Truth and Consequence

Being faced with the truth sometimes isn't a pleasant experience, especially when it comes to people. Consequence, on the other hand, is never pleasant.

This morning I was faced with truth; she was faced with consequence.

I dropped Faith off for her last day of school. She's missed the last 3 days becuase she's not been feeling well. Upon me dropping her off I took in some flyers for our Poker Run as the aides there said they would be interested in participating and hanging up flyers around their town. I, of course, was glad to comply since it seems this is the only way that we can succeed in bringing attention to this matter; word of mouth.

I placed Faith in her stroller and went to hand the flyers to Maletha. She immediately denied recieving them stating "I can't hand those out, I'm not going to support the poker run anymore." I was a bit taken back and thought that word had gotten around that she was interested in this cause and perhaps it was her job in jeopardy. Of course, I would not want to do that. I then told her "Ok, I'll just stick them in Faith's bag and if you could let Lisa know they're in there." Again she declined and I then realized her harsh and short tone. I was curious as to why her support had all of a sudden vanished.

She then went on to inform me that she had read Faith's blog and no longer wanted to support this cause. She didn't need to say anymore, and while I realized why she had taken a turn; I didn't fully understand her reasoning. First, the blog entry dated September 30th must be read before understanding anything further. Maletha was the aide/LPN that failed to give Faith her seizure meds. Now, any parent has their child's interest first and foremost, especially parents of special needs children who have watched their children endure so much. This is what pissed her off to the point not to support this cause? And yes, this from a person who stated that she fully understood how these children are suffering in the school system.

Now take a moment to think about this, if you will. I have thought and struggled with this all day. This "employee" of the school system is upset because she didn't do her job??? Upset that I, as a parent, felt strongly enough about what had happened to state it openly and rightly so in an online blog?? SHE is upset???? How does she think I felt finding out that my child failed to get the medication she REQUIRES on a daily basis. And I don't have the freedom to do so? Well pardon me for being upset over this, but it seems that one would find it more strange that a parent NOT get upset over something like this. I felt that blogging about it was something I had every right to do, I didn't call the BOE and file a complaint on her for not doing her job and by all means that is something I definitely could have done; and can still do, and may still do.

"My husband, nor I or any of my friends will participate in the run", was her final statement to this matter. I asked how it was she felt this right, I reminded her that it was HER mistake that she didn't administer Faith's medication and reminded her statement in "knowing what these kids go through by working with them on a day to day basis". I find it very hard to believe that anyone would withdraw their support from a cause because of something that was nobody's fault but their own.

I left upset; very upset. I didn't even want my daughter around this woman. I found her to be hateful and dishonest; these kids are her salary and that's it. If these kids meant anything at all to her, what I stated in an online blog (which, may I mention to be nothing but the truth) would not stop her from being supportive.

I met Tim back at the school within 15 minutes and pulled Faith out of school. Her last day of school for the year was missed all because an aide cannot face the consequences of something she was at fault for.

In all of the 5 years of dealing with issues from the school board, I had never felt once for it to be personal; before today. Now, it's personal. It's personal for my little girl, for my family and it will be personal from anyone who crosses our path. The boxing gloves are on and in full force; we will not hesitate to hit below the belt.

Correction to blog entry 9/30/06

NOTE: The blog entry on 9/20/06 was incorrect. The aide that I mentioned “Lisa” was not the correct name. The correct name is “Maletha”. My apologies to Lisa, at that time I was unaware of their names and now that all this is brought to attention I wanted to make that correction.