Rant

I need to take up some ranting space for a minute....

So anyway, I had picked up a second casual PT job on the side. I was to be acting as a mentor / buddy / tutor for an ADD boy named "JP" ( For short ... I won't post his real name) I was to be coming over and helping him around the home, occasionally distracting him out of his mothers hair, help him work on some goals like bring his pre-school reading level up to a gr. 5 reading level Ect.

He is is an awesome kid. He bonded to me in seconds. He makes me laugh to the point of tears. He is positivly enthusiastic and I have a great time with him. In a month I already have him reading 3rd grade level books, with help, and found ways to help him focus. I have worked with hundreds of kids, he has probably been the most joyful creative, and naturally comedic I have met. He has respect for elders and has no problem following preset rules. He is amazing.


My delemma is the job has not been what it was advertised to be or what I was interviewed for... It was advertised as a "Youth Worker" job, but it's a straight out babysitting job. It is well paid, but it's not what I understood it to be. Thats not as big of a problem as the mother though.

The mother has recently been in a Car accident, she can't work, is in pain all the time, and is a very frustrated person. I've been slowly learning of the mothers temper, There was a hole in a solid plaster wall where JP told me his mother had slammed the door open in a fit. I've been told by the mother how she lost it on a camp couselor for letting her son play in the Mud at camp. By JP how she got angry at a Tim hortons clerk for putting regular instead of strwberry cream chees on a Bagel. And I've witnessed her loose it on her son for wiggling in his seat.

She has been putting her son into Day camps with extended care so he isn't home between 6:00 AM and 7:30 pm she feeds him dinner and sends him off to bed. She maybe spends a total of 1 hour a day with her son on weekdays. I'm beginning to think that she doesn't care too much about what he's learning or not, Just as long as he is out of her hair. She seems to loose her temper and yell at him alot too, And from my experiences with him, I see no place for that. He responds so positivly to attention.

I wouldn't say she is an "Unfit" Mother but she is a very angry person who would rather have others take care of her son at this time. I think this throwing fits is a very recent thing in the house ever since the accident. I Understand the frustration because of the recovery I had to go through. A car accident takes away so much ability. I severly doubt that the son is in any physical danger, He is well fed and the father gives him lots of attention and play time so he isn't "neglected" He isn't in a bad home, It's just the mother has some things she needs to work out. He is living in a home with a family problem that can work itself out with time and healing.

While I really want to work with JP, This isn't a good environment for me to get caught up in Or the kind of work experience I was expecting to get. The Mother could loose it on me at any time, and she doesn't add any support for JP to hold onto the things I teach him, so it's like starting from scratch every week.

I'm sure I made up my mind that I will give her notice that I'm not going to work with her son anymore. But i'm gonna give it tome time to figure out the most tactful way to tell her.

I feel bad for JP. I could do so much more for him. But it's all in vain without parental support. Also if I stick around any longer He will just continue to bond to me. Which would make a good-bye harder and harder for him. What sucks is I actullay care for this kid, and without the right support from the parents, or me coming over more often ( which won't happen) I can't help him.... I guess this is just one of thoose "POOPY" situations in life.


Well I'm glad I got that all out, but I don't feel any better yet, I don't think I will till I give her notice. Oh Well what can I do?