12 Years old WORKING at Staples!!
I am NOT kidding!! There was a 12 year old working at Staples Office Supply store in Calgary tonight!! There is a VERy large worker shortage here. Basically KIDS get paid 15 bucks an hour to stock shelves! They are walking CASH machines!! BUT COME ON!!! 12 YEARS OLD!! A 12 year old is ONLY 4 years older than my “almost” 8 year old….I can’t believe that Staples would stoop THIS LOW! At what point is it called CHILD labor??? Is a 12 year old not a child any longer? As my bagger….mind you…..very polite….and 12 year old demeanor…..he packed 3 reams of paper into a THIN plastic bag! 12 year olds belong on bikes and playing with friends. WHY DO PARENTS let their 12 year old go to work???
OK…done ranting…
My head is spinning with tons of stuff going on, so I can’t really focus to write. I will try to figure out how to put it all into words later this week…….it has been an eventful week……not a bad one, just sort of intense and full of decisions. Claire has worked until 10 or 11 pm every day for almost 2 weeks and I am burnt out. The boys really loved camp this week.
I am BEYOND anxious about the school year starting. BEYOND! ..I just need to settle…..and I don’t know how. ……Adam is starting 1st grade and I feel like my little baby is gone. …brings tears to my eyes that he is growing up and at the same time, brings tears to my eyes at what a beautiful and amazing child we are sending into the world. He was home with me more than Andrew and I taught him so many things in the last two years. I feel like my little shadow is emerging into his own being….to walk beside me, rather than behind me…..and in some way, I just want to tuck him as my shadow forever. …but, I can’t…..
I pray and I worry that the teacher that Adam has will not cherish is love of nature, will not see his pride in rhyming, and will not love him and his whole soul…..Passing this little man to a person that I do no know is difficult for me…..I did not realize how hard it would be….I did not realize until this week.
Andrew was a mess when we came to Calgary. He missed every person, every memory, his bed, his life, his house….and he was ANGRY! We did what we thought was “right” and put him in school. IT WAS A DISASTER. He hated every minute of it. He was punished for punching and biting and hitting……something that we have NEVER EVER had to witness. Andrew is a imaginative, soft, and very sensitive child….who cares deeply for his friends and wants to be nothing but accepted. Every single day I heard of the turmoil that he caused and the chaos that he was living…..the last day of school was nothing but a relief for our family. After a few days of summer…I saw a smiling child, I saw the boy that I knew…I saw the laughing and happy child that I have worked so hard to create……he had been stolen away by grief and he was mourning……his lack of words as a child were not seen as vulnerability, but they were turned into a problem child that was hateful and vindictive. How do I let this little child go again? I want them to love him, guide him, and know that he is playful and joyful when just a tiny bit of love is added……Will they take the time to love or only the time to discipline? Will they see the joy or will they see it as a disruption? How do you tell a teacher that she needs to love your child? I am not a perfect mother, very very far from it. My lack of patience and my loud tone may filter my ability to let my admiration of them shine through….I hope that one day I can learn to parent in a calm and patient way.
Transition is hard for me. My nest is empty at home. I will miss my baby boys. I pray that those who are gifted with them during the day, realize that they are my gifts from far away lands….and treat them with the love that pours from my heart. Love my babies…..love my gifts….
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Comments
You need to remember that the boys had many changes last year for school….two alone here in NH – kids like consistancy it is alot for a little guy to take in. This year if put in the right place he will do better- you are fortunate to have many choices almost too many I don’t know if I could choose…lol We’ve talked about this do what is best for each of them individually – they are both two very different individuals with different needs and goals. Making decisions as a mom is the hardest thing in life! But you do what you consider best at the time and make changes as needed as you go along. It will all work out in the end -everything happens for a reason I truly believe that.
xxx
Lisa
OMG !!! This is beautiful !!! I know excatly how you feel. I hope you all have a wonderful school year, and I agree that last year Andrew was confused and just trying to sort out his feelings. This year is going to be much better, I know it.