Saturday at last

Hectic week at the new center. A Pre K Graduation was set for Friday. I had already had mine at the "old" center. and really didn't see the need to attend. Especially since I have only been the "new" Pre K Lead since May 25th. The credit for all the learning that has gone on certainly doesn't fall into my court. but I want to continue to find my place at the new center. so there I was after a full day at the old empty center.
The production was quite adorable. there was a DJ {the director's hubby. he really is a jack of all trades & has quite a sound system to boot! I love how he is supportive of his wives career}. there were Many store bought banners and signs especially for a graduation. The children had carnations pinned to their gowns & tassels hanging jauntily from their caps.
The young teachers adorably dressed in summer finery, glad no doubt to be out of the uniform we must wear daily. A nice turn out by families. one mother, I am assuming a hair dresser by trade, dragged from her seat to help get hair ready for the big production. And I am talking children's hair! there was a curling iron, & pomade, bobby pins & hair spray. I am not sure if she carried these items with her, but I do know she was a great sport about helping out. It was a wonderful success. I kept thinking how I must use some of these ideas for "our" next graduation. Only to be brought up short when remembering, this is now MY graduation. there is no center that is under my guidance any longer.
I am sure I was feeling blue because I had spent the day at the old center. which is how I had started the week. for moving day finally arrived.
Monday had only been an hours worth while a manager for the moving company walked through to see what would be involved in the move. My very competent assistant director had assembled & labeled Piles of supplies and treasures that were to go to the different sister centers. so that was easy to see what would go where.
Friday was the actual pack and go. The movers were very professional. Very pleasant. and speedy. I had been told it was to be an 8 hour job. but it was done in a little over 4 hours. and the 4 hours flew.
I had phoned another director early in the a.m. to ask that she send out a group email alerting centers today was the day to expect things arriving. As their,{ the other centers}, busy summer programs are progressing my center closing is but a blip on their radars. But a truck arriving with things to "put away" well that is a major disruption ~ especially on a Friday! I wanted to send fair warning. Yet i hear tell, some were still surprised and not happy for the arrival of things. Because especially with furniture, oh hell, even the toys, need a new assigned spot. And when you already have things set up a certain way, and the kids are all there in full force, well.... just another headache. I also phoned my DM to let her know things were moving along and to ask about the copy machine pick up. That has been a crazy ongoing saga. all I can say is avoid the RICOH company at all costs. Lousey product and crap customer service.
Amazingly another pickup was scheduled, and I said I would believe it when I saw it go out the door. It did at last get picked up. but not before I had some fun with a photo page in mind for my never ending scrapbook. I took pictures of the copy machine and I engaged in one finally battle. just silly stuff. And then the gentleman who picked up the machine was a good sport and posed with it with a thumbs up sign!
So finally I was all alone in an empty building. couple left over things I am sure headed for the scrap pile if no daycare friends can get them this week end. I swept all the floors. And as I was preparing to leave two women came to the door begging to see the building. Excited with dreams and ideas for a "new" center. Their new center. The soon to be "director"~ finishing all her classes~ has a bright untarnished vision. and her "Passion". the newbees always call it a "passion". I didn't have the heart to tell her that the corporate centers are barely making it, and that Passionate mom & pop centers are folding at a rapid rate. I didn't bring up insurance, and taxes, and licensing fees, supplies and food costs. trying to find decent teachers. blah, blah, blah.
I let her have her passion. You go girl. You go.

Monday. 
Again. Funny how that happens.

Last Friday was payday. I was not paid correctly. I was shorted an entire week. I have gone into paycheck limbo. You see, directors do not clock in. 
Groupleaders do. IF.....

you are in the computer. I am not.

I am still in between centers. Sure I am in the classroom. Unless something needs handled at the "old" center.
A tomb of silence with all the equipment still awaiting the moving man to distribute it, the signs taken down that had proclaimed our lineage with our sister centers.
Weeds popping up at an alarming rate. and the "roll off" sitting largely in the unused parking lot beckoning all to toss a load or two of large item trash.

I know. cause I had to go there today to await the "moving man" pre nup. he comes to see how much will need to be moved. then this friday he will send his crew to move it and distribute.

I was told this will take 8 hours.

the "old" center closed for business on May 13th.
the last day any staff was there was May 20th.
I sat there alone waiting copy machine pick up and moving pre nup for two days. Neither came!

So off I went to the new center.
now almost a month later things are wrapping up.

I feel ripped anew.


it is hard to go from center director to group lead. You still want to take over. you see things that "your center" didn't do and want this center not to do it either!!

my director is wonderful. Her staff all work well together. and yet there I am the odd man out.  they are all kind and friendly. some more so than others. but I am a stranger who keeps trying to change the system.
and really that is not my place.


one example and then I will wrap it up for the evening.


With times financially tight, many centers are doing their own "house keeping". Our center did it 5 days a week. we didn't have janitorial at all.
The new center has staff "house keeping" on Mondays & thursdays.
I dread it. cause I am mopping and cleaning and trying to get it down before I miss my ride home!
today I decide I will take my remaining 10 kids to the School Age room 15 minutes before my shift ends. My room is large and the main room that everyone must walk through to pick up and drop off.
my director , when asked about moving the kids, suggested I have the children help me clean!
at my old center, we never had the children clean! to me it seems almost cinderellaish!
"here, pay your tuition, and let me put your child to work!"
there is of course the school of thought that it is helping the children to be self sufficient. 
REALLY? mopping & vacuuming and scrubbing the communal toilets? when you are 4 years old.


for now I sat them down with quiet toys/centers, while I cleaned and put up wet floor signs as parents walked through my room to get their children.
some parents so apologetic as the minced across the wet floor.
others scowling as they loudly announced to Jr. to be careful, the floor is slippery!! 


tonight I am tired. I will figure this out. I will.