The Queen's Rambles

I’m a bad neighbor.

We have a very friendly neighborhood and I talk to anyone who is out and about. It’s really nice to recognize people and know that if something were to happen you could possibly knock on their door or something. One guy even pushed my car up the hill during the big storm a few years ago.

Anyway, one of Erik’s little friends has a mom. Obviously. I believe all his little friends have moms. They had to come from somewhere.

But this mom: I talk to her sometimes, but can’t really understand her. She talks really, really, really fast and has a strong accent because she’s from the Philippines. Also, she is just kind of crazy in an ADHD kind of way, so I can’t follow her thought process.

She came running out tonight, telling me she had something for me.

Turns out she’s selling Mary Kay now, and had a catalog for me.

Long time Queen of Ramble readers, you can see where this is headed.

This is when I became the bad neighbor. I told her I’d sold Mary Kay and they would never get another dime of my money because they are a big scam. I also told her she could sell back her stuff for 90% of what she paid if she ever needed to do that.

She got pretty defensive (of course) and told me how great it was and how she was already making money and all her friends wanted to sell with her (aside: how the hell are you ever supposed to make money if you are supposed to talk all your customers into selling?).

I wouldn’t take a catalog. I tried to make a joke of it, but I think she was pretty offended. Bad neighbor.

I suppose I could have taken the easy road and just taken the danged catalog, but you know me. I get my panties in a twist and can’t go against my own values. And my values tell me that Mary Kay is a big ol’ scam that steals money from innocent women while trying to tell them that they are supporting women. Also, they pray to a dead woman but also claim they are a Christian company. I simply can’t comprehend how the women who are into church and Christiany stuff can sit there and listen to them pray to a dead woman and think that’s a good idea. Why are they not running for the hills? Because God and Mary Kay Ash want them to be rich?

I view my refusal to partake as a favor to the consultant. It gives them a taste of the negativity that many people feel, but few ever share. The sooner they hear the negative, the better. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

I had to go to her house later to get Erik for dinner and she said something about kindergarten. She is pissed that they separate the kids into reading groups based on reading skills. All I could gather is that her son doesn’t know how to read so it is unfair for him to be put into a lower group. I tried to explain that the groups are actually good things because the kids will be getting reading instruction on their level, but my words didn’t matter. A pissed off mama is going to be a pissed off mama. She’s really angry that some people have taught their kids to read before school starts and doesn’t understand why anyone would do that.

Well. . .

We live in a highly competitive area with highly educated families. We are actually pretty low-key about academic achievement in our household, yet Erik can still do some basic reading. Ten years ago he would be entering first grade instead of kindergarten this year.

I know families who send their preschoolers to summer school so they have an academic edge. I wouldn’t do that, but this lady didn’t send her kid to any sort of preschool. He was her baby and no way was she sending her baby away from her.

And now he can’t read and she’s pissed that other kids can read.

Does any of this make any sense? Because it makes no sense to me.

Also, I needed to explain why the teachers send home Teacher Wish Lists along with regular school supply lists. I like that our district calls them wish lists so it feels more like a donation than a requirement. I know not all families can afford everything on the list, especially families that have several children in the school. But I also know people who get their backs up and say they aren’t buying anything for the teachers. Ummmmm. Those items are not for the teachers. Those items are for the students, your child included. Most school districts used to supply many of the items on the lists, but as budgets are cut further and further, teachers are left with fewer and fewer supplies. People without children often vote down any additional funding for schools. This leaves the burden on the teachers and parents. Teachers don’t make much money, yet they pour their heart and souls and often their pocketbooks into their classrooms and students. If you can afford to buy the wish list items, you should do so gladly. They are for your child. They are used to enhance your child’s education (or just give your child a chance to blow his nose in a tissue instead of his sleeve).