands in the air and wailing like a Shakespearean actor about the police coming to get him. I told my son not to worry because I knew it was an accident, I was just happy that he wasn't hurt, and nobody would be calling the police. A sheet of plywood was added to the next day's shopping list. My son loves tools and was happy to be at Home Depot - until he remembered why we were there. He clung to his mother in the parking lot and cried, "Not the window police! I don't want to go to jail!"

10-12-2010, 05:53 PM	#133
capitalj All Star Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Plymouth, Massachusetts Posts: 659	I leapt out of bed after checking the calendar on my iPhone. "Get ready for school as fast as you can" I yelled as I ran through the house trying to accomplish an hour's worth of preparation in ten minutes. "But Mama said there's no school today," Mama had left for work some time ago. My daughter showed no inclination to move. My son wouldn't even wake up. "Why wouldn't there be school?" "I don't know, but that's what Mama said." I checked my iPhone again. "Get dressed, now!" "But there's no school!" "Oh, for cryin' out loud…" I checked the printed calendar on the fridge, with it's 14 different symbols and colors, and confusing layout, and eventually realized that there was, in fact, no school, in honor of Columbus Day. I never remember Columbus Day. Even when it's the reason I roll over and go back to seep, apparently. "You're right, there's no school. Sorry." "Why did you say there was school?" I started to explain about the confusing school calendar, with it's 14 different symbols and colors, and confusing layout, leading to a mistake in iCal, and being overtired, but my daughter interrupted with a concise, if impertinent, summation: "So, you were being dumb."

10-12-2010, 07:08 PM	#136
renaultssoftware MVP Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Pembroke, Ontario Posts: 2,051	I can remember, when my dad told me a story about his Dad. He worked for Campeau, an electrics company, back in the '70s. Occasionally, he'd have to take someone's parking spot when he worked inside apartment buildings. One such time, one man who was sick of having his spot taken, pulled in behind my grandpa's Citroën DS. He said he was sick and tired of not being able to park; Grandpa explained it was necessary and temporary. But the man wouldn't budge. The fun part of the story is that the DS had a hydraulic suspension and could be raised. So Grandpa just raised the DS' suspension, mounted the curb and drove off, before the man could react. Another such time, another man came behind him. Grandpa told him to move, even threatened to call the police; he still wouldn't budge. So Grandpa took his hammer, said "if you don't move in 3 seconds…" and the guy hurried to back out, presumably predicting the destiny of the hammer. Both stories made me laugh till I cried. __________________ Get Icon Creator and support me.

10-14-2010, 12:44 AM	#137
capitalj All Star Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Plymouth, Massachusetts Posts: 659	While getting my son ready for kindergarten, I put down the comb and told him to look in the mirror. He said, "That's not rock star hair."

10-16-2010, 09:30 PM	#138
fazstp MVP Join Date: May 2004 Location: Melbourne, AUS Posts: 1,576	In my son's further explorations of all things spelling he has decided that k is redundant as the k sound is already covered by the c. He calls the ck combination half-c half-k but says he is deleting k. He even sings the alphabet skipping from j straight to l. __________________ Inspire you of think the elephant dint Inspire you of think the elephant dint

10-17-2010, 08:31 AM	#139
renaultssoftware MVP Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Pembroke, Ontario Posts: 2,051	'Where's the P?' __________________ Get Icon Creator and support me.