My 4 Year Old Is Not An Ex-Con. Thank You.

Posted on 08.06.08 in General and there are 10 comments.

We’ve been visiting a local nursing home for the past couple months. It’s been wonderful. My kids enjoy going, the residents LOVE interacting with them because my children are, in fact, the most adorable children in the world.

But apparently, the Administration thinks my 4 year old is an ex-con.

They give the shifty eye to my 6 year old and 16 month old too.

You see, they have rules and their rules say that they need social security cards, references and other personal details about all volunteers.

ALL VOLUNTEERS. Even babies, apparently.

You may or may not have noticed that I’m a somewhat over protective mom. Remember our Christmas pics from a couple years ago...?

Um...yeah.

I wasn’t happy about giving them my info, so I wasn’t about to give them all identifying information for each of my children.

Especially since I think it’s stupid.

I mean, really. Who does a background check on a 16 month old?

Background check person: “Yep, just as I suspected. He’s a chronic....drooler.”

So, we’re going to have to find another way to volunteer - somewhere else. A place that doesn’t think my 4 year old is an ex con.

(On a more spiritual note, I think this is a fine parallel for legalism. Sometimes we try so hard, in our own power, to make sure that everything is safe - that we make silly decisions that hurt the very people we are professing to help. This is where legalism needs to be balanced with mercy and grace. And where following God needs to be prompted by faith and not fear.)

The Comments:

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Wow, that is so silly.  And such a shame that those sweet seniors are going to miss out on your adorable children because of what sounds like a foolish rule (for kids, anyway).

huh.  They should ammend the rules for under a certain age.  I think it’s very valid to require it of adult volunteers, though.

This is a very good post Kat, and funny too - chronic drooler…

I agree with you. This is clearly a case of “senseless legalism”.

How sorry that they will now loose a good volunteer (you) because of something so silly.

That is ridiculous and you are so right. I never saw it in your story until you pointed it out. It’s a clear, clear picture of legalism. Wow. Good lesson for your kids.

Oh Kat, wasn’t sure if your readers wanted to blow their diets for a cause, but I thought I would put this on here just in case. I know it’s a simple and kind of self-indulgent thing, but it is still a worthy cause.

If you buy a Blizzard today (Thursday) at Dairy Queen, all the proceeds go to Children’s Miracle Network hospitals. This type of issue is near and dear to my heart having two special needs children. These types of hospitals help a LOT of people out there. Medical care is so very expensive and insurance is very careful NOT to help anymore than they have to. (often denying things they do cover in hopes you won’t appeal)

Here’s the link to the information on Miracle Treat Day.

http://www.miracletreatday.com/index.cfm

That is so silly!

So, I’m confused about why you need to go somewhere else to volunteer.  Are they refusing to let you if you don’t give your kids’ info?  Your post sounded like they were just looking at you mean.

One a positive note, the brown bags really bring out the pink in their pjs!

Erin,
I totally agree. It’s sad.

Amy,
I do think it’s important for adult volunteers. But I do kind of wonder if they really need a copy of my DL AND my SS card AND all my info. It seems like a lot for a background check. I’ve volunteered other places that didn’t require the depth of info this place does. Perhaps times have changed. Perhaps they have more paranoid lawyers…

If my grandma was there, I’d want them to do background checks. Definitely. I just with their method wasn’t so prohibitive.

Francois,
Glad it humored you!

Our Family Is His,
Ack! I wish I’d seen this sooner. I love Dairy Queen and I’d love to help other by eating a Reese’s Peanut Butter Blizzard! I’ll keep a look out for it next year…

Kristin,
I think so!

Sarah,
Sadly, we can’t visit anymore because they don’t have the required background info on our kids…

Kat
You made me laugh with your hillaryous description
Your family sounds delightful!

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