I would like to say firstly, that my experiences with The PEW, in comparison to what Emma has to deal with, are but mere annoyances that can usually be brushed off. I say usually because it does get harder and harder to bite my tongue, as the list of “annoyances” grows longer and longer.
Like today for example.
Upon picking up my step daughter from school Friday, hubby and I notice her school pants have a hole in the knee. (Later, I find another pair in her backpack, also with a small hole) No problem right? We give PEW $350.00 each month to provide these things for my step daughter.
BUT,
Given the past record of her having school shoes with a big hole in the toe for a month, until I bought her new ones, I decide I will just go get a couple new pairs of pants. It's always good to have school pants right?
Over the weekend, We get 3 new pair of pants, 3 belts, and a pack of little patches to repair the old pants, in case she wants to wear them at home or whatever. All is well.
Then I get an Email. Shes sending back the pants we bought step daughter. I tell her we don't need them here. She says she has four pair of pants for her.
OK, I didn't say anything, but, I know one of the pair of pants are a size four and they show her ankles. I hate that pair of pants. Which leaves 3 acceptable pairs, 2 of which I know have holes (patches now) and cant be worn to school. That leaves 1 pair.
I casually say that I didn't think she could wear the patchy ones, because the school dress code says plain khaki pants only, no embellishments or rhinestones or such things allowed.
She replies with: I didn't realize they had holes I guess. Hmmmm....
Although this was a annoying, I didn't really care.
Then this morning came.
I have had some sleeping troubles lately, but I was in the most deliciously deep sleep ever. I hear my door bell ringing. UGH its some type of solicitor I bet. The bell keeps ringing. Then knocking can be heard. And more bell ringing. Then I hear my father in laws voice calling my name. I jump out of bed, thinking there is a terrible emergency.
Turns out, Step daughter spent the night at his house last night, and he needs to drop her off at school. PEW's directions to him were only that the school is on a street that runs parallel to Transformer (a main street here). He didn't even know the name of the school. I go get some pants and notice, hey, shes already late.
I get in the car with them to show him how to get there, Step daughter is in the back wearing the old pants.
Maybe it was because I had just been woken up abruptly, but it really annoyed me. Not to mention I had to sit in the car for 20 minutes listening to father in law say “I cant believe she drives all this way, every morning.”
“Why doesn't she go to school by her house?”
“Shes got to be spending at least 120 dollars extra a month just in gas”
“Traffic was so bad, Step daughter must have to get up VERY early for school”
“I can't believe how far it is”
and so on, and so on.
Is any of this really a big deal? Nope. Like I said, its just annoying. Annoying that I can't buy things for my step daughter for her to use at PEW's house. Instead of accepting something that step daughter needs for school, PEW refuses it, simply because I bought it.
*sigh*
Michelle