You made me late, do you even care?
I’ve been late more than my share. It always makes me feel bad, especially If I know that someone is waiting on me. If I’m running more than a couple minutes late, I call and tell that person if at all possible. Normally running late means that I lost my keys or I was waiting on a kid that forgot to take something to the van with them on the first trip. I’m not all that organized, but we are working on it.
Here lately we have had some professional appointments and personal meet-ups that involved many different things. There have been installations that have been scheduled for one time and the guy shows up hours before, reschedule for the same time the next day because no one was available at that time and then show up hours earlier the next day yet again. The second day was scheduled by the installer himself. Then all of a sudden the call center states that their policy is that no installations will be scheduled after a certain time, which is still an hour before the original time.
Kids. There are a lot of times that our kids are with someone whether it is with the other parent, a grandparent, other family, coaches or whomever else. If we make an appointment for the kids to be home, you agree to it, then make sure my kids are home! I know things happen, but not every single time you have my child. If you are meeting me to drop exchange kids, then be there on time. Don’t tell me that you left your house when you haven’t. Don’t go pick someone else on the way that will add an extra 30 minutes to your drive, when I’m calculating things down to the minute.
Its inconsiderate people! Call me if something went wrong, don’t leave me out of the loop when it directly effects me and my kids.
One example in the last week with someone who is perpetually late:
We planned everything out to see my son’s first football game. We were to meet another parent with our kids on the way at a certain time, so that we were not late for the kickoff. We gave everyone plenty of time to our rendezvous. This was a big football game, the first of the season, and we had 4 kids going with us.
First off, what coach has practice on Friday, so late that it interferes with high school games and visitation? Boy did this throw a stick in our spoke!
The mother was late getting the kids home and dressed to leave. Yes I asked that the kids be dressed for our football game, because I don’t have clothes for these kids that are anything but play clothes. (That’s changing) and changing kids in a van is do-able, but not when there are both girls and boys. We could have changed in a bathroom somewhere, but….
The mother calls to say she is leaving home and is on her way. That’s great, a few minutes is fine, because we included room for this.
Hold on, the mom stops to get a friend. The kids report that it took FOREVER for the friend and her child to get into their car.
The mother arrives with the kids 30 minutes late. Boy am I upset, because kickoff is in minutes.
Our drive to the game is only a few minutes, but when we get there, we have to drive for another 10 minutes to find parking, then park at least a half mile away. We hike to the football field, then around to a really long line.
The school has not prepared, and does not have enough change, so the line gets longer. I then leave everyone in line to find out how much tickets are and then after some math we find the correct change and get to get tickets after some others have cut in line and such.
We walk into the gate and are stopped to count kids , adults and tickets.
Then we have to go to the other side of the stadium, through a crowd that is from the opposing team, with 4 kids walking hand in hand. We get to our side of the stadium and the only seats left are on the bottom row, right where everyone walks.
We missed the kickoff by 30 minutes, and it was almost the 2nd quarter when we sat down. My child was frantic because he knew we should have been there on time, and was scared that something happened or that we decided not to go at all. I had no communication with my son for over an hour, because he was on the field, and I couldn’t get to him until I actually found him on the sidelines.
His face was filled with worry. I was so sad and angry. What was that other mom thinking! What if I did that to her?
Just because you have nothing important going on, doesn’t mean that the other person doesn’t. My kids are just as important as yours are, and my time is just as valuable, if not more in some circumstances. (Just meaning if you have nothing going on and I do, mine is more valuable at that time). Stop imposing on me and my family just because you want to make someone else mad, or you don’t value anyone’s feelings but your own. This is going to come back to you one day. I’m a very understanding person, but at some point I’ve had enough and you will wait on me when you have something important to do.
Wake up and smell the roses! Just don’t take all day when you are holding someone else up from other engagements.
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