People are taking shortcut

We all know we have to get there early, we all know there are reasons we can’t get there early, we all know this parade is more for our children than for ourselves, people will understand that. What I don’t know and don’t understand is that; some people think they can come in 5 minutes, or even 1 minute before it starts and just drop in front of the first row. Yeah, you heard it right, in front of the “first row”, which literally means, on the road and not the curb seats. Not only is this unfair to people who had been there hours waiting, THIS also sends the message to the child/ren you are saying that, “look, you can get whatever you want without much efforts.”

There was this guy, who came in the last minute and dumped his kid right in front of everybody, and he stood there just like that! Seconds later I guess his kid couldn’t really see from the spot, he put him on his shoulder!! People started talking to him and some pull his shirt to get him out of the way, cause the first float was coming in any minute; he wouldn’t listen, he gave dirty look and shouted back to the crowds, even the police on site had to talked to him few times because he finally left angrily, and swore of course.

People are being selfish and lazy

We were at the third row of this fire hydrant, right across from 33 Yonge Street. I know people jaywalk there, because I had done it too if I am late for meetings/appointments, so I’m guilty myself. I have no problem if you risk your own safety being selfish and lazy, you make the call you take the consequences; however it is completely different when you are being selfish and lazy, for risking others, especially children’s safety. Maybe the fire hydrant is easier to access and pass on regular days but certainly not on the day of parade, the biggest, famous Santa Claus Parade in Toronto.

So people cut through us despite the traffic light is just 30 seconds walk down the street, with their fully loaded briefcase/backpack, or skateboard, or with their child in arms; regardless whether they say “Excuse me” or not, didn’t matter my girls were squeezed/squished and hit by their belongings, couple times they almost fell from the chairs. People passed anyway.

People are verbally bullying

As a mother with kids at the Parade, I will let you pass, or let you squeezed in if there’s room; heck I’ll even let one parent in for the kid’s safety. However I have this woman, came 10 minutes after the Parade stared and asked if her little girl can stand between my girls, and wouldn’t listen when I told her it was really tight there. She pushed her girl in between my husband and my 6 year-old who was 1 inch behind the fire hydrant. Only did I noticed couple times after she turned and look at me in pain (I am such a bad mother) that she was being pushed against the fire hydrant, so I said to this mother “Excuse me, your daughter is leaning on my daughter and there is a fire hydrant in front of her, could you please…” Without letting me finish, this mom yelled at me “You are such a selfish b**ch, how can my tiny girl lean on your daughter, you are just an a**hole!” and she went on for ONE MINUTE. I was completely shocked, not only my girls have never heard of these words, I could also see they were frightened; to protect my children I repeatedly said to this women, “You have a good day and bye bye now”…Why would I bring myself down to her level?

I was really upset I had to comfort my girls and also myself, for things we had not done wrong for, why did I get called name when I try to protect them? Aren’t we parents supposed to model in front of our children? Why can’t we have a bit more of understanding, courtesy or at least some respects to people around us?

It’s such a shame we experience this at the 106th Toronto Santa Claus Parade, I think we’ll stick to our Mississauga Santa Claus Parade, or Brampton or Oakville from now. Were you at the Toronto Santa Claus Parade too? Can you let me know your spot if you have different experience so I know next time if we ever decide to go again?

Would you still want the job if you knew all about this?  For those of you who know me, I definitely would !!  Shocking ?? I know !!!

PARENT – Job Description This is hysterical. If it had been presented this way, I don’t know if any of us would have done it!!!! POSITION : Mum, Mummy, Mama, Ma, Mom Dad, Daddy, Dada, Pa, Pop JOB DESCRIPTION : Long term, team players needed, for challenging, permanent work in an often chaotic environment. Candidates must possess excellent communication and organizational skills and be willing to work variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends and frequent 24 hour shifts on call. Some overnight travel required, including trips to primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in far away cities! Travel expenses not reimbursed. Extensive courier duties also required. RESPONSIBILITIES : The rest of your life. Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily, until someone needs $5. Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly. Also, must possess the physical stamina of a pack mule and be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat in case, this time, the screams from the backyard are not someone just crying wolf. Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges, such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets and stuck zippers. Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars and coordinate production of multiple homework projects. Must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings for clients of all ages and mental outlooks. Must be a willing to be indispensable one minute, an embarrassment the next. Must handle assembly and product safety testing of a half million cheap, plastic toys, and battery operated devices. Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst. Must assume final, complete accountability for the quality of the end product. Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and janitorial work throughout the facility. POSSIBILITY FOR ADVANCEMENT & PROMOTION : None. Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining, constantly retraining and updating your skills, so that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE : None required unfortunately. On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis. WAGES AND COMPENSATION : Get this!   You pay them! Offering frequent raises and bonuses. A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 because of the assumption that college will help them become financially independent. When you die, you give them whatever is left. The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that you actually enjoy it and wish you could only do more. BENEFITS : While no health or dental insurance, no pension, no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and no stock options are offered; this job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth, unconditional love, and free hugs and kisses for life if you play your cards right. ** AND A FOOTNOTE ‘THERE IS NO RETIREMENT  –  EVER!!!

As a Canadian, it’s wonderful to see people I know or meet through social media are doing fantastic jobs.  Craig Kielburge, Co-Founder of Free the Children, is one of first few people got to Haiti shortly after the disaster.  12for12k, a charity aims to combine social media awareness and fund-raising to change the lives of millions worldwide, started by Danny Brown, has already raised over $6,000.   Every time I watch the news, hear it on radio or see the pictures, I still reach down to my pocket and see how I can help.  It feels good and proud to know real people do care, for those in need.

Last week, I heard there are several elementary schools in my area (Mississauga, Brampton and Oakville) that has set prizes for specific amount of donation.  For example, donate $20 get stickers, donate $50 get a recorder, whole class donate over $150 will have pizza party.  In my opinion as a parent, I think this is so fundamentally wrong.  Setting the goal is fine but the motivation has got skewed during the process.  Think about kids coming home and telling you to donate $20 so s/he can get stickers?  One parent even asked me, “It’s for good cause, what’s the difference of those celebrity or people donate millions of dollars?”   My response?  They can decide how much they are willing to donate for whatever reasons (good cause, tax saving, or fame, yeah, I know I’ll get slap for saying it) but for our children, we need to teach them about compassion, how to help the needs and give back to community, and every penny counts, definitely not for prizes.

Certainly this is not the reason why schools encourage donation  but unfortunately the messages got twisted during the communication.  I’m just glad the school my girls go to didn’t ask donation this way, and both girls proudly gave money out from their piggy banks knowing got nothing in return except sense of accomplishment.

Do you agree?  What was the message your child(ren) bring home about donation?  Keep my fingers crossed the three cases I heard are the odds.