As a stay-at-home parent with an only child, I found myself deeply involved in a large extracurricular club. The club had a wide age range, from 5-year-olds to high school seniors. There was a significant amount of time dedicated to receiving training for various activities, such as obtaining certifications from national sports organizations and learning how to safely use specialty equipment.

Dealing with Unreasonable Parents

There was another group of parents who had issues with how I managed safety and adhered to the guidelines of our extracurricular national organization. I firmly believed in not allowing kids whose parents volunteered to act like adults and in not tolerating older kids being rude to younger ones just because of their age. There were several incidents where teenagers would leave kindergarten-aged kids in tears, gloating about their supposed "victory."These parents tried to get me officially reprimanded by our supervisors. Instead of attending a meeting where I knew I would be scolded and asked to leave, I chose to ignore them. I received calls for weeks asking me to come and help with activities I was trained for, even though I had clearly told them not to contact me if they found me offensive. I had to block numbers, inform our supervisors that I was no longer available, and eventually stopped acknowledging them in person.

Becoming a Trainer

Now, I am a trainer for many of the activities that these parents wanted to participate in. I have happily rejected them from the classes I teach. It gives me a sense of satisfaction to be able to use my training and skills to help others while also standing my ground. I take pride in being able to push the "refuse entry" buttons when needed.

Standing Up for What's Right

Throughout this experience, I have learned the importance of standing up for what is right, especially when it comes to the safety and well-being of children. I refused to compromise on my principles and values, even in the face of opposition. By doing so, I have not only protected the younger kids but also set an example for others. It has been a challenging journey, but one that has taught me a lot about myself and my abilities.