The Wren’s Nest Staff Is in a Bit of a Pickle
Let me tell you a story. Ready?
Chapter 1 – Mysterious Potato Farmers
Once upon a time the staff of the Wren’s Nest had a friend who does consulting work for a local Potato Farm* in the area. Recently, the Potato Farm Consultant said, “Hey! Over at the Potato Farm today I saw signs advertising a big Potato Farmer field trip to the Wren’s Nest. You guys are big time!”
What great news! We are big time! Except that we had no idea what what our friend the Potato Farm Consultant was talking about. Wren’s Nest trip? Potato Farmers? Time for some sleuthing.
Chapter 2 — Gulp!
The next day at our request, our Consultant Friend ever so gently stole one of the signs she had read. She forwarded us the details. The good news — the Potato Farmers are SUPER excited about visiting and there are a lot of ‘em. The bad news — in all their excitement and very detailed planning, they …kinda left us out of the loop.
Now, you’re probably saying to yourself, “Geez, Amelia. Visitors drop in all the time. Get over yourself.”
Gentle reader, here is why I am under myself — long ago we scheduled a very large school group for the same exact time and date.
Chapter 3 — Showdown
I called the Potato Farmers and left a very sweet message about our sleuthing and the little mix up and if you could call us back, please. Shucks, we’d appreciate it.
A few days later they called. Lain spoke to the Potato Farm Field Trip Organizer who, um… well, let’s not mince words. It was ugly. And somewhere between crying and wetting himself, Lain guaranteed this woman that we would work things out in her favor. Eeps.
(Sidenote — she was horrified by the prospect of children being present in the museum when she visited. Right.)
Anyhow, we have since asked the school group — who has played by all the rules quite graciously, we should add — if they had any flexibility in their schedule. They do not.
Chapter 4 — Choose Our Adventure
So we now have two groups scheduled for the same time slot, and cannot accommodate them both. Other than chastising Lain for making promises he can’t keep, what should we do?
* Name changed to protect the innocent (or guilty, depending on how you look at it).
** Thanks for the Potato Farm picture, John Beales.
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Amber Suitt
Program Director
Lain Shakespeare
Executive Director
19 Comments to The Wren’s Nest Staff Is in a Bit of a Pickle
Um- I would go with making the impossible possible. I still believe you can accommodate both. Do some story telling in the back with the kids while you shuffle through those pesky farmers.
So in response- I am firmly denying reality.
Tell the potato farmers that you have brought together Joel Chandler Harris’ great great great great (whatver, you get the picture) grandchildren for their amusement. And should there be ethnic diversity in the group, tell them that Joel promoted diversity. Have the children sing a coordinated song about Atlanta.
Should this not work, plant potatoes in the backyard, make a potato scavenger hunt, and tell the children that they’re old timey potato farmers.
Problem solved. I bet you guys argued about this and it took me less than a minute to figure out a solution.
Seems like I remember a similar problem in July when 100 people came for the Harris Family Reunion and there was a huge birthday party going on in the front yard, all at the same time. You juggled that pretty well and I’m confident this will work out, too, but I definitely want to be there to watch.
What day and time is this party? Can you bring out that Tar Baby cut-out the birthday party people donated? You know, the one where you stick your head in the hole and become Tar Baby while someone takes your picture. That might help! I’ll bring my camera.
Obviously, the only way to solve this dilemma is by building another Wren’s Nest for the second group to go to.
May I suggest calling back the potato farmers to paint the bleakest possible picture of what their event will be like considering the presence of an enormous number of children. This is called “under-promising” what you can deliver. I would suggest also accepting full responsibility for disappointing whatever expectations the potato farmers may have had (though I would comfort myself by finding their expectations beyond the possibility of ever being met). The next step is to make the best effort to accommodate both groups. Your other commenters believe it can be done. Keep your expectations low, but celebrate what you achieve.
I agree. Manage the expectations of the Potato Farmers (and it is odd that they would schedule a field trip anyway…) and should they choose to come, they know what they will get. Seems to be they just ASSUMED that the place was just sitting there waiting for them. Well, you know what they say about people who assume….
if i ran the wren’s nest (which would, admittedly, be a very bad idea):
a bunch of potato farmers that have a bad time at the wren’s nest
VS.
a bunch of school kids who have a bad time at the wren’s nest
well, sorry potato farmers who are also grown up, but you lose. go home and tell other old people what a bad time you had. there’s no way i’m gonna let some kids have a bad time at the home of br’er rabbit and for the rest of their lives think what a horrible place the wren’s nest is. after all, it comes down to the fact that, because of their age, they will be around longer than you and will therefore affect more people’s opinion of the nest than you. also, they’re KIDS. you are not, though you might act like spoiled children.
by the way, did you see the wendy’s across the street? they serve potato fries! have fun!
Seems to me that there are 24 hours in a day. Are the children and potato farmers both going to be there the full 24 hours? In my experience with children and farmers, children seem to cry less in the morning, and farmers tend to be very busy in the morning. Is it possible to arrange a situation where the children are there from say 9 to noon and the farmers are there from 1 to 4? It might be just crazy enough to work.
The one thing I know about business is that promises are bound to get you in trouble, its best to stick to vague quasi commitments.
quite the quandry for sure. How many potato farmers are planning on making the trip? And can they bring John Randall a big sack to make home made french fries? If so, problem solved.
Better yet have John Randall make french fries out back under a tent for the kids while the Potatoe farmers are in the house.
I would be glad to volunteer for the day to help. Annette and I could do crafts with the kids.
Thanks for your concern and advice, everyone.
So a little more background: when we initially called the potato farmers, they were (frighteningly) sure they had contacted us. People have been known to call, inquire about availability, and assume that since the time slot is available, it is also theirs, sans confirmation. We suspect this is what happened here, Deb. They were also NOT amenable to the idea of moving their time slot, hoo doggies. Nor was the school, but they were much nicer about it.
Sorry, Kirk.
This clash of the titans isn’t due until March, so luckily, we might have nice weather- and thus, a yard- to work with. We also might not. But Rebecca, Rachel, and Mama Shakes, I hear you.
JWAIII, your point hit home with me. The potato farmers (all 30 or so of them, Jodi) are already cantankerous. The children remain unspoiled.
Bryan, Lain clearly has to talk to these spudheads again, and that may just be the approach to use. Assuming he’s brave enough to do anything other than make promises we can’t keep– like suggesting they tour the 2nd Wren’s Nest. Though you may be on to something there, Christa.
So, in light of this additional info, what else you got?
Aaaaand, with two Wren’s Nests you can hire all the laid off Margaret Mitchell House staff! Everyone wins! Twice!
I’ll also bring my Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head at the Farm toys. Fun for all!
Bryan, that’s a great point about managing expectations. I used to be good at the at that when I was coaching swimming, but I’ve found that a lot of times I forget about it here at the Wren’s Nest.
Christa, problems solved. Have you considered running for mayor?
Amelia, Lain…be careful what you post on your blog. Them taters have eyes.
Emily, good call. (And good one!)
I don’t think we’d be talking about this at all if the reaction from the Farmers weren’t somewhat audacious and presumptive to begin with. Amelia hasn’t said anything here that I wouldn’t say at the Potato Farm (I might, however, take cover after saying it).
That said, we will proceed with caution as advised. Thanks!
*Sigh* Do you two kids need me to do everything for you?
Just have the kids paint pictures for the potato farmers thanking them for providing the world with the best potatoes at the best value with just a potato farming manual and heart.
How can you get mad at that?
Oh…don’t even get me started on potato farmers. No need to explain. I know how it is.
[...] those of you who have no idea what I’m talking about, a bit of background. Three cheers for it all working [...]