Epic rant of a "Wait, what?" situation...

[parka_de_perceh]

Background: So I am a camp counselor/substitute in the mornings, and in the afternoon Molly and I teach "drama" (aka let's play games that have nothing to do with drama). Most counselors/herders bring in the kids and either a.) Sit out and keep an eye on the kids, and step in when needed, or b.) join in the games, which is SO helpful, but since we'

Comments

[amet]

Boundary issues much? I've seen a lot of that creepiness (sometimes people at my school take the fact that some of our kids live on campus as a cue to fancy themselves surrogate parents, which is so not okay), and it shows a lack of maturity that makes arguing with this child pointless (and that message was totally passive-aggressive anyway-"I'm sorry for threatening you, but really you deserved it"? Come on). Definitely don't friend her back, because this child can't seem to tell the difference between your personal journal and your work relationship with her (also a bad sign), and encouraging her will only make things worse. I'd ignore her completely if you can, because arguing with her is only going to escalate things. If you really have to talk to her, the only thing I can suggest is keeping it simple and reminding her that it's hard to do your job when the other people in the room aren't doing theirs (and if she'd been doing hers you wouldn't have a problem).

[parka_de_perceh]

At this point I plan on avoiding her as much as I can, but am considering answering her facebook friending with an "ignore" and a message saying that it's not our fault her "babies" are gone, we didn't do that, we just expected her to do her job, she didn't, and that's not something to blame on us. I want to say that it wasn't personal, but I get the feeling she'd take that as a "but really i like you and want to be friends. -_-;; She always weirded me out and didn't listen, and I know that other classes were bothered or creeped out by her too, but I know I'll run into her all the time and do NOT look forward to that, regardless of whether or not she decides to try and be friendly or threaten me again.
That's also very creepy that people think of themselves as parents. When working with kids, you can definitely be caring and helpful and even love the kids, but uh, it's a workplace? Not home. It's weird that some people don't seem to realize that these kids belong to parents and just because they need looking after doesn't mean they

[sephyelysian]

Really don't friend her back; if need be, point out that there's a difference between professional and personal and your facebook is personal. You really don't feel like she needs to be on there. Given how needy/odd this person is coming across, I don't think you want to give her anything of yourself that's too personal. Also? Your kids? Are not your children, babies, or whatever. They're your charge/students and if you don't want to find yourself at the wrong end of some parent's wrath then you need to respect that.

[parka_de_perceh]

Mentioning the personal/professional thing seems like a good idea, I didn't think of that... But yeah, I love the kids I work with, they're a blast, I get along great with kids, but I'm not going to go around acting like their parents. Even when I get along famously with kids I don't call them my friends, let alone my babies. At most people working as counselors are regarded as well liked babysitters, not parents. Ever.