Sometimes the cost of lies is too much

Dear Children

Sometimes people believe they can accomplish something but discover they cannot. Rachel J is no longer one of our volunteers. Unfortunately, after three attempts, she proved unable to deliver proper two-page spread formatting. I, as a novice, completed the work myself within hours.

I offered her the opportunity to demonstrate translation services, allowing her to continue volunteering in any languages she chose, and I also offered to teach her the techniques I used. I did this because volunteers are special people. She selected only one language, requested payment for volunteer service (never an option), and cited technological difficulties initially. However, if technical issues were genuine, she would have communicated them immediately.

When I explained why this couldn’t be the actual reason, she claimed she didn’t understand my explanations or artistic style. The work showed minimal pages, poor text quality, inadequate basic formatting, and multiple other issues.

I told her the translation offer was to verify her claims and ensure her volunteering wasn’t financially motivated. Many volunteers have various motives. I cannot guarantee every volunteer approaches us with pure intentions, but I demand both competence and honesty. When I discover a volunteer has been dishonest about capabilities, I must terminate the relationship because I must protect children.

Plumbers require certification for their work. Hiring an uncertified plumber risks PVC welding, which should never be welded, copper over-welding, or incorrect sleeve installation when replacement is needed. These represent common knowledge for certified plumbers who understand their craft and have proven their abilities.

Two-page spreads represent common knowledge for book layout professionals and anyone who has read children’s books, as they consider how images span across two pages, which should quickly convey their significance. This concept is relatively standard stuff. The image divides in half, from even page to odd page, and when we open the book, we immerse ourselves in the joint picture and our dreams.

This doesn’t mean all uncertified professionals are incompetent, or that all certified ones perform correctly, but without proven skills, you’re likely to encounter problems. You pay more for certified professionals, but inadequate work creates significant complications. Certified individuals have invested time in developing their skill sets. I value everyone in the trades, knowing their work requires considerable skills and training. These costs are why they must charge more. It can be a requirement to pay for that certification being redone.

I have no problem paying for translation work, but it was a test to find out her motivations. Unfortunately, she failed repeatedly.

I cannot risk offering translation work after her subsequent responses. I have no confidence in her competence in this area, and I'm unsure if she'd be fine translating as I did not continue with our association. I wish her well, but I cannot retain her as a volunteer after experiencing dishonesty, incompetent work, and continued excuses.

Children, the candle burns strongly still - one light will become many, but it’s essential to choose the right ones.

With love and dedication to your education,

Dream Writer, Lady Ariarose

DWAR at Your Service F.F.F.

P.S. Dear Children, much like the boy who cried wolf, you might be able to get away with a lie, and you might not get caught, but if you continue lying, when you need someone to trust you, those lies add up, and they might not trust you when the moment matters most. So don’t tell lies even when it’s convenient. Tell the truth even if it hurts sometimes. But we can speak the truth without being cruel about it.

Kids, I know that sometimes people lie when they’re desperate, and I think that’s where her lies came from. She might be in a difficult place financially, but we cannot risk working with someone who lies. Even a lie born from desperation shouldn’t be told. Perhaps she can translate or work on book layouts for adult books, but it’s questionable whether she should have taken on the job for children’s books at this stage in her career.

Lies have consequences