Recreation Guy

Nothing will ruin my day quicker that an ungrateful, the-rules-don’t-apply-to-me parent. Certain parents seem to have this sense of being more important then everyone else. There is so much I would like to say to them, but I can’t…

I want to say, “Let me see if I get this straight. Your four year old has been in this class for three weeks and decides he doesn’t like it and now you want a full refund? You need to take this teachable-moment opportunity to tell your son that, when he decides to do something he needs to see it through. You’re the parent, he is the child. Who’s in charge?” But I can’t say that.

And while I’d like to say, “Listen lady, you know our refund policy because you have been pulling this crap for years with your other kids. The answer’s NO!” I can’t.

I’d also like to tell them, “You are more trouble then you’re worth. You constantly complain about our programs but continue to register your kids for more of them. You insist on a refund or make-up day because you forgot what time junior had his class and missed it. You yell at our instructors and teachers that they should be doing their class a different way – your way!. You call us up two weeks after registration has started and insist we put your child into a class that is already full because you do a lot of business with us, or you know the city manager, or you are friend’s with the mayor, or you know a lawyer and this is unfair because you pay taxes too, or you happened to be out of town where there was no internet, fax machine or phone. Listen lady – you’re BLACKLISTED! Don’t call us, we’ll call you.” But I can’t say that.

I want to yell, “What makes you think I’m going to give you a refund when you take up a ton of my time asking questions you already know the answers to like; When does junior have class next? What time do I pick him up? If he doesn’t like the class can I switch him to a completely unrelated class? Does he have be six if he is a mature five year old? Why are you charging me when I was only 20 minutes late (for the tenth time)? – You know the answers to these questions. Do you know how I know that? Because you call me every season and ask the same things! Leave me alone and go to the child care center on the other side of town!” But I can’t yell that.

I want to let them know that we have parents that appreciate us. They love our programs, agree to our policies and understand why they are in place. They’re fond of our instructors and teachers, and while some of their kids may be a handful, that’s okay, because they are the kind of parents that we love. And I will personally go out of my way for a parent like that when I can, bumping them up on the waitlist, not charging them if they are a little late picking up junior, etc.

But I can’t say that.