Cluster meeting advice--kinda longI have a husband and wife team on my team. Both of them barely stay alive with PC. They live kind of far away by Southern CA standards, about 30 miles. One or the other usually come to the meeting. Usually it's the husband. They are really struggling financially, and I think the husband honestly is a little depressed. HERE IS THE ISSUE. Every time he comes to the meetings he brings his son, who is not quite 2. The wife works late, so she cannot watch the little guy. The problem is, the little guy is a holy terror. The dad never brings toys for him. I have some things, my son was a lego freak in his younger days and we still have lots of legos. I have tons of kids videos (every veggie tales there is), but the kid won't watch them. He spends the entire meeting destroying my house, running and screaming, while the dad basically goes to him and says ""_______, no" with no follow through or anything.
Last nights' meeting was a disaster--the entire cluster spent the whole time "rescuing" things from this kid. He had his hands on stuff, the tools in his mouth (complete with runny nose), he threw about 500 legos around my house--thank God I left the dogs outside. I have never had consultants bring kids to meetings--ever--so this has never been an issue. No one got anything out of the meeting last night because they were all chasing him down or feeling sorry for me because I was chasing him down. The dad is so overwhelmed I feel sorry for him. But I'm also annoyed that he can't control his kid.
I know if I suggest to him that they get a sitter 1) they can't afford it, and 2) They will both go inactive because they won't come to my meetings or anyone else's (yes I offered to get them hospitality closer to their home--no go). I so want to encourage him (them) to keep their business going and I know that meetings do keep them going, but it is so not fair to the rest of the group to come to a meeting and get nothing out of it. But I just can't let this kid come. I have let other consultants come that have older children (preteens), but they are well behaved and often contribute ideas to the meetings. I have a lot of single parents in my group. I thought of having the pre-teens watch the little guy, but where? My house is not that big.
I'm very frustrated about this whole thing. Suggestions?
Nancy
Last nights' meeting was a disaster--the entire cluster spent the whole time "rescuing" things from this kid. He had his hands on stuff, the tools in his mouth (complete with runny nose), he threw about 500 legos around my house--thank God I left the dogs outside. I have never had consultants bring kids to meetings--ever--so this has never been an issue. No one got anything out of the meeting last night because they were all chasing him down or feeling sorry for me because I was chasing him down. The dad is so overwhelmed I feel sorry for him. But I'm also annoyed that he can't control his kid.
I know if I suggest to him that they get a sitter 1) they can't afford it, and 2) They will both go inactive because they won't come to my meetings or anyone else's (yes I offered to get them hospitality closer to their home--no go). I so want to encourage him (them) to keep their business going and I know that meetings do keep them going, but it is so not fair to the rest of the group to come to a meeting and get nothing out of it. But I just can't let this kid come. I have let other consultants come that have older children (preteens), but they are well behaved and often contribute ideas to the meetings. I have a lot of single parents in my group. I thought of having the pre-teens watch the little guy, but where? My house is not that big.
I'm very frustrated about this whole thing. Suggestions?
Nancy