Despite what you might think, this is not a post about politics. (If I read that title, that’s what I would think!) I am just trying a different tactic this time. My parents are on their way out for another obscenely long visit. The last time I wrote about “The calm before the storm,” and sure enough, their visit was very storm-like. This time, I am hoping to just laugh at their crazy attitudes and ideas. Send in the clowns…
I watched Bill Bennett on the Today Show this morning. He was being “interviewed” by Meredith Vieira. (I have the word interviewed in quotes because like most bullies, he tried to lead the interview and not let Meredith ask questions. He cut her off and tried to only get out the party line.) But one thing he said caught me (and Meredith Vieira,) off-guard. I couldn’t believe that the former Secretary of Education from 1985-1988 replied to Meredith’s statement that George Will and David Brooks have questioned Sarah Palin’s credentials and whether or not she is qualified to be Vice President. He dismissed this by saying that “Well, they are intellectuals…” and the tone that he used sent the message that he thought this was a bad thing. When Meredith called him on it he backtracked and said that he was an intellectual himself and that he had a PhD. But it was too late, it was clear to me right away even before Meredith had a chance to call him on it that he had let his true colors show. How sad that a man who oversaw our nation’s education system would call someone an “intellectual” as an insult to try to diminish their very legitimate concerns.
I think the title of this post says it all. I ordered something from the One Step Ahead catalog for the first and last time yesterday. They did the “Bait and Switch” on me and I fell for it. When I went to the website, there is an ad for free shipping on orders over $100.00. Since I bought over that amount, I put the code in the box, and was charged over $23.00 for delivery of a canvas bookshelf. I actually thought the $23.00 was for the whole order, so I emailed the company and said that the code must not have worked, and please refund the shipping charges to my card. They replied that the bookshelf was over-sized, and I had to pay the charges. First of all, it is not clearly marked anywhere that this is over-sized, and that the free shipping did not apply. Secondly, the $23.00 was to ship a $69.00 bookshelf made mostly of canvas? Are you kidding me? That is 1/3 of the price of the item!!!! That is ridiculous. On this day where so many major companies filed for bankruptcy, you would think that customer service would be doing anything to keep customers, especially when they are in the wrong for not clearly marking this on their website. I would never do business again with a company who tries to mislead the customers into thinking that they are getting a deal on shipping, and then charging more for shipping one item than it costs to ship the whole order.
Anna started preschool yesterday. I was probably more nervous than she was! My stomach was in knots all day long. We could stay with the kids on the first day, and I stayed for about 30 minutes, and Anna sent me home! I was so proud of her. I really thought she would want me to stay the whole time, because she tends to be really nervous around other kids. But all the other moms were gone, so she told me I could go, too. However, I wish I’d stayed. When I came to pick her up, the teacher came out and asked me if she knows how to go down stairs. Of course she does! I guess they were coming in from outside, and then stairs are really steep. Anna got scared and started to crawl down backwards. (She is only 3 1/2 years old.) The teacher ridiculed her by saying that crawling is for babies! That is the wrong thing to say to Anna! She exploded at the teacher and shouted, “I am not a baby!” Then she started crying. Good for her! I am glad she stuck up for herself! What a rude thing to say to a kid who is obviously scared! Then the teacher told her not to cry. I put her in this preschool because it is supposed to be a Montessori school. I don’t remember reading anything about ridiculing kids for discipline in the Montessori method! We will see if things get better, but if they don’t I am for sure pulling her out. I don’t want to teach her to run away when you don’t get along with someone, but I don’t want her to hate school, either.
I asked her what her favorite part of school was and she said, “Snack time.” Hmm, me too!