CHAPTER TWO:
Crime in the Cafeteria
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| Exhibit A |
This is difficult to write about, but I have a parent confession:
Sometimes Maleah P. Shaner smuggles cafeteria food home in her backpack.
It is a possible fact that it is against the law to remove food from the lunchroom. One devastating result of this is the damage done when she uses something like a leaking container of chocolate milk to vandalize important papers, books and her backpack.
(In case you are concerned, I can assure you; we have a steady income, decent shelter, running water and supply our children with sustenance multiple times a day.)
Many months ago, we made it clear that in order to protect the innocent (all things backpack), she was not allowed to hide food for future consumption.
Sometimes Maleah P. Shaner smuggles cafeteria food home in her backpack.
It is a possible fact that it is against the law to remove food from the lunchroom. One devastating result of this is the damage done when she uses something like a leaking container of chocolate milk to vandalize important papers, books and her backpack.
(In case you are concerned, I can assure you; we have a steady income, decent shelter, running water and supply our children with sustenance multiple times a day.)
Many months ago, we made it clear that in order to protect the innocent (all things backpack), she was not allowed to hide food for future consumption.
Easy peasey lemon squeezey.
You would think.
But addictions are hard to break.
At the beginning of this week, I couldn't take any more of this life of crime. She had come home with the bottom of her backpack soaked with peaches from a container that was failing at it's job. There was also another one, still sealed which she must have got from an accomplice. At least it wasn't as extreme as the time she got many students to willingly aid and abet her by giving her their bananas. She came home with TWO grocery bags full and was shamelessly proud of her impressive haul. She had charmed a lovely lunch lady into supplying her with the bags and must have convinced her to look the other way as she escaped with the goods. (I know the lunch lady was aware of the crime because she personally confessed to me how entertaining it was). Perhaps the kind- hearted lunch lady felt sympathy for this obviously poor, malnourished 2nd grader. (Judge kindly, I'm sure many of you would have done the same in such a position.)
After discovering the peaches on Monday, I told Maleah that since she wasn't taking good care of her property, she would be using a grocery bag as her backpack for at least the rest of the week.
Maleah was seemingly able to keep her life of crime under control for Tuesday and Wednesday. However, her obsession must have built up within her because yesterday she suffered a relapse and smuggled two clementines, two carrots, a piece of celery, a piece of broccoli and a container of ranch.
At least she's taking the healthy stuff...but as we all know, they are the gateway to harder things, like pudding and cookies.
Where is an intervention program for this? I wasn't trained for this.
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| Exhibit B |
What step do I take next? Tell her she'll just have to carry her stuff bag-free?
That doesn't seem like the best idea...especially considering her math book (one month old...) doesn't have a front cover on it anymore. A casualty of abuse. It's already in a fragile state.
Really, if I take away all forms of bags: totes, potato, purses, she'd probably just come home with her pockets (and cheeks) full of salad and other surprises.
I know what you are thinking: Is there anything I can do to prevent my child from going down this slippery slope? How can I teach my child that taking food from where it is intended to be, is wrong? If I could give you one peace of advice it would be this:
Don't let your child hang around thug squirrels.
I know, I know. All those princess movies have glorified the act of playful banter with woodland animals. The temptation of singing to rodents is almost too strong to bare. However, as you can see: this is a fight worth fighting. If I can save just one family from going through this, it's worth it.
I do have confidence that we will overcome this (hopefully before the final day of high school). Maleah is an incredibly good person; and she is a fighter. We will make it through.
Hold your children close, my friends. Hold them close...and never go on family picnics in the woods.
Peace out.
Really, if I take away all forms of bags: totes, potato, purses, she'd probably just come home with her pockets (and cheeks) full of salad and other surprises.
I know what you are thinking: Is there anything I can do to prevent my child from going down this slippery slope? How can I teach my child that taking food from where it is intended to be, is wrong? If I could give you one peace of advice it would be this:
Don't let your child hang around thug squirrels.
I know, I know. All those princess movies have glorified the act of playful banter with woodland animals. The temptation of singing to rodents is almost too strong to bare. However, as you can see: this is a fight worth fighting. If I can save just one family from going through this, it's worth it.
I do have confidence that we will overcome this (hopefully before the final day of high school). Maleah is an incredibly good person; and she is a fighter. We will make it through.
Hold your children close, my friends. Hold them close...and never go on family picnics in the woods.
Peace out.
