Tales from Customer Service: We Were Students

Because of your positive response to our last post about what our Customer Service representatives think about their work, we present Part 2. Patti, Sandra, Mary, Sindy, Amanda, and Linda are back. And if you still can’t get enough, give them a call at 1-888-854-6284, and look out for a few more posts.

Questions for Customer Service

What kind of a student were you?

Amanda: I was your average student, As, Bs, never had to study terribly hard, even though I struggled at times with tests.

Patti: I was a student who struggled majorly: a “C” or “D” student. When I went to college to become a teacher (I was 41 when I went to college), it was a surprise to my mom, because I hated school. Especially math.

Sandra: I was a nerd. I graduated salutatorian of my class. I was shy, and I put it all into studying. I’m much more outgoing now, and I credit a lot of that to Math-U-See, because it’s put me out there with people. I love people. I love to encourage them.

Linda: I loved school. I played hard and worked hard and as much as possible I wanted to do everything right. In my young mind at the time, it was all about getting those A’s, and having a happy life.

And did it work? Do you have a happy life?

I do have a happy life. When I take the time to count my blessings, I just realize it more and more. It’s easy to count troubles but so much better to count blessings!. When we all get together at Christmas or numerous times throughout the year … I think, oh wow. This is wonderful. Our kids and grandkids, they love each other, get along so well, and love to be together! I know it’s more than I deserve, but I am so grateful for it. I oftentimes credit homeschooling for that closeness.

What part of the job is most fulfilling to You?

Amanda: The James 1:27 discount we have. There have been times when I have personally connected with parents who have been widowed, men or women. I lost my first husband when I was 24, and had two small girls. I felt like my world was upside-down. When those people call in, and they’re struggling with the burden of school and grief. One, I’ve been there. And two, we offer a discount. They are so thankful, so blessed. I’ve even stayed in touch with some of those people over the years, and it’s amazing.

Patti: Just talking to regular moms. And letting them talk. They’ll say, “Now that I’ve said that out loud, it makes more sense to me!” Having been a mom, I’m able to understand.

If you could put your arm around each homeschool parent’s shoulders for a moment and say, “Here’s what you need to know…”

Linda: I wish I could see them in person, but I try to reach out over the phone. It is so important that our customers know that they can call us, and we’ll be there for them. We’re about math and spelling, and that’s huge. We will do everything we can to help their students be successful in both those areas. However, that call opens up other doors, as well.

We also help equip parents to have stamina, to encourage them.. They can go back to teaching, and move forward in a whole new light. It’s just the best job ever.

Amanda: You can do this. You. Can. Do. This. You can. It’s okay to want to be around your kids. You’re not crazy or abnormal to want to spend time with these little people. The ability to mold them, be part of their lives, engaged in their learning, not passing that off to somebody else, is worth every early morning, every long day, every day of the year.

What about parents who look like they have everything together?

Linda: There are parents who have it all together, but I’m not sure there are many of them. I just want people to know it’s normal to have days when it’s not together. They’re doing great. But they don’t know it, because they’re hard on themselves.

When I was homeschooling there were some days, that little yellow school bus went right by my front door, and I thought, “boy, that looks really good today…” Homeschooling is worth it in the end. It’s hard and and at the same time so fulfilling. When in the midst of the hard days, we want our customers to know it really is all worth it!

Tales from Customer Service Series:

Funny Hangups
We Were Students (You’re here!)
Word Problem Tips (6/10)
When Your Child Has Learning Differences (7/12)