Twelve years ago, I needed help. I was just starting my job here and my son was starting kindergarten at Markham. At the same time, my husband was changing careers and moving from owning his own business to working for someone else. That meant his ability to be an always-dependable taxi for our son suddenly disappeared. All of this happened in the fall, after Mt. Lebanon Extended Day’s kindergarten program was full. I needed to get my son to kindergarten at Markham in the morning, shuttle him to kindergarten enrichment at Temple Emanuel at lunch and then get him to child care in a third location at 3, where I could pick him up at 5:30.
There was no Facebook to post my ask. My parents didn’t feel they could help. Panic set in. That’s when Sheila Conway shared her babysitter’s number with me, and I was able to hire her to do the afternoon shuttle from Temple to child care. But she was busy at lunch and nothing else was jelling. I sent a desperate email to my son’s kindergarten class parents and that’s when I heard from Cathy Wright, a mom I had met once but didn’t really know. She had three boys—three insanely busy boys—but she didn’t flinch when she said she could handle the pickup without a problem. I don’t know what I would have done without her. I’m not sure Sheila and Cathy ever knew how much their help helped.
I hope you have a Sheila and a Cathy. I hope someone you don’t know says “I got you.”
This time of year when the weather grows warts, I’m especially thankful for the Mt. Lebanon crossing guards. They face the wrath of impatient drivers with a smile and make sure our kids get where they’re going safely. With many people remaining in the workforce longer, we have fewer people available to do that job. That’s why the Mt. Lebanon Police Department is looking for additional loving people to be crossing guards. You’ll get paid training, a free uniform and it’s just a few hours a day, plus summers and holidays off. Get an application at the municipal building, 710 Washington Road, the public safety center, 555 Washington Road, during business hours, or download one from www.mtlebanon.org [1].
We are interested in hearing your stories of gratitude. Please share with us.
Laura Pace Lilley, Editor in Chief
lpace@mtlebanon.org [2] / 412-343-3552