I’ve been blessed to have a great kid. I’m not sure if it’s my parenting or if she’s just a good kid but I’m not questioning it. She spends a lot of her free time volunteering at our local animal shelter which she loves. A couple of weeks ago she decided to volunteer her time serving food to the homeless. The place in question gave her a single table to serve, clean up after, etc. I know she is capable of doing this as she is 15 years old and can do it at home easy enough. Other people took over her duties at this shelter and as she’s not much for confrontation she stepped back and let them do it. They then proceeded to yell at her for not doing anything. Way to go, you really showed her the positives of trying to help other people that are currently less fortunate than her. I guess she can take this as a life lesson and go back to helping animals and reading to seniors, the beings who actually appreciate her efforts. I just don’t understand why, with all the little shit head teenagers being violent and useless, she was treated like that for trying to help. —Loves Her Kid
This article appears in Apr 5-11, 2012.
too bad, tell her to stick with the animals, they always are appreciative
What PG said. The trouble with volunteer organizations is that, over time, they develop their own internal hierarchical structure, where people rise to appropriate level of their own egos. I hope it doesn’t put her off, and I wish her good luck in the future. Sounds like you’ve got a kid to be very proud of. We’re all the richer for that.
All you do is TELL, TELL, TELL.
While you can’t post the name of the orgaization here, post it somewhere where you can.
And word of mouth is powerful. Tell everyone each tim eyou get the opportuinity. As well, be certain to tell the organization of this plan. They’ll appreciate the feedback.
While I suspect the yeller was a volunteer themself, maybe it was a staff person. Either way, the organization needs to sufffer the consquenses of poor management.
What a sin! This is terrible!
Tell your daughter she’s a gem of a person and there are plenty of people who do appreciate a thoughtful giving kid!!!
You obviously did a great job raising her so I’m sure you’ll have no problem explaining that there are assholes in the world, but there are also some awesome ones too and to keep her chin up. 🙂
And like PG said: animals have tons of appreciation and love so you can’t go wrong there!!!
I used to work for a local charity that dealt with a lot of arms length agencies, and I have to say, SOME of those people were the laziest and rudest people I have ever met. Most were very nice, but the mean ones are the ones that stick in my mind. Stick with unfortunate animals, they are completely helpless and dependant on the kindness of others. They are not afforded the opportunities/choices that people fucked up for themselves.
It is hard to get good help these days.
I like what Pretty Kitty had to say……..especially the learning a lesson part……..that there are ass-holes out there……..that’s such a good lesson to learn.
Despite your own efforts to do good & to be good, these evil people rise up out of nowhere and fuck you over.
Love the avatar Harper.
Yeah, like the others said, stick with the critters.
this is one of the reasons that i don’t do that shit anymore, o.p., people are just fucking assholes, no matter who, or where they are. tell your girl to not let it get to her, and be bigger than those that gave her flack, fuck em.
The real life lesson, if you’re willing to share it with her, is that sometimes things do not work out as planned. There are grating personalities everywhere (even volunteers). It should not discourage her from seeking new experiences and outlets for her volunteer work. There are other shelter’s in the city and perhaps she would have a better experience at one of them?
It sounds like you have a wonderful daughter and you have every right to be proud and protective of her. Do not allow one bad experience to set her back. Encourage her to try again.