That's me. Biggest one EVER. I have piano students. I have a piano studio policy. It requires the student to be upfront with their payments, and to either pay monthly, or bimonthly. I teach 2 girls that live right next door. She should pay for 4 lessons, 2 weeks, BEFORE the lessons. Almost since the beginning of this semester, which began the last week of July, she has been late. Not just one week late, but TWO weeks. I am now sitting here, having given two lessons yesterday and two lessons last week, without getting paid. She paid me the previous payment 2 hours after their lessons were over. I'm just tired of giving 4 lessons before getting paid, and it's awkward for me to go over to her house and knock on the door to ask for the payment. I mean, it would be one thing if I didn't know them, but I do, and they're next door. It makes me want to stop teaching them altogether (like that wouldn't be awkward). I will have to go over there after next week's lessons, if she doesn't give me a check between now and then. I will insist after those lessons that she pay me for that week, and the previous two weeks. Does any of this make sense? I feel like I'm talking in circles, unable to make myself clear on the timing. Oh well.
Last night Hannah was reading a Bible story about baby Jesus being introduced to the people in the church, Simeon and Anna. I told Hannah the man's name was Simeon. Simeon, she repeated. Then, as she read the story she said, "The took him to the temple and handed baby Jesus to Cinnamon." HAHAHAHAHAHA!!! We tried so hard to hide our laughter because she does so well reading. Every once in a while...just have to let it out.
Today we went to story time at the library. Hannah is such a good girl. The lady was reading the story and two girls kept standing up in front of the book, which makes me want to stand up and say, "Excuse me, whose kids are these? Could you possibly make them sit and act like civilized members of society?" It's not like there are 50 kids in there. There were maybe 10. Poor Hannah kept trying to look around them and see the book. Never did she complain, and never did she try and stand up and get in other people's way. Then she did stand one time to point at something, and after she did so, I said, "Hannah, sit down." She did immediately. Then all of the other kids, and when I say all, I mean, every single kid except Seth, were crowding around this puppet raccoon stuffed animal in a trash can. Sweet Hannah just sat there trying to see around them. When I noticed, I said, "Hannah, you can get up to go see it!" She did, but kept back so the other kids could enjoy it. I'm not sure how to handle this because I wish she were a little rougher so she could get in there and enjoy things too, but I do not want to encourage her to be pushy or selfish. We've tried to instill selflessness in our children, I only wish other parents did the same. I would love to reward her in some way for being so kind, but I may have missed that opportunity, since I didn't take advantage of it immediately. However, she did get to play with that raccoon later. She got to put her hand in and let Seth see it, and then Seth did the same for her. They really enjoyed being able to do it themselves. Hopefully that was enough to treat her. I'll be sure to compliment her later though. She really is the most well behaved little girl I have ever encountered. Love her. :) OH, and who knew that Itsy Bitsy Spider was full contact!? Hannah, I guess, because when she washed the spider out, she smacked the kid next to her in the head. She was unphased. I laughed out loud.
Jennie, your comments about getting paid for the piano lessons reminds me of the time when my dad bought a small grocery store. I must have been around 14 or so. Up until then, all the neighbors were friendly and nice, but when they became customers at the store, another nature was revealed. My dad carried credit (common back then) and people would run a tab and then pay on payday. It was amazing how many people could not pay on payday, and they had no shame about it at all. Similarly we would find ladies shoplifting, sweet little ladies (we thought) before we had the store. One lady would buy lunch meat for her husband and if he didn't want her choice, back she would come and tell us the lunch meat was spoiled and could she have another kind? She would do this almost every week.
ReplyDeleteJust about everyone I know who has to deal with the public when there is money involved quickly develops a level of cynicism that they didn't know they had in them.
Next door neighbors are bad enough to deal with financially, but for some real fun try loaning your kids money. There will always be a reason for no payback and then bad feelings develop on both sides. Today I will give my kids money but I won't lend to them.
With your next door neighbor, you are in a no-win situation. If you are blunt about the payment, then chances are they will be pretty cool to you after that, and they may find someone else to give lessons or just quit. If you just let the current situation slide, then you are going to get your payment either late or not at all.
Isn't life fun?
PS: I love your blog!
When I contact them about it, I'll just say something like, "Hey, ____ said they didn't have a check to bring over, so I thought I'd stop by and get the check for the last 3 weeks of lessons." Hopefully that'll be diplomatic enough, that we'll still be ok.
ReplyDeleteFortunately, my kids don't need a lot of money yet, and if my parents ever had to lend me money, they'd know it would bother me more than them to get it paid back, but I'm just like that.
And thanks. :)
Oh my gosh! I have an actual memory of me being little and saying Cinnamon instead of Simeon. It was one of those foreign language moments where Mrs. Trobaugh (probably) would say "Simeon" and I would look at her like she was stupid and say "Cinnamon." "Simeon." "I just said that!"
ReplyDeleteI just laughed really big, then told Dusty and I laughed again. He chuckled.
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