(I am 17 years old, and I volunteer at a local daycare center. It is part of my job to interview people if they want to send their children here.)
Me: “Hello and welcome to [Daycare]. I understand you want to send [Child] here?”
Mother: “Yes, I’m thinking about doing so, if you can meet my standards.”
Me: “Okay, then—”
Mother: “Well, don’t be useless, child! Show me around!”
Me: “Well, here is the main playroom where the children—”
Mother: “What cleaning supplies do you use?”
Me: “I’m sorry, what?”
Mother: “Don’t be daft, child! What cleaning supplies do you use here?”
Me: “We use [Brand #1].”
Mother: “Oh, I don’t like them. I demand that you use [Brand #2].”
Me: “Okay, I’ll tell my boss to see if she can ask the janitors to use [Brand #2] next time.”
Mother: “You had better, child!”
(At this point, her child begins climbing over the nap-time cribs.)
Me: “Oh, don’t do that, [Child]. You could fall and get hurt!”
Mother: “No, it’s okay, sweetie. I say you can.”
Me: “What? No, ma’am, she isn’t allowed to do that here.”
Mother: “You can’t tell someone else’s child what to do!”
Me: “When we’re watching her we get to set and enforce rules.”
Mother: “Well, if [Child] comes here, she will be allowed to climb over the couch.”
Me: “No, I’m sorry, ma’am. If [Child] comes here, she will be receiving no special treatment, and will not be climbing over the couch.”
Mother: “Yes, she will.”
Me: “No, she won’t.”
Mother: “YES, SHE WILL, BECAUSE I SAID SO!”
(The mother stamps her foot hard on ground. I am speechless.)
Mother: “Now, stupid child, give me the papers so that [Child] can be signed up. I request that you stay in another room from my little girl at all times!”
Me: “But, ma’am! It’s all one room!”
(My boss, who has been watching our exchange, comes over.)
Boss: “That’s okay, because you’re fired.”
Me: “Why? I’m really good with the kids! They like me! They do! And I work for $2.50 for every two hours without complaining! This job means everything to me! Please! I’ll work at $0.50 for every three hours! I need this job so much!”
Mother: “Serves you right for being a senseless b**** to these children.”
Boss: “No, [My Name], you are not fired. [Mother], you are.”
(The mother just stops and stands in awe.)
Boss: “[My Name] was being very helpful to you, and you kept cutting her off. Then, she enforced a big rule, and you told the child to continue to do so anyway. Then you called her a senseless b****, and laughed at her for begging to stay with these children. Now, get out before I call the police.”
Mother: “Fine! I don’t need this place! It sucks anyway!”
(The mother grabs her child and leaves. My boss turns to me.)
Boss: “Your next lunch break is on me, you’ve been promoted to $20 for every two hours, and you can go home now.”
