Awkward

[cooties_are_real]

I had an exchange with a grandmother today that turned awkward (and this is not the first time.) She was here to see what her Little Darling would need to get to use the restroom anytime she wanted since the teachers are not letting her out of class to go. As we discussed this issue, the Little Darling came into the office to give GM something. (Now at this time I had 3-4 other students in my office) During GM and Little Darling's exchange, GM threatened to knock LD through my wall (GM voice is gruff and loud). Awkward all the way around for everyone except GM. What is sad, is you know this child gets talk down to all the time. There has been some exchanges with GM that make me want to cry. If GM talks to student like that in front of me, I can only imagine how she talks to her at home.

To make matters worse, LD does not want to be here at school and has made it clear by not staying in class or doing her work. Teachers are frustrated with her and really so am I. I want LD to be more than her raising and try to input positive when I can, but I don't see her wanting to be better.

[nursetlm, ADN]

I'm sorry to hear this.

[verdeacres]

I am so sorry for the LD also, so many tough family situations that the grandparents end up having to raise the kids. No excuse - but she probably never signed up for the responsibility of doing this - and is bitter. The kid deserves better.

[MrNurse(x2), ADN]

I am afraid there are more situations like this than we can bear to think. No wonder it is a hurting world out there.

[Flare, ASN, BSN]

Having had similar exchanges behind the closed door of my bathroom or over hearing similar type things in the hall I am not shy when it comes to challenging the parent and saying to them "I just heard you say to your child that you'd put them through the wall." (or whatever was said) I'm not saying that it becomes a CPS type thing - cps probably wouldn't even take a report on a verbal threat unless there was more meat to the case, but it does remind them that people are listening and that now you have your antennas up for this child. They usually start posturing and give me a line like "Oh, well I'd never really do that." to which i'll reply with something like "Your child is 6 and looks upset, so I am not sure that they don't believe that."

[scuba nurse, BSN, MSN, RN]

Unfortunately we see this all too many times! Do you have a school adjustment counselor, or a social worker? Maybe talk to them about this child and see if they can help her. I rely on mine all the time and run things by her when I am in this situation. It is so sad to see and hear, because you are right, I am sure it is worse at home. Good luck!

[MHDNURSE]

Yeah, that's really hard and sad. We have several kids here at my school (K and 1st) with unstable family situations filled with anger and violence. It really kills me hearing some of the things these littles say. We had a restraint just before the holidays and this tiny little first grader is kicking and trying to stab a staff with his pencil and screaming "don't fu@king touch me bit@h" !!! The kid is SIX! Cleary he hears this language and sees this violence on a normal basis. I had another kid last week, in Kindergarten who came to see me having asthma issues and says to me word for word "My asthma is bothering me because my daddy was smoking weed in the bathroom all day". Five years old. So sad. Parents show up to pick their kids up smoking a joint or reeking like they just smoked. Moms screaming expletives at their baby daddies on their cell phones as they are walking their kids into the building...So hard not to want to fix all of these broken families.

[kidzcare]

These stories make me feel so sad.

I had a situation with a student's brother earlier this year. The student is 12 and the brother is 21. She wanted meds for a headache and didn't keep any at the school. So I got permission for her adult brother to bring some in. He was so disrespectful. First thing, he was belligerent asking me "Why dont' you keep this sh!t here for the kids?" I told him to watch his language because we are in a school and I had to ask him twice more in the 5 minutes he was in my office. The last time was while he was cursing in casual conversation with his 12 year old sister and they both snickered when I told him he would have to stop swearing.

[OrganizedChaos, LVN]

This is why I believe people should have to be tested/have a license to procreate. So many people having kids that shouldn't be.