Steve’s off this week, so we’re finally able to deal with the long list of chores: doctors’ appointments, haircuts, and Aftercare for Jonah. Jonah has to go to Aftercare twice a week this fall, and we needed to sort out the paperwork.

Public schools have to contract with local providers, often the YMCA, to provide Aftercare for students after school hours. 60% of women work, but the school day ends at 3:10. Um, rather huge problem. We pay about $150 a month for the program. It would be cheaper to have a babysitter, but I like the dependability of the program.

Jonah is in Aftercare until 4:00 twice a week. He likes it. They feed him a snack and he plays with legos with some friends. Some schools are annoyed that non-working parents are using these programs to avoid having playdates for the kids at their homes. Other than the time that he forgot to go to Aftercare and took the bus home, we’ve been pretty happy with the program.

A couple of weeks ago, I got a call from the director at 6:30 at night saying that it was sign-up night, and in order to be guaranteed a spot for Jonah for next fall, I had to get down to the school gym that minute. Steve wasn’t due to come home until 8:00. One kid was doing homework on the kitchen table and the other was in the bathtub. She said she had forgotten to tell me ahead of time that that was the sign up night.

If I missed that night’s sign-up, she said that I would have to drive to their home office, twenty minutes away, and sign up in the next two weeks. Every single minute of every day, I’m either preparing for class, lecturing in class, taking Ian to speech therapy, making dinner, driving Jonah to TKD, or helping with homework. That’s it. I have zero free minutes in the day.

So, we’ve completely missed the deadline. Today, we call up to find out what we’re supposed to do.

Aftercare Lady: Since you’ve missed the re-enrollment weeks, you have sign up next Tuesday during the day. There’s a long line, so get there early.
Me: I can’t. I work.
Aftercare Lady: You’ll have to take off work.
Me: I can’t. I’m a college professor.
[She never suggest that my husband take off work.]
Aftercare Lady: You’ll have to take off work.
Me: I can’t. That’s why I need you guys. I work. I can’t take off work.
Aftercare Lady: You’ll have to get someone to wait on line for you.
Me: Who? Who’s going to spend hours on line for me? People have lives.
Aftercare Lady: Why didn’t you sign up that night at the school?
Me: I can’t leave my kids and run to a school in a moment’s notice. My husband doesn’t come home until 8:00.
Aftercare Lady: I’ll call you back.