Answer - In a Catholic school.
Backstory.
Today Jake's class left on a four day trip to the Grand Canyon. With the bus leaving promptly at 7:45.
OOPS!
Make that bus leaving promptly at 7:00.
OOPS!
Last minute change of plans... bus leaving at 6:30!
Guess who never got the message?
Guess who was enjoying a cup of coffee at 7:17 when the phone rang with a friend asking, "Is Jakey coming?!"
The school (quite nicely) held the bus (although the buses were late) and the kids ended up waiting 27 minutes for my child...
We're embarrassed. However, these things happen and all we really cared about was that Jake not get too bad of a time from his buddies... a little ribbing is expected.
What we didn't expect was the burning pitchfork treatment we received from some of the parents.
Because: this is bullshit! This is fucked up! How dare they... they are ruining it for ALL OF OUR KIDS!
These are just some of the things a few of the mommies had to say about us.
After all, the bus was leaving 27 minutes later than planned and we all know that 27 minutes is the difference between 4 good days and, I guess 4 shitty days. In fact, if anything goes wrong over the next 96 hours it will most likely be our fault... those damn 27 minutes.
Fortunately, I had a good friend in that conversation who had my back and very vocally stood up for me.
But, come on, folks. I'm sorry. I truly am sorry. It wasn't my intent to hold anyone or anything up and I certainly didn't do on purpose... it wasn't deliberate and it was the school's decision to hold the bus for my child... not mine.
However, way to go Catholic parents... way to show tolerance and compassion... I mean, standing around and calling me names... what Christian behavior.
Makes the decision to take our kids out of religious education next year all the easier.
34 comments:
generally i've found the least Christ-like people are easiest to spot on Sunday in church
Ugh! What a bunch of douchebags! I'm pretty sure when Jesus died for all our sins, he didn't mean them!!
Van - SO true!
Jill - I guess I missed the, "Thou shalt never err and be late" commandment.
sadly, i have noticed the most "christian" of christians are generally the most unchristian like in their behavior. for crying out loud it seems to me that some people have too much idle time on their hands. i mean, seriously, who has the energy to carry on like that? ick. i'm sorry that happened to you. people can really suck. yeah, i sound ignorant with that statement, but, yeah, people just suck sometimes.
Kristy - I agree... some people just suck. I'm lucky that I had good friends to stick up for me, but how ridiculous that I would need sticking up for!
Oh, for pitty's sake ...if they want someone to blame, look no further than whomever determined to change the pick-up times and didn't bother to confirm everyone who was going had been contacted.
I just hope Jake can still have a good time, and isn't smote by idiots.
Shell - Jake sent me a text from the bus... everything is fine. His buddy saved him a seat and the kids didn't even really realized that there was a holdup!
p.s. what bus has ever left on time? What? - will they miss their connector bus now? However - please don't smite all Catholics - there are a bunch of nice patient loverly ones...really. :) I'm so glad Jake's having a great trip...kids are way better at this than adults... Way to go "people" - grow up... Perhaps - "their" names should be published ;)
Tatiana - it's the school... I am pretty down on the school... and the Church, but not Catholics per se...
How glad I am to be a WASP. We make no religious pretenses. We're jerks and we're fine with it.
All I can say is ewww and people suck.
You've never mentioned to me that you are clairvoyant, so I can understand how you wouldn't know about the schedule change UNLESS SOMEONE ACTUALLY TOLD YOU.
I would have loved to have been there to have your back, because my biting tongue is acid-tipped in situations like that. I probably could have blistered more than a few Catholic ears on your behalf.
I agree with furiousBall - sometimes you see the meanest people at the front of the church.
I think, you will probably get that shit from everyone...people have their own agenda and if you mess with it, they TURN. They feel entitled to even the stupidest things...27 minutes, get a life! And it is the school letting this kinda stuff happen that is a bit much..change how many times?
I so would have had your back, Mama! I really have a hard time stomaching nastiness from anyone, but especially those who are "holier than thou" with regards to their religious preference. Stories like this make me happy that I'm not a Christian!
All I can say is...
What would Jesus have done...
Held the bus of course and healed the sick while waiting..
Point out those parents and I will take my pregnant wrath out on them!!!!
Good Lord. These women, I assume they were all women, truly need to get a life. As somebody else already pointed out, when has a bus EVER left on time? I tell ya. . .Catholic or not those people sound just horrid and awful & petty. As my friend Candace says, "Going to church doesn't make you a Christian anymore than standing in a garage makes you a car!" Amen sista.
Growing up, we had neighbors who were devout Christians. Minor detail that he beat her and they were alcoholics...apparently that's ok. I must have missed this whole section in my religious upbringing that said it's ok to be like Chris Brown.
They also cut you off as they come out of the church parking lot to be first for their Sunday breakfast! They should try the "humble pie" sometime.
Real nice. Maybe they need a hobby or something else to focus on.
And this is exactly why, even through a wee bit of guilt, I simply cannot bring myself and my children to a church on a regular basis. I'm sorry you had this experience, and even more sorry it is completely not surprising. Hope the trip picked up after the 27 minutes incident.
wow, that really sucks. :(
hey, btw... i hope you have a very Happy Mother's Day.
big hugs
melissa
how about this for un-christian behaviour...i just nicked one of your images (a plate of food) for use on a cd cover. sorry.
In public school, those 27 minutes would have been spent teaching kids how to take standardized tests.
I'm late posting, but let me just tell you how sad this post made me. First, I hate that feeling of missing the memo. 2nd, I hate when we are stupid and don't live out our faith. I'm catholic. I can't believe the reactions and comment you got.... Why can't people realize that we ALL live in glass houses? If they have not been in the tough spot yet, their day will come. How sad that they will have to look back and realize they are assholes. I hope you run into better examples of Christians and Catholics. These people sucked. Hope he had a great trip anyway.
Maybe you should try a buddhist school. Love the blog Kristin, you crack me up :-)
Are you okay? I have a rum and coke for you. The ice is melting.
I just don't think it related to the religion, many non-christian people would do the same thing.
It's just the people :)
So what's this I hear about you getting ready to blog again? :)
Assholes!
What's really funny is that my word verification is "poomede".
Which is kind of how I felt when reading how shitty you've been treated.
Poomede. Yep. That's it.
I went through 8 years of catholic school. When hubby and I watched MEAN GIRLS, he was aghasted by the high school girls' nasty behavior. I was all, "DUDE, I was on the receiving end of that shit in 5th grade already."
Point is... I am so sorry you had to deal with that bullshit. 27 minutes? Were they all chomping at the bit to whip up a morning margarita in celebration of their kids being gone for four days? Is that it?
I agree with "active toddler" - it has not so much to do with religion, or christians or catholics. it has to do with people. and our ever increasing demand for now, now, now. we don't like to wait. doesn't seem to matter the reason. traffic, lines, banks, stores...we are a "right now" society. and we're a very high and mighty one. the rest of the world does not operate as self-entitled as we do here. it's just a fact...
but certainly a blanket statement that this is the result of what happens with organized religion or a certain people of faith...that's just not the case.
I think it's easy to forget that most people of faith do not claim to be perfect, just human and called to a higher standard, failing often...too often. just like the rest of the world.
this is a case of people behaving badly...nothing more.
just my humble opinion...
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