Three things I hate about taking the train back to Kingston

1. In the departures area at Union (which is perpetually under construction and was probably a bad design 1000 years ago when it was built), the train to Kingston is almost always at gate 17, way at the back on the left side. There are chairs nearby, which is supposed to be the advanced boarding area (like, for families or people in wheelchairs) and then the first class lounge a little further on (for those first class people). Then, the pleebs like me line up at a sign that helpfully says "Gate 17" even though it's about 20 feet away from the escalator that takes passengers up onto the actual platform.

Everytime - I mean every single time - that I take the train, people line up at the entrance to the escalator. These people do not need advanced boarding - they can clearly stand just fine in line, and there are no kids to be seen. Not even a teenager. And they are not in first class. I know - I've travelled on Via 1. They call in a special first-class-lounge-only announcement that the train is boarding, and you walk to the escalator, present your ticket, and go right on up. No standing in line waiting for those first class people.

So who are these people who line up at the entrance to the escalator, pre-empting those of us who actually line up in the right place? I have no idea. I tried to ask once and received no good answer. The guy I asked was bald and had a nice goofy smile. He isn't there anymore.

2. Upon arrival in Kingston, there are never enough taxis at the station. Never. There is a reason for this, although it's a bad one.

In Kingston, there are three taxi companies. For the sake of argument, let's call them A, B, and Amherst. Amherst is the smallest of the three. It also has the contract for sitting and waiting at the train station.You know what happens every single time? Those 3-5 taxis fill up with people, and the remaining 20 (or, say, 200 for certain trains on certain days) people have to wait. And we call the other taxi companies, who come, but it takes 10-15 minutes because they're not allowed to stand at the station.

The situation, of course, is worst when it's cold and snowy. One evening, it was the last train in on a Sunday - and that train is always filled. There was a visiting delegation from some southern tropical island. The snow was blowing fierce, these people were badly dressed for a Canadian autumn, let alone a winter storm, and the station was shutting - because it was the last train to come in on that Sunday night. I mean, really??

Half a freakin' hour later, taxis finally came for the last dozen or so passengers. I could not believe it.

One time, a taxi pulled up and asked if I was waiting for a taxi for Charles. I should have said yes, but I was honest and stepped back and let the person who ordered that specific taxi take the ride. Next time, I called and asked for a taxi driver to pick me up - I gave my name. I was told they don't do that at the train station. Can't get a break.

And it would be sooooo easy to fix this. There's got to be an app for that!

3. When I finally do get a taxi, she charges me the baggage fee. I mean, it's only 55 cents, but still. It was a mini-van. I opened the back sliding door. I hefted my own suitcase and backpack over the captain's seat into the van. I sat in the front seat. When I got dropped off at home, the driver asked me if I was "okay" carrying my own bag. I opened the back sliding door. I hefted my own suitcase (and backpack!) back over the captain's seat and took it myself to my front door.

What was I paying the extra 55 cents for?


If Via ever wanted to improve their customer service, call me. I'd even volunteer my time to let you know what you need to do. And after that recent accident, I'd suggest they do something pronto.

The latest boy toy

As part of our ongoing basement renovation, we recently got a new Whirlpool stacking washer / dryer. It makes nice little beeping noises when you turn it on and off. The dryer has a little light in it to make it easy to see the clothes. It's a nice shiny grey colour. And my husband really seems to like using it.

Honestly, if I'd known that a new washer / dryer would encourage Hubby to do the laundry more often, I would have bought it years ago!!

It isn't always the parent

Kid#2 was egregiously bad at the before-school program today. So bad that he's now on a one-day suspension. He's been bad before, and got a warning - this was the proverbial straw on the proverbial camel. Then, while talking with the principal about it, I learn that actually this behaviour has been going on for a while - only we didn't know about it.

The caregiver at the before-school program was apologetic - she knows that we're working hard with him on his tantrums, and she feels bad that she has to suspend him. I say that's not the problem - it's not her fault, and it's a logical consequence and I hope it will help him to learn. Furthermore, Kid#2 will be paying us for missing that day of before-school programming. Out of his own money.

There are so many things about this scenario that bug me I can't get into it - but I know that everyone will wonder where the parents went wrong. Because, you know, if a young kid acts out, then clearly the parents have messed up.

He doesn't watch TV - or violent movies - or play video games.
We make him do his homework and piano practice.
He is not allowed to beat up his brother, not even in jest.
When he has a tantrum at home, we help him work through it.
When he gets frustrated, we help him name it and label emotions and think about solutions.
We make him write apology notes when he messes up.

I mean, honestly, we work so hard...

Is there room for improvement? Sure there is. And that's why we've asked the school to bring in the counsellors and support staff and assessments - because we're out of ideas. We've tried positive incentives, we've tried logic and rationale, we've tried punishments, we've tried role-playing... The only thing we haven't really tried is corporal punishment - I draw the line there.

I will never never never blame the parents for the way their child acts. Because sometimes, the child just makes the wrong choices. And it has nothing to do with the parents.