6 July 12026
First of all, a clerical error enrolled me in the Pony School 401k... for a summer job. I never received a warning email or word from the director--this didn't happen last year. So.
I had to unearth the notice that they're processing in my trash email, but their help line and dashboard and AI Bot do not acknowledge the existence of my email address.
Neat. So I've been on hold to talk to a person for ten minutes, which puts me in hold music and a friendly bot voice telling me I can access help much easier by going to their website, which also does not acknowledge my email address. Neat.
In the meantime, I'm writing and waiting.
Rough first day back. I'd say 90% of the kids are repeats from the June session, which in theory is great: they know the drill. The flipside is now they're comfortable, and are revealing themselves for Who They Are.
Right out of the cannon, C revealed a hidden bossy bully we didn't see in June. He forcibly held the doors to the playhouse closed, refusing entry to other kids. He was asked three times to stop the behavior. The third time I stood a foot away from him and said "No. Stop. Leave the door open for friends."
Two minutes later, he's screaming and crying in pain.
Because another kid who wanted in forced the pinned door open and smashed his finger. I just looked at him and said "Consequences are real, Buddy." I also got him a bandaid, I'm not cruel, just realistic.
Also M, who turned five in June, is now too old and too cool for pony camp and is practicing her adult RBF. She's not acting out, or refusing to participate, she's just making sure we all know she's bored and soooooooo over this baby stuff.
In addition, one kid apparently got a bladder infection after June camp because she won't use the kids' bathroom. I don't police who does and does not actually go, I just walk them through and make sure they wash their hands. Apparently she won't use it because there is no privacy. Good luck in school, kid.
So. Today grandma let us know, and now she will be allowed to use the adult restroom when she needs to go. Which is a single seater with a door, the size of a closet. It's separate and clearly "special for grown ups". Which is not going to cause any issues at all with the other girls.
I'm not saying I have a better solution; I do not. I am saying that special treatment for any reason causes social issues. Everyone will want to use the adult bathroom, and all I have to argue with is "She's shy". At least when a kid has their special snack it's due to an allergy, and I can say "That's his snack from home, he can't have what we're having" and there's a tangible reason a four year old can grasp. "She's shy" is not going to work, friends. I can name three kids right now who will pipe up and say "I'm shy", and two others who will volunteer to go to the kid bathroom with her and guard the stall. Which warms my heart, actually.
Ok, got a human after locating a phone number. Turns out I was unknowingly enrolled last summer,and disenrolling means being returned the money I put in last year as well as this pay period. There is no penalty for action on this 401k because I'm 60 which they consider "retirement age".
Yet I was enrolled as an employee...so I'm working, but cool. I'll take the money back. It's an unexpected bonus, I just wanted to disenroll and get my money back from this paycheck. It's not a life changing amount, but July historically sucks for us financially and it will be a welcome perk. Or gratuity. I like that. I'm being tipped as a teacher.
Because I want every penny, especially if the June repeat kiddos in July prove to be as challenging as they were today. Oof.
Ok. Now I have to scrub the carpet downstairs where the dog pooped. My life is just one glamorous moment after another.
Scene.
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