My Bus Kid Problems

[Janet]

Friday after I returned home from the bus route, I rec'd a phone call from one of my parents. Her kids are great kids and very well behaved on my bus. She was concerned because her 8th grade son had told her about another student, an 8th grade girl (Jeninifer) was sitting across the aisle with a 7th grade girl (Demaris) showing her some pills that she was going to crush and mix together and take this weekend . Another 8th grade girl (Jessica) said she wanted to take it too (they were going to snort it up their nose.) Jessica and Jennifer are best friends and live just down the road from each other.

This girl (Jennifer) that had the pills used to be one of my favorite girls when she was younger...so cute and so funny. I had worked with her mother before and liked her very much.

I called Demaris's parents. Her dad is also a bus driver and I'm good friends with her mother. I talked with her dad and asked if he would verify with his daughter what I had heard since she was sitting with Jennifer. She did...which made me very sad. I knew that Jennifer and Jessica had been getting into trouble lately and that Jessica's parents had her in counseling and that this was not going to sit will with their parents.

I called Jennifer's mom and told her what had happened. She had just dropped Jennifer off at Jessica's so was putting on her coat and going back to get her. I was so afraid something would happen to the girls. I was even able to tell where they got the pills.

Now tomorrow morning I will have to go to the high school assist. principal and tell her what happened on the bus and what action I took. I'm really afraid for Jennifer, because her mother had told me that just a couple weeks earlier, they were called to the office to pick Jennifer up from school. She and Jessica were trying to cut their wrists.

I really love these girls and I know I can't save them all, but I am so angry that kids feel the need to do this stuff. The world is getting worse all the time, so even though most schools have this problem with students at one time or another....it's just going to get worse. How can someone raise kids with hope if it doesn't seem like there is any?

[Lindsey]

That's so sad. I went through some depression when I was a teen too... it's probably worse when there are friends there to keep enabling the behaviour. A 14 year old girl from my hometown just hanged herself a few months ago. It was all planned in her diary too... she even got her parents to buy her a really expensive dress, and in her diary she had instructions to be buried in it. It just seems so sad... nobody even knew she had a problem. I'm so glad there are adults in your situation who are aware and able to step in and help.

[DianaB]

That's so sad, Lindsey. I feel so sorry for her parents and what they're going through.

Janet, what you did was the right thing to do. The parents now know that they have a bigger problem on their hands than they realized and hopefully, they'll take action and nip this in the bud. It sounds like these two girls need to be separated. As a parent I would have wanted to know about this too. Who knows you may have saved their lives by your actions!!!

[Emmsmom]

Janet, I think you did the right thing. I would have done the very same thing in your place. My daughter is in middle school and I am terrified every day that peer pressure will eventually get to her. She comes home with some of the craziest stories!I am just so thankful that she still feels like she can talk to me. This world that our kids are growing up in is very scary. It is nothing like it use to be and that alone is very sad.

[katcarasella]

How very sad, I just don't know what's happening to these poor kids these days...

[HALEY]

You did the right thing Janet, so sad for those kids, there is just to many drugs these days and there so easy to get.. my home town is in a drug war you read about it all the time in the papers they even have two drug dogs they walk the streets everynight...

[Janet]

I went and spoke with the assist. principal. There's just not a lot they can do right now. I can't write her up, because I didn't see or hear anything. The school can only record what happened for future reference. Makes me so sad and the Assist Principal too.

I will be calling the girls mother tonight to see how things are and if there is anything she'd like me to do.

[HALEY]

You got a heart of gold! Janet for caring so much for those girls !!!!

[Gina]

So sad to read this thread Janet. These kids today don't realize how good they have it. Then they go ahead and do stupid things. You have a heart of gold, and are doing the right thing..

[AngieDoogles]

I'm surprised that it's legal to post so much information about these kids on the internet. I'm not even allowed to discuss their situations, especially not using their name and grade. Hopefully the kids can get some help.

[gja1000]

You did the right thing Janet - it is so scary, for sure!!!

[Janet]

Originally Posted by AngieDoogles

I'm surprised that it's legal to post so much information about these kids on the internet. I'm not even allowed to discuss their situations, especially not using their name and grade. Hopefully the kids can get some help.

I'm not stupid......I didn't use their real names, it's just easier to have names with explaining......geez!

[judy]

You are an angel on earth Janet! Whatever the outcome, you went the extra mile
for these girls. They may not realize it now, but somewhere in their hearts, they will understand the you care about them a great deal and that's what children need more than anything.

Bless your heart!