An alert — and perceptive — “06880” reader writes:
Westport has some absolute summer jewels. Camp Mahackeno, Longshore Sailing School, Parks and Recs programs, Earthplace…
These organizations are run by professionals. But they are staffed each summer by local kids.
Moms and dads: Were your ears burning last night? Those kids were talking about some of you.
I heard them. They were talking about you at my house.
You want your kids to have a great summer. You don’t have to yell at teenagers working hard at their summer job.
After one full day of summer, there are already stories of Westport parents behaving badly. My kid can’t get into a class because it’s full? I can’t get a refund for a program that started today and I just decided I don’t want? What do you mean, there are no more boats?
And on and on and on. These calls are often followed by an expletive, then a dial tone.
Westport is a small town. It’s a community. When you call one of these summer institutions to register for or reserve something, or inquire or cancel, the kids know who you are.
And when you verbally abuse them, they talk about it. With their friends, and their own parents.
I know 2020 was rough. Everyone is excited about 2021; there’s plenty of pent- up energy.
But it was also a rough year for that high school kid on the other end of the phone. So before you call her a “bitch” for not refunding your money for a program with a waiting list that already started, or scream that his boss will hear that he didn’t give you a kayak: Remember, we’re all in this together.
And that those kids mentioned you last night. By name.