I have been demoted

I love my job. Well, loved.

The new head teacher left early Wednesday and said "Here is the sunblock, put it on 10 minutes before going outside and sign the kids medical forms saying you put it on." I agreed and did exactly as she said. We went outside where it was 80 degrees, and the kids began to sweat, and were wiped sweat off their face with their arms, and some just let it run down their faces.

Then I looked over at one of my little girls who started to cry. I found no reason for her to keep crying but she kept rubbing her eyes. So, I looked at her sweaty, teary eyed, face and realized her eyes are red and irritated. I took my kids inside and called for help from the director. We rinsed their eyes (by this time 4 of my 6 kids were crying) and washed all the sunblock off their faces and arms. Then the director grabs the sunblock.

Apparently, last week a memo went out to all the head teachers that this particular brand was not sweat proof and water proof and had irritated the preschooler's eyes, so it was NOT to be used.

The director asked me where I found this bottle and I explained that my head teacher had got it out of our medication container and handed it to me. I also explained that it matched what the medical sheets for the kids had said. "Generic Baby Sunblock. Applied to exposed skin as needed." This was Dol.Lar Gen.eral baby sunblock. Obviously generic and it said "Baby" on it.

So, I explained to 3 or the 4 parents what had happened, and they laughed and some even said they had made the same mistake before, no biggie. But the last mom was pissed. Apparently the office said "Oh yeah, the teacher just put too much on her and didn't get it all rubbed in and that is why her eyes are like that." The Director didn't want everyone to know that A) she had used petty cash to buy the sunblock for each room. B) A failure in communication was the reason this sunblock was in our room and C) That the school was in any way at fault. Just the teacher.

This teacher.

So, I got a call this morning. I am off for te next 2 days ("Just so everyone can calm down.") and this mother has requested that I "never work with her child again". Yep, because I am an idiot who can't rub sunblock in and uses too much. Apparently, even though I have been applyng sunblock to people professionally for 6 years, and personally since I could walk, I don't know enough to rub it in.

My coworkers who were not there to witness the truth, are also being told the same thing.

And now, I am a sub. The lowest sub on the totem pole (Which is actually a good thing if it is a real totem pole). Want to know how many people are ahead of me? 31. If 25 teachers can't cover a shift, and 6 other subs can't cover a shift, then I get to work it. I have seen the girl ahead of me maybe 3 times in the 4 months I have been there.

What am I guilty of? Doing what my head teacher told me to do.



Finances.

HA! What finances? We have had to spend all of our savings in the last 2 months. We have NONE. No more. At all. We have exactly $198.74 in our bank. That is checking. Because I had to empty the savings completely this week so we could afford to pay off our debt. We have gone from having $6000 to having $198.74! In 2 months. And now I won't be bringing anything in. Again. I will be lucky to make $100 in one pay period!

Gee, who's real name is George, told me to see about support. I doubt we qualify. If they go by last year we won't. We will be making $30,000 less this year than last year. I have worked for a much lower pay since leaving the evil company and going to the school, and I haven't worked as much, and now I pretty much won't be working at all.

What the hell am I going to do? At this rate, we won't even be able to buy baby things. It will be essentials only. Crib. No changing table. Receiving blankets. No snuggly silky blankets. I probably won't even be able to buy my own kid an outfit at this rate! Screw maternity clothes. If I am not working I might as well stay naked and maybe buy 1 or 2 shirts for when I have to go out. We are so screwed. George's check, is enough to cover the basics, like bills. And cheap cheap cheap, not enough to keep up with my pregnant appetite, groceries. My checks always covered groceries and spending money. If I had to go on bedrest, that is considered temporary disability and at least I would get something!

So, I guess I will fill out a request for assistance at Job and Family services and live off the government for awhile. Because honestly, it is hard enough to find a job around here, let alone find one when you're pregnant.

UGH! WHAT AM I GOING TO DO?