Jury Duty is not family-friendly!

[englishteacha]

I was called twice when I was in college. I attended college 2.5 hours from home so I wrote a letter explaining that I was a full time student in another county, and was excused. I received 2 letters this spring about being in a jury pool. I'm willing to serve on a jury, but I had just missed 10+ days of work due to surgery. I explained that and said I'd be willing to serve in the summer after school got out. I never heard back.

 

[wvjules]

Some people aren't comfortable with leaving babies with strangers Once children get older and can communicate how a person treats them, then I see no problem leaving them with certified care takers.

Really, why say 18 years? Who said that they wouldn't leave an older child? We are talking about babies/toddlers here.



Again, I see no benefit in leaving a baby with a child care provider. Good for you if you had no trouble dropping your baby off with somebody who passed a few tests, but my baby meant quite a bit more to me And "later in life", I have no problem leaving children with teachers. Why are you saying that people that don’t leave their small babies with strangers are bizarre?

Nice, real nice!

So working parents who choose to use daycare so they can provide for their families don't care as much for their children as you do?

ETA: I am 36 years old and have NEVER been called for jury duty.

 

[HelenePA]

We actually have only one family member in town, my FIL, but I wouldn't leave my kids overnight with him unless it was an extreme emergency.

My next closest relative is 3 hours away, after that 6 hours, 12 hours and 24 hours.

I do have friends, though. Many friends are parents of my daughters' friends. I have made a point of getting to know these people, and I know that in a pinch they would be there for me - just as I would be there for them. Heck I have 3 people within a block who would come to my house in the middle of the night if I needed them.

Don't say that I am lucky. I have worked hard to forge relationships with people.

Good for you! I am the only SAHM I know. Most mom's around here work during the day so I would be up the creek so to speak. I am that mom other people call when they need childcare in a pinch. He works 2 jobs so I can stay home with the kids.. its how we wanted it so dont say I'm lucky to be a SAHM he's works hard so I dont have to

 

[justhat]

For a baby? What do you do with a baby?

Maybe I am just different? That is ok. Leaving an infant in the care of a stranger is waaaaaaay out of my comfort zone.

Clearly you didn't read my post, but I said you have to be 2yo to go to the jury duty childcare. Hardly an infant. My daughter was 20 months, but had they taken her, I would have sent her without issue.

But also, like I said, I (and many, many others) use the kids clubs on DCL (or Flounder's for babies as the case may be). My daughter was 15 weeks when we left her there twice, 2 hours each time, to go to Palo. My son was 6 months old the first time he was left in Flounder's Reef. Should I trust those people more because they are Disney employees? I don't see the difference.

 

[Ilike2Lurk]

Do you really want to go there?

OK--So she can call moms bizarre because they don't want to leave their children? That is how this works? Alrighty then

 

[mickeyboat]

Good for you! I am the only SAHM I know. Most mom's around here work during the day so I would be up the creek so to speak. I am that mom other people call when they need childcare in a pinch. He works 2 jobs so I can stay home with the kids.. its how we wanted it so dont say I'm lucky to be a SAHM he's works hard so I dont have to

Actually almost none of the people I would call on are SAHMs. DDs are in school full time so the care I would need in a pinch would probably be provided by working parents. When DDs were not in school, I had a day care provider and two backups in case she was not available.

And I'm not touching the SAHM / WOHM issue with a ten foot pole (at least not right now) .

 

[Ilike2Lurk]

Nice, real nice!

So working parents who choose to use daycare so they can provide for their families don't care as much for their children as you do?

And mom’s that don’t want to leave their babies are bizarre? Really? That is ok with you? You missed that little comment, but picked up on mine?

 

[ckay87]

Some people aren't comfortable with leaving babies with strangers Once children get older and can communicate how a person treats them, then I see no problem leaving them with certified care takers.

Really, why say 18 years? Who said that they wouldn't leave an older child? We are talking about babies/toddlers here.



Again, I see no benefit in leaving a baby with a child care provider. Good for you if you had no trouble dropping your baby off with somebody who passed a few tests, but my baby meant quite a bit more to me And "later in life", I have no problem leaving children with teachers. Why are you saying that people that don’t leave their small babies with strangers are bizarre?

That bolded statement is absolutely wicked. I know you don't give a rip about what people on some message board think of you. But some friendly advice....you might want to keep this sentiment to yourself in real life.

All of our babies are equally important to all of us, you are not special. It's just that many people are unable or even unwilling to put their lives and responsibilities on hold on the off chance that a trusted stranger will fail to care for our baby properly.

 

[HelenePA]

Actually almost none of the people I would call on are SAHMs. DDs are in school full time so the care I would need in a pinch would probably be provided by working parents. When DDs were not in school, I had a day care provider and two backups in case she was not available.

And I'm not touching the SAHM / WOHM issue with a ten foot pole (at least not right now) .

Do they work during the day? Would they call off for you? they are awesome friends if that's the case! All the ladies I know from the bus stop work while the kids are in school 2 are nurses one works at a cell phone store up the mall one dad who is always there is a police officer the others I'm not sure what they do they stay in their cars and dont come out to talk to us. All my neighbors are wonderful but elderly (to say the least!) I would trust them with the kids but honestly I dont think they'd be able to take 8+ hours of 4 kids. 3 of them are in school but still my little one could give the granny's a run for their money at times!

 

[brockash]

Who's going to convict those who are quilty of commiting the crime that expose us to danger??

Thank you. It still amazes me how much ppl. are soley concerned about themselves. Hello???? It's part of our job as citizens of our country. I suppose we could just let all criminals go back out in the streets, since we don't have the "time to be bothered." Or we could just put them all in jail, and not give them a fair trial, although then I'm sure ppl. would be upset about how much it would cost to house them all.
Don't get me wrong, I have 2 small children as well, and now that I'm a SAHM, yes it'd be a pain to have to find childcare for them, and an expense, but that's life. I don't expect to not "have" to serve or get special treatment, just because I'm a SAHM. I'd like to think I'd be treated as anyone else.
How would you feel if you were the victim of the case, and a juror came to court, in a bad mood because their life was inconvenienced??? Or how would you feel if you were wrongly accused?
Ppl. need to stop being so selfish, and see the greater good. It's just like ppl. that witness a crime, but "don't want to get involved." I'm not saying go risk your life, but yes pick up a darn phone and call the police. Again, put yourself in someone else's shoes for a second, or think 20 yrs. down the road, when it could be your children as the victim. Wouldn't you want unbaised ppl. getting involved or being on the jury?

 

[Ilike2Lurk]

It's just that many people are unable or even unwilling to put their lives and responsibilities on hold on the off chance that a trusted stranger will fail to care for our baby properly.

My life has NEVER been on hold because I had to spend it with my child

How do you trust a stranger? A stranger is somebody you have never met. How do you trust someone you have never met with the most important thing in your life?

It seems it is ok to put down somebody that wants to be with their baby 24/7 Is this how it is here? You can say that person is strange and bizarre? That is allowed?

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I think the point that the person was making in saying that they would never leave their child with some stranger was that when you put your children in daycare you get to pick who you want. You get to research the facility. You get to meet the person and interview them. You get to look at safety records, the cleanliness of the facility, the rules, the expectations, the people who will be interacting with your child. When you drop your kid at a court childcare you know nothing about it at all. Backround check or not you have no idea if the person is a moron or a mean nasty person. They don't check for that. I have no issues with people who have to leave their children in childcare to work etc. As parents we do what we must to provide. I just personally would not leave my child with someone that I just met and know nothing about. If you ask me about kids clubs I feel the same way. It is simply not in our confort zone. That doesn't make me bizarre nor does it make you (a general you) neglectful if you are comfortable with it.

 

[Ilike2Lurk]

Don't get me wrong, I have 2 small children as well, and now that I'm a SAHM, yes it'd be a pain to have to find childcare for them, and an expense, but that's life.

What if you DO NOT have the money? How is "that life" to have to pay for something and not have the money?

For most of us, it would not ruin us in a financial sense. What about for those who it would devastate?

 

[justhat]

My life has NEVER been on hold because I had to spend it with my child

How do you trust a stranger? A stranger is somebody you have never met. How do you trust someone you have never met with the most important thing in your life?

It seems it is ok to put down somebody that wants to be with their baby 24/7 Is this how it is here? You can say that person is strange and bizarre? That is allowed?

I am with my kids all the time (other than while they are in school) as we don't have any family here and I rarely use a babysitter. I do, however, have friends who will take my kids (we swap out, it works well as it's never really a burden to the other person since you get their kids too). But, rather than ask someone to watch my child all day long, I would use the jury duty daycare, if my child were eligible that is. At least that way I could see it during breaks rather than being gone all day. Plus it's right there in the building and no different than that club on the ship, or really any babysitter the first time you use them.

 

[lillygator]

My life has NEVER been on hold because I had to spend it with my child

How do you trust a stranger? A stranger is somebody you have never met. How do you trust someone you have never met with the most important thing in your life?

It seems it is ok to put down somebody that wants to be with their baby 24/7 Is this how it is here? You can say that person is strange and bizarre? That is allowed?

not sure I know anyone who wants to be with their baby 24/7....

 

[brockash]

My life has NEVER been on hold because I had to spend it with my child

How do you trust a stranger? A stranger is somebody you have never met. How do you trust someone you have never met with the most important thing in your life?

It seems it is ok to put down somebody that wants to be with their baby 24/7 Is this how it is here? You can say that person is strange and bizarre? That is allowed?

Well, I'm assuming you're not planning on home-schooling, from one of you pp. So, how do you plan on leaving your child with the teacher, who's also at the time a "stranger?"

Another thing to think about, is what about doing something positive for the society that your child is growing up in? Would you rather they grow up with a justice system even more flawed, just so all mom's/dad's can choose to not do their civic duty?

Something I always try to remember is that I'm not only caring for my 2 kiddos, but I'm also teaching them about life, and about being a good upstanding citizen that tries to better the world, no matter how small the contribution.

 

[HelenePA]

What if you DO NOT have the money? How is "that life" to have to pay for something and not have the money?

For most of us, it would not ruin us in a financial sense. What about for those who it would devastate?

Honestly it would devastate my house in a very financial sense! We are in pay off mode. Car will be paid off next year, van will be paid off next year, ccs (yes we have a balance on those! get out the pitch forks!) will be paid off next year but right now it would be just awful. I dont want to even think about it.. Unless the babysitter takes visa I wouldn't know what to do

 

[Briarmom]

It never ceases to amaze me how many people on the DIS do not have ANYONE they could leave their kids with in case they were called for jury duty - especially since you generally have quite a bit of advance notice to make arrangements.

Would it be perfect? No. Would it be convenient? No. But it can be done.

What would you do if there was an emergency?

Boy, that was a hot potato subject on the last jury duty thread I saw on the DIS. People literally didn't have any childcare arrangements at all - I assume they were willing to go 18 years without ever leaving their child with someone else.

Personally, I think that's bizarre, and I wonder how those children manage later in life without any sort of experience being in the care of anyone other than a parent.

We move every 2 years or so with the military.
I do not know anyone here. No one.

DS will be taking the Red Cross babysitting course as soon as he can, but until that happens there won't be a person to take care of him or his sister.

 

[jodifla]

My life has NEVER been on hold because I had to spend it with my child

How do you trust a stranger? A stranger is somebody you have never met. How do you trust someone you have never met with the most important thing in your life?

It seems it is ok to put down somebody that wants to be with their baby 24/7 Is this how it is here? You can say that person is strange and bizarre? That is allowed?

Lots of people have children, and they still find a way to do their civic duty. They have family, they have friends, they have trusted sitters.

In Florida, having small children in your care was normally excused. But not every state is like that -- and what will you do if a judge throws you in jail for contempt?

 

[mickeyboat]

Do they work during the day? Would they call off for you? they are awesome friends if that's the case! All the ladies I know from the bus stop work while the kids are in school 2 are nurses one works at a cell phone store up the mall one dad who is always there is a police officer the others I'm not sure what they do they stay in their cars and dont come out to talk to us. All my neighbors are wonderful but elderly (to say the least!) I would trust them with the kids but honestly I dont think they'd be able to take 8+ hours of 4 kids. 3 of them are in school but still my little one could give the granny's a run for their money at times!

Yes they work during the day. And if it was a true emergency, I think they would probably call off work for me. But when the kids were not in school I had made arrangements with day care providers to be "back ups" if my regular day care was not available. But like I said, I had to work hard to forge the kinds of relationships where I could have the peace of mind of leaving my kids with someone if I absolutely had to.

I guess what I am trying to say is that even if I were a SAHM I would work to have the kinds of relationships with people to make sure I had a back-up plan.

I bet your granny neighbors would love to spend some time with your little one! They'd sleep well that night!