Forms, Forms, Forms

If there is one thing that I could do without at the start of every school year, it is all of the forms. Luckily our schools send a typed emergency medical form from the previous year and if all is still correct I can simply sign it and send it back. However, there are many many other forms that must be filled out every year. Most have their purposes and I gladly take the forty minutes or so per child to fill them out even though it usually means an hour after with my hand in ice up to my elbow to try to combat the excruciating pain and cramping caused by writer's induced carpel tunnel syndrome.
What makes me mad though is the useless forms that the school wants us to fill out such as child custody forms, free/ reduced lunch forms,medication to be administered at school forms, permission to leave school with a social worker or other advocate forms,and so on and so on. Now these forms have their place for some children and the parents or guardians of those children should fill them out, but my children have never been in any one's custody other than Mike and Mine with the exception of Grandparents baby sitting for a couple hours a few times when they were small and I don't think that applies, therefore I don't fill it out.As for free/ reduced lunch, there is a chart on the page that tells you if you qualify. We don't so I don't feel the need to fill it out. My kids Thankfully don't take medications on a regular basis nor do they leave school with advocates( other than Me , Mike, or possible an uncle or Grandparent in an extreme emergency( which I would call if this situation, God forbid, came up ) or social workers, so again I did not fill out this one. Never fails a week or two down the road the phone rings. "Hello", I say. " yes this is Mr./ Mrs.______ at _______ school and we noticed that your child ______ has several pages missing from their files ( since I have gotten this same call at least three times a year for many years I am ready with an answer)" Yes I know" I state" I did not fill out the ones that don't pertain to us" " Well", the voice on the other end starts sounding annoyed " Our policy is that you must still fill them out and then check the box for does not apply"" Why ", I ask "you have my child's name , address, phone number, social security number, etc. on fifty forms anyway why should I rewrite it all on useless forms to check a box starting that the whole form doesn't apply"" Mrs. Parkhurst", the annoyed voice is now really annoyed, "This is our policy" "Why?" I ask. "Because if the form isn't there we don't know if it should apply but was lost or if it doesn't apply and was never filled out " " Well then" I state getting slightly annoyed myself, mark on my child's file that they don't apply and you wouldn't need the form"" I will send a new form home with ________ tonight. Please fill it out and send it back tomorrow" the person finally says. So the kid comes home gives me the papers. I still do not fill in their credentials but there name has been written on the top for me. I check the box stating not applicable , sign my name, and send them back. The child turns them in. the office person balks at the fact that I only checked and signed, but knows that this is the best that they are going to get and moves on. In the mean time I get ready for my appointment with the hand doctor who says that he has no idea why I had such a bad carpel tunnel flair up a week or two ago but it looks as though it has calmed down quite a bit and that surgery is not necessary at this time. I smile because I know why and consider making next years appointment as I leave. I know I'll be back !