Did that really just happen?!?!

Last week I went out to find my daughter a day care. Easy enough, right? Wrong. I went to two that I really liked and Alyssa really loved one of them. Then I came to the third…

Pulling in the parking lot I wasn’t immediately impressed with them. First, they were in a “business” complex and then had a courthouse next door (is that legal?). But they had an amazing playground and HUGE school, so I wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt. I walked in the school and wasn’t greeted. Who does that? I walked to a window where the office was. Didn’t go in the office, walked to a window. There was a girl sitting at the window behind the computer, no acknowledgement. So I cleared my throat…

 

“May I help you?”

“Yeah! Hi! We just moved here and I was looking for a school for my 4 year old daughter, Alyssa (pointing to her but her not being able to see over the window ledge).”

“Ok, (pulling out a HUGE packet), you have to fill this out, bring in your last 4 paystubs, proof of employment, etc..”

“Wait, 4 paystubs? I just moved here and I don’t work,” I said.

“Does your husband work?”

“No, we both go to school full time.”

“I’m sorry ma’am, your child is not allowed to attend school here.”

“REALLY?!?! Just because I don’t work?!?!?! But I go to school full-time. I’m not at home and I don’t have anyone to look after her while I’m in class.” I am in TOTAL shock by this time. I cannot believe I just heard what I heard. Is this possible?

“We’re geared towards working families and if you don’t work we believe you should be staying home with your child and taking care of them.”

“But what about an education? What about friends? Aren’t all children supposed to get an education and have friends? Socialize? Start learning before they go to Kindergarten?” By this point I was on the verge of exploding at this woman, but I kept my cool. I just still could not believe what I was hearing.

“We believe that if you don’t work you should be at home with your child and that you should educate your own child.”

“So… you’re saying that even though I am able to pay whatever amount you designate, that because me or my husband do not work, we are not allowed to send our daughter here for day care?” At this point the (I believe) office manager steps in and takes over…

“If you don’t work ma’am then how do you pay for your bills?”

“Honestly, that’s none of your business. I am able to pay and you won’t let me send my child to this day care? I just don’t understand how that works.”

“If you go to school we can maybe work something out. You would have to bring in you and your husbands school schedule and we would take your application into consideration.”

Into consideration?!?! Into consideration?!?! This conversation goes on between us for about 5 minutes. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I couldn’t believe what she was saying. Not once did either of them offer to show me around the school, show me anything about any of the students or teachers. They just assumed because I walked in the door I automatically wanted to send my child there by puling out the application packet. BOTH of the other schools I went to immediately offered to show me the classrooms, the students, the teachers, etc.

All I was trying to was figure out why I was not allowed to send my child there (even though after the second sentence out of her mouth, I knew I wasn’t going to). For all they know I could be a millionaire and just not work because I didn’t want to. How is it possible for someone to be that rude to someone else that is trying to pay you?!?!? Every child needs an education. Every child needs to be in school and be socialized with other children.

I walked away from that window and out of the school and left their application packet behind. Did you really think that after being that rude to me and then telling me you would take my application into consideration, I would even apply?!?!