I babysit a lot, so there are certain things I have come to expect when being hired to watch someone's child(ren). I expect to have the kid(s) respect me. I expect to be paid what I was originally told I would be paid. The most important thing I expect, though, is information.
I got a text on Monday about the possibility of babysitting on Friday. I said yes an never hard anything back. It is now Thursday, and I am receiving a message about sitting tomorrow until 1 am Saturday. WHAT?!?!
OK, these people complained that babysitters flake out on them at the last minute all the time. I didn't think sything of it until now. Now I realize that the problem is probably them. Normally, babysitters get AT LEAST a week's notice. That's how it should be. Responsible parents get a babysitter before making plans. These people seem to think of babysitters last when planning. That is NOT how it should be.
Having a kid means needing to plan. This kind of last minute crap is ridiculous. Babysitters have lives, too. We do not been to another family's every whim. I barely see my own family. I was gonna hang out with them tomorrow, but I guess not.
Parents in need of sitters: GET YOURSELF TOGETHER. Or else we'll all quit on you.
Thursday, June 19, 2014
Thursday, June 12, 2014
Think before you speak
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. That is fine, but there is a time and place for giving certain opinions, and as I have discovered recently, some people don't know where to draw the line. Allow me to explain.
Since I was 10 years old, I have wanted to go to medical school. When I was younger, people would smile and say, "Good for you." I don't think they really thought I would stick with that goal, but I have. Now that I am in college and have stuck with this goal, the reactions I get have greatly changed. Most people just say, "Wow, good luck," and then proceed to say something along the lines that they could never do that, and wow, I must be really smart.
But this is not the response that I get from everyone, not by a long shot. Now that I'm older and still want to go to medical school, people feel the need to give me their opinions, no matter what they are. At times, these opinions are not very nice at all. Here are some of the more common (and sometimes rude) responses I get.
1. Let's start with the most offensive response, which is more common than you'd think. "Are you doing it for the money?" Um, NO! And how rude! No, my reason for wanting to be a doctor is not that it pays well. My reason is that I want to help people. I was also given the gift of not being very squeamish. THAT is why I want to be a doctor. I would also like to travel to third world countries to provide medical care. Does that pay well? No, but I want to do it. Also, it's nice to know how highly you think of me. If you ask me if I'm doing it for the money, I will turn sour, get sarcastic, and judge you, so just don't even go there.
2. "You must be a real nerd." I usually play it safe by saying, "Yeah, I kind of am." On the inside, though, I am screaming and throwing a fit. If you are not either nerdier than me or my best friend, then it is NOT okay to call me a nerd. I could write an entire rant just on this topic. For the sake of keeping this from being a novel, I will just say that this is offensive, and I'll write another rant on this topic later.
3. "Wow, that's a lot of school." REALLY?! You don't say? People point this out as if I didn't already know that. Yes, I understand that I will be in school for a long time, but I enjoy learning. Besides, if I'm going to be allowed to operate on people, a lot of schooling seems like a good plan to me.
4. "That's expensive," or "You're going to be poor for a while." See #1. Don't talk to me about the money involved in any way, shape, or form.
5. "I hear that surgeons can't have families." That's not true. I can do whatever I want to do, thank you very much. I don't need your pessimism and negativity. Also, butt out of my business. That's my decision, not yours. Back off.
6. "You had better keep your grades up, then." No, I plan on failing. Are you serious? My parents are always on my back about my grades anyways, as if I don't push myself hard enough already. Please, I don't need anyone else riding me.
7. "Oh, could you look at this problem I'm having with _______." This one isn't rude; it's more that it's strange. I'm just in my undergraduate years. I'm not actually IN medical school yet, so I probably don't know what that strange rash on your left ankle is or why your right pinky finger is swollen. If I were you, I'd just go to an actual doctor for advice and treatment.
8. "You can take care of me when I get old!" It's almost funny how often I get this response, actually. Well, as much as I'd love to help, that isn't really my plan. You see, not all doctors work on old people, and I would actually like to work with children, which is quite the opposite. That's what I've wanted to do for a while now. I just don't think that geriatrics is for me. Sorry to disappoint you, but I don't foresee that happening.
9. "Your parents must be so proud of you." This one is hard to respond to. I mean yes, my parents are proud of me, but I also think they'd be just as proud of me if I were becoming a teacher or a writer or a musician or going into any other career. This comment almost makes it seem like you have to be doing something over the top to make your parents proud, which is not the case.
10. "You're following in your mother's footsteps." My mom is a P.A., so yes, I am going down the same career path as my mother. That is great and all, but I'd be doing this whether my mom was in medicine or not. This is MY life and MY decision. Not that I don't love my mom a lot or anything, I just don't like being compared to other people. I'm doing this for me. There is no need to bring anyone else into this decision. Let me do my thing.
11. "My husband's uncle's friend is a doctor." Awesome! What kind of doctor are they? Oh, a proctologist, that's...well, that's interesting.
12. "That's awesome. What made you interested in medicine?" This is the best way to respond. I will respond with, "I have always loved it, and I really want to help people." Then we can continue on with our conversation. See? It's that easy.
Now, I don't mean to say that I don't want to talk about this, because I do. What I'm saying is that, like in every situation, you need to be mindful of what you say. What you may just think of as your opinion or common knowledge on this subject can be hurtful, so think before you speak.
Since I was 10 years old, I have wanted to go to medical school. When I was younger, people would smile and say, "Good for you." I don't think they really thought I would stick with that goal, but I have. Now that I am in college and have stuck with this goal, the reactions I get have greatly changed. Most people just say, "Wow, good luck," and then proceed to say something along the lines that they could never do that, and wow, I must be really smart.
But this is not the response that I get from everyone, not by a long shot. Now that I'm older and still want to go to medical school, people feel the need to give me their opinions, no matter what they are. At times, these opinions are not very nice at all. Here are some of the more common (and sometimes rude) responses I get.
1. Let's start with the most offensive response, which is more common than you'd think. "Are you doing it for the money?" Um, NO! And how rude! No, my reason for wanting to be a doctor is not that it pays well. My reason is that I want to help people. I was also given the gift of not being very squeamish. THAT is why I want to be a doctor. I would also like to travel to third world countries to provide medical care. Does that pay well? No, but I want to do it. Also, it's nice to know how highly you think of me. If you ask me if I'm doing it for the money, I will turn sour, get sarcastic, and judge you, so just don't even go there.
2. "You must be a real nerd." I usually play it safe by saying, "Yeah, I kind of am." On the inside, though, I am screaming and throwing a fit. If you are not either nerdier than me or my best friend, then it is NOT okay to call me a nerd. I could write an entire rant just on this topic. For the sake of keeping this from being a novel, I will just say that this is offensive, and I'll write another rant on this topic later.
3. "Wow, that's a lot of school." REALLY?! You don't say? People point this out as if I didn't already know that. Yes, I understand that I will be in school for a long time, but I enjoy learning. Besides, if I'm going to be allowed to operate on people, a lot of schooling seems like a good plan to me.
4. "That's expensive," or "You're going to be poor for a while." See #1. Don't talk to me about the money involved in any way, shape, or form.
5. "I hear that surgeons can't have families." That's not true. I can do whatever I want to do, thank you very much. I don't need your pessimism and negativity. Also, butt out of my business. That's my decision, not yours. Back off.
6. "You had better keep your grades up, then." No, I plan on failing. Are you serious? My parents are always on my back about my grades anyways, as if I don't push myself hard enough already. Please, I don't need anyone else riding me.
7. "Oh, could you look at this problem I'm having with _______." This one isn't rude; it's more that it's strange. I'm just in my undergraduate years. I'm not actually IN medical school yet, so I probably don't know what that strange rash on your left ankle is or why your right pinky finger is swollen. If I were you, I'd just go to an actual doctor for advice and treatment.
8. "You can take care of me when I get old!" It's almost funny how often I get this response, actually. Well, as much as I'd love to help, that isn't really my plan. You see, not all doctors work on old people, and I would actually like to work with children, which is quite the opposite. That's what I've wanted to do for a while now. I just don't think that geriatrics is for me. Sorry to disappoint you, but I don't foresee that happening.
9. "Your parents must be so proud of you." This one is hard to respond to. I mean yes, my parents are proud of me, but I also think they'd be just as proud of me if I were becoming a teacher or a writer or a musician or going into any other career. This comment almost makes it seem like you have to be doing something over the top to make your parents proud, which is not the case.
10. "You're following in your mother's footsteps." My mom is a P.A., so yes, I am going down the same career path as my mother. That is great and all, but I'd be doing this whether my mom was in medicine or not. This is MY life and MY decision. Not that I don't love my mom a lot or anything, I just don't like being compared to other people. I'm doing this for me. There is no need to bring anyone else into this decision. Let me do my thing.
11. "My husband's uncle's friend is a doctor." Awesome! What kind of doctor are they? Oh, a proctologist, that's...well, that's interesting.
12. "That's awesome. What made you interested in medicine?" This is the best way to respond. I will respond with, "I have always loved it, and I really want to help people." Then we can continue on with our conversation. See? It's that easy.
Now, I don't mean to say that I don't want to talk about this, because I do. What I'm saying is that, like in every situation, you need to be mindful of what you say. What you may just think of as your opinion or common knowledge on this subject can be hurtful, so think before you speak.
Don't choose schools because of your significant other
Dear college students of the world,
This particular rant is for you. The theme today is a bit of advice from yours truly. DO NOT CHOOSE A COLLEGE BASED ON WHERE YOUR SIGNIFICANT OTHER GOES!! Oh my goodness. I did not realize how much of a problem this was until recently. Seriously, people, use your brains. Please, allow me to explain, because I mean this in two ways.
The first scenario would go something like this: two people start dating in high school that are one year apart. For the sake of this example, let's say the guy is one year ahead of his girlfriend. So, he graduates and goes off to school at the University of Somewhere. The following year, the girl is a senior in high school, and it is time for her to pick a school. She has applied, and been accepted, to a whole roster of great colleges and universities, but there is one school on that list that has always been number one. Can you guess which school that would be? University of Somewhere, right! And why? She may say that it's the great academics, or this one spot on campus that makes her feel at home, but she is lying through her teeth. She would not have even considered this school as an option had it not been for the fact that her boyfriend goes to school there. So, she chooses to attend the University of Somewhere in the fall. Eventually, the "perfect" couple breaks up, as most high school couples do, and this stupid choice was made in vain. Sure, she may love other aspects of the school and grow to love it, but she will always have a part of her that regrets choosing a school because of her boyfriend. This is made even more awkward if the school is small, which means they will see each other on a regular basis.
The second scenario could go like this: two people are dating, but are at different schools. At some point, one of them decides to go through the exhausting process of transferring schools because they just can't bear to be so far apart. This is the one that bothers me more. Can you seriously not be apart from each other for a few weeks? Honestly, it's not going to kill you. Skype exists for a reason. My roommate and her boyfriend go to different schools that are not close to each other, and they manage just fine without having to transfer to be together. Really, people. Use the powers of the internet to your advantage!!!
I can't even fathom this kind of craziness in a relationship. And yes, I realize that some people who transfer schools have a good reason to do so, and that choosing a college is based on a lot of different things. At the same time, I know people that really have transferred schools or chosen a college with the driving force behind that decision being that they missed their significant other that much. In my opinion, if you can't stand to be apart for that long then your relationship has some problems and probably won't be surviving for very long, anyways. This is especially true if the relationship started in high school. Following your high school sweetheart to college will not change the fact that most couples that start in high school end up broken up.
Just use your common sense and choose a college for the right reasons. If, after going through all of those reasons, you really like the school, then go there whether your loved one goes there or not. Don't let that be one of the deciding factors in choosing a school, or you will regret it later.
This particular rant is for you. The theme today is a bit of advice from yours truly. DO NOT CHOOSE A COLLEGE BASED ON WHERE YOUR SIGNIFICANT OTHER GOES!! Oh my goodness. I did not realize how much of a problem this was until recently. Seriously, people, use your brains. Please, allow me to explain, because I mean this in two ways.
The first scenario would go something like this: two people start dating in high school that are one year apart. For the sake of this example, let's say the guy is one year ahead of his girlfriend. So, he graduates and goes off to school at the University of Somewhere. The following year, the girl is a senior in high school, and it is time for her to pick a school. She has applied, and been accepted, to a whole roster of great colleges and universities, but there is one school on that list that has always been number one. Can you guess which school that would be? University of Somewhere, right! And why? She may say that it's the great academics, or this one spot on campus that makes her feel at home, but she is lying through her teeth. She would not have even considered this school as an option had it not been for the fact that her boyfriend goes to school there. So, she chooses to attend the University of Somewhere in the fall. Eventually, the "perfect" couple breaks up, as most high school couples do, and this stupid choice was made in vain. Sure, she may love other aspects of the school and grow to love it, but she will always have a part of her that regrets choosing a school because of her boyfriend. This is made even more awkward if the school is small, which means they will see each other on a regular basis.
The second scenario could go like this: two people are dating, but are at different schools. At some point, one of them decides to go through the exhausting process of transferring schools because they just can't bear to be so far apart. This is the one that bothers me more. Can you seriously not be apart from each other for a few weeks? Honestly, it's not going to kill you. Skype exists for a reason. My roommate and her boyfriend go to different schools that are not close to each other, and they manage just fine without having to transfer to be together. Really, people. Use the powers of the internet to your advantage!!!
I can't even fathom this kind of craziness in a relationship. And yes, I realize that some people who transfer schools have a good reason to do so, and that choosing a college is based on a lot of different things. At the same time, I know people that really have transferred schools or chosen a college with the driving force behind that decision being that they missed their significant other that much. In my opinion, if you can't stand to be apart for that long then your relationship has some problems and probably won't be surviving for very long, anyways. This is especially true if the relationship started in high school. Following your high school sweetheart to college will not change the fact that most couples that start in high school end up broken up.
Just use your common sense and choose a college for the right reasons. If, after going through all of those reasons, you really like the school, then go there whether your loved one goes there or not. Don't let that be one of the deciding factors in choosing a school, or you will regret it later.
The Banana Tree
I am fortunate enough to live in an area of the world where I don't see people facing poverty all that often. It is not something that I see every day, but I know that it is out there. Because it does exist in the world, my church has sister parishes in places all over the globe that are in need of our assistance. One of these is in Palestine. A few years ago the came to visit, and they brought us a beautiful gift, a banana tree.
After they left, though, the banana tree's truly sad existence began. It was spring when the visited, so someone decided to put the banana tree outside. BAD idea. See, we are in Maryland. The summers are hot, yes, but they are not as rainy as the tropical climates where banana trees usually grow. Somebody obviously watered it, though, because it made it through the summer and was moved inside for the fall. I now foolishly thought that this'd was where the banana tree would stay to live out its days, but no. The banana tree was once again relocated outside in the late spring. I could have been okay with that, had it not been for what happened next.
Somebody must have decided that the banana tree looked too plan. I imagine their inner monologue going something like this, "It's pretty, but it's missing something. Oh, I know, bananas! How do we fix that? OH! PLASTIC BANANAS!!"
Yes, I'm serious. Plastic bananas were hung from our poor tree using scotch tape and fishing line. And the bananas were not even arranged in bunches, like they would be on a real banana tree. No, each banana was hung all by itself, without any partners.
So now we have a banana tree with some serious psychological issues. First of all, it has a lack of home issues from moving inside and outside every summer. It doesn't know if it should identify as a house plant or a garden tree. It's other issue is its self-esteem. That banana tree will never grow bananas now because someone put those fakes on it. It feels worthless, like it will never be able to do this on its own, so it just will not try.
Please, if you have a banana tree, treat it with love. Don't subject it to torturous moves and fake bananas that ruin its self-esteem. Leave it in one place. Let it grow in its own.
After they left, though, the banana tree's truly sad existence began. It was spring when the visited, so someone decided to put the banana tree outside. BAD idea. See, we are in Maryland. The summers are hot, yes, but they are not as rainy as the tropical climates where banana trees usually grow. Somebody obviously watered it, though, because it made it through the summer and was moved inside for the fall. I now foolishly thought that this'd was where the banana tree would stay to live out its days, but no. The banana tree was once again relocated outside in the late spring. I could have been okay with that, had it not been for what happened next.
Somebody must have decided that the banana tree looked too plan. I imagine their inner monologue going something like this, "It's pretty, but it's missing something. Oh, I know, bananas! How do we fix that? OH! PLASTIC BANANAS!!"
Yes, I'm serious. Plastic bananas were hung from our poor tree using scotch tape and fishing line. And the bananas were not even arranged in bunches, like they would be on a real banana tree. No, each banana was hung all by itself, without any partners.
So now we have a banana tree with some serious psychological issues. First of all, it has a lack of home issues from moving inside and outside every summer. It doesn't know if it should identify as a house plant or a garden tree. It's other issue is its self-esteem. That banana tree will never grow bananas now because someone put those fakes on it. It feels worthless, like it will never be able to do this on its own, so it just will not try.
Please, if you have a banana tree, treat it with love. Don't subject it to torturous moves and fake bananas that ruin its self-esteem. Leave it in one place. Let it grow in its own.
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