Monday, April 2, 2012

When the System Fails

We rounded the corner, the school coming into sight. 'You have got to be kidding me!' I muttered under my breath. A line was already beginning to form outside of the multipurpose room more than an hour ahead of the scheduled time for kindergarten registration.

I glanced in my mirror back at Alex and Ryder still in their pajamas.
"As soon as we get home you have to hurry and get dressed." I tell Alex. "We need to hurry back to register you for kindergarten."

We make it to the front of the carpool lane and Lucas gets out, "Goodbye, I love you." I say. We hurry home and everyone seems to move in turtle speed.

Forty minutes later we finally head back to the school. The line now has about 40 people in it. The principle is making an announcement about how everything will work as we join the line.

They open the doors and we head in, picking up a registration packet, then we try to find a spot at one of the tables. Everyone is sitting with just enough space between the next person to make it impossible to fit between but also taking up the entire table. I plop Ryder down on the bench and tell Alex to sit next to him then squeeze in sitting sideways on the bench, like I am riding a horse, as I try and fill out the stack of papers. When I accidentally bump the lady next to me she doesn't bother scooting over but just sighs.

I go back and forth between trying to keep Alex and Ryder happy and trying to get the papers filled out. 'This is ridiculous I think.' Finally almost 30 minutes later, the paper work is finished and now I have to rejoin another line of those turning in their paperwork. The line is very long and hardly moving as there is only one person accepting the packets.

Ryder is not happy sitting in his stroller. "Alex would you push Ryder around?" I ask. She does for about two minutes but then declares she is done. I quietly sing songs to Ryder and talk with him about the things we see, trying to think of anything to keep him happy.

Alex goes and sits at the tables coloring some more pictures and playing the iPad. Ryder says "done, done" pointing to his buckles. "Do you want out?" I ask? "Uh-huh, Uh-huh" he says "All right!" he then growls.

I let him out and he heads over by his sister watching her play games. The line continues to creep forward. Alex and Ryder soon join me back in the line. "I'm hungry" Alex complains. "Just go color some more." I plead. I buckle Ryder back into his stroller, we are finally getting close to the front.

"Out, out" he says. I try to lift him out of the stroller, the stack of papers in my hand. One slips out and I instinctively bend down trying to get it, causing Ryder to slide out of my arms. He safely lands on his feet but his arm did not escape the fall, a long scratch runs down it assaulted by my fingernails. He screams in pain. "It's okay, it's okay" I whisper quickly picking him up causing the rest of the papers to tumble to the floor.

His crying slows and he continues to hug me tight. He settles down enough that I put him back in the stroller and scoot to my place in line finally able to turn our papers in.

"You are all set" the lady says with a smile.

"Thank you" I say forcing a smile. As we leave the room I glance up at the clock, 11:00- 2 hours and 10 minutes since we arrived.

Sometimes the way things are done really needs to be changed.

24 comments:

  1. What a fiasco!

    For us, Kindergarten registration is done during the evening, 2 or 3 days, each spring.

    It's done at the American Legion, so it's a large room, with tons and tons of tables set up for people to sit and fill out the paperwork. Then, around all those tables are different stations where you can learn more about busing, hot lunch, etc. I think our district does a pretty good job.

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  2. I would have to agree that the way things are done need changed. Over 2 hours to register, crazy.

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  3. Whew...stressful. It's been so long since Lexie's kindergarten registration that I can't even remember doing it! At least you're done now! You made it!!!

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  4. That is horrible! We didn't have to go through anything like that. I'd be pretty frustrated too. You would think they would see how their system isn't working!?! Oh well, at least you got it done.

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  5. That's insane! It's amazing that there isn't a better system in place. Why can't, for instance, kids be registered online? Or, maybe in person is better, but still. 2 hours?!?

    I'm proud of you for staying in that line and sane and getting it done. :)

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  6. Oh, that's ridiculous!

    Is this public where they take everyone or are you vying for a spot? If everyone gets in, my advice is to go on a different day- b/c they have to take your registration. and then there's no crowds.

    Um, and where was I before you had to deal with the lines? I should shush.

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  7. Oh my gosh, that sounds horrible! I didn't know that you would have to wait two hours! I definitely would have thought they would have a few more people taking packets so that busy moms could get in and get out.

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  8. This sounds like a nightmare.All of our school registrations are by appointment only.

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  9. Whew! That doesn't sound fun! I think it took 20 minutes to sign Ethan up. . .

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  10. That is ridiculous, and I agree, that process really does need to be changed. I'm glad you survived it. How frustrating though!

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  11. This sounds way too familiar.

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  12. Oh my! I'm so sorry you had to deal with that...I would be so mad b/c entertaining two children for two hours especially a younger one is not easy...ugh!

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  13. Oh how I wish I lived close. I would have watched them for you. Registration is such a chore! Ugh! But at least it is done now.

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  14. That sounds horrific. I haven't entered school age yet, but I hope it's better than that!

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  15. I was getting fidgety just reading this. They seriously need to get with it!!!

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  16. Good grief! That is a terrible system. We did most of our registration via mail and had one orientation. I hope your system gets fixed.

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  17. You poor girl! So sorry! You'd think after literally decades of this registration thing they would have a better way of doing it by now. SERIOUSLY!

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  18. Wow! that's really crazy! Sounds like you handled it well though:) We can easily just take the paperwork home and do it there. No line--nothing.

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  20. Ok that is ridiculous having to wait that long! The school should have done something about it, especially knowing that most kindergarteners have smaller siblings in tow. I tell you what, if this were 10+ years ago and you were registering to be in my kindergarten class, that would never have happened ;)
    Ahhh, the good ol days!

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  21. I completely agree. The ways somethings are done is just dumb.

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  22. Oh that is EXHAUSTING! When I registered my kids, I just had to go in, pick up the paperwork, and bring it back later. No big deal... I'm feeling very thankful!

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  23. That's terrible! Glad it is all done for you now.

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