Venting Thread

[Cat Herder]

7 hours of sleep in the past 2 days.

I am so tired that I feel faintly ill and dizzy. I haven't felt like this in years. Forming coherent thoughts is very hard.

Do you have any "Stress" B Complex? Take it with orange juice and a peanut butter sandwich. It has "saved" me on many, many occassions.

[SilverSabre25]

I know how rough that is. Can you rest when the littles are down, or would you fall asleep?

I would fall asleep. Not much hope I'd get even get a chance to rest though--DS is in 'omg the world is ending HOLD ME' mode, and not napping much the past couple days. Getting a cold + three teeth + growth spurt...he's to the point with this stuff that I'm very close to picking up infant Motrin at the store tonight to see if it helps his sleep.

Do you have any "Stress" B Complex? Take it with orange juice and a peanut butter sandwich. It has "saved" me on many, many occassions.

Hmm, I'll have to check. I don't think I have a B Complex but I do have Vit D and a couple other things that might help. I'm a bit perkier after breakfast but it's going to be a long day.

[AmyLeigh]

Is it in the air?

I got maybe 12 hours combined over the last 3 nights. Starting to drink way too much espresso. I actually had palpitations this morning. I don't know if it is due to the caffeine, lack of sleep or stress. :confused:

So glad next week is a short week!

[sahm2three]

what do you do when you have a child that continually breaks the rules???? and i cant kick him out because of financial reasons.. And ofcorse he is county assistance. Everyday he is breaking toys, touching other children( big pet peeve, i have a rule keep hands to self) running, throwing toys... He diliberately waits til i leave the room or turn my back to do something naughty, i have caught him on a number of occasions. I sent his parent a letter cause its been stressing me out, im pregnant... The next week his dad told me to tell him the day it happens well everyday im telling them something new now its like their annoyed, they chalk it up to him being a boy. i chalk it up to bad parenting... i dont know what to do hes damaging my property, i literally cant make lunch with him here i make him come to the kitchen cause he cant be trusted.... He has also been kicked out of daycare before here in town... so his parents should know hes not pleasant... yet they leave him here all day when neither of them works!!!

I feel like you are talking about my 2 yo dcb?!?! Sounds like we have the same kid! I feel for you. Same with the parents. Typical 2 yo old boy behavior! Ugh.

[hoopinglady]

I received a text asking if I will still charge the full amount 140/week for two children btw, for next week even though they'll only be here m-w. I'm opened Friday, by the way.

First of all, we talked about it and you signed the contract.

Secondly, it really makes me want to cry when people try to get out of paying me for my TWO paid holidays per year.

Imagine how they will react when I send out the new contract this year and ask for a few more days off per year.

I had a dcm, one year pay me for christmas week and when I told her she was short I found out she had calculated actual days in attendance and then added a "bonus" all of which did not come out to what she actually owed me for the week.

After she reluctantly got it all straight there was definitely no bonus.

Whatever, people.

[sharlan]

Sent a letter home with one last night, telling Dad that as of today, he owes 1 1/2 weeks. I've been up for 45 mins and they're a no show. I lost 1 1/2 hrs of sleep.

[sharlan]

They just showed up. Kid didn't give father note. I never give notes to kids because this is what happens. I told Grandma #2 note was in bag, and she didn't give it to Dad.

[caring4kidsinSD]

Grrrrr today is my payday and most of the time tmy families pay on time - Today I had a dad write the check but said don't cash it before Wednesday as we are waiting for the student loan check to come. huh? Today is payday. If I can't cash it until wednesday it's technically late. Grrrrr - what are they going to do when they find out next Wednesday is payday again since I"m closed Th and F for Thanksgiving??? I will comply (because I dont' want to deal with the headache of a bounced check) but not happy about it

[Hunni Bee]

I have had this kid before. Does he **** cloth too?

I would nix the Thomas book. I wouldn't let him have it at all... and NO talk of Thomas.
I have had a few of these boys and have found that the parents get very attached to the peace and quiet that comes with multiple hours of thomas watching and the kid putting the trains one after another. They LOVE that it's all boy... and they believe that their kids ability to do it for hours upon hours is a sign of advanced or giftedness.

When you remove the ability to have the trains, books, videos... the kid pretty much goes into social isolation, depression, grief, etc. The Thomas addiction is so strong that it BECOMES their personality. Once removed it means there's not much left to go on.

It's common for these boys to not want to entertain themselves... not really KNOW how to play with other toys... get VERY rigid about lining things up when they DO have only other toys.. and spend a lot of time talking like the thomas characters and about it. That's how the "do" thomas with no physical and visual access.

They haven't developed a life outside of Thomas. This is something the parents not only support.. condone... but REALLY REALLY REALLY love. They love it because they can put the kid in thomas world and they don't have to deal with them. As long as it runs wall to wall and the kid has the thomas toys/books etc. they really don't have to deal with them much. They even get relatives to buy MORE thomas for bdays, xmas, etc. It's all boy so it's all good.

If you do some research about the connection between thomas addiction and autism it will explain WHY these boys like Thomas... all the way down to the facial expressions of the engines... the music... the repetitiveness of it.

So when you take it away and forbid the re-enacting of it then the kid will go into anger, fear, and shut down. They will stare off into space for long periods of time. What you are most likely seeing with him IS the withdrawl he is experiencing at your home. Allowing him to keep a thomas book means he's allowed to be anchored into thomas BUT it's not what he wants to feed the addiction... so he does NOTHING but cling to the book and do repetitive motion stimulation to soothe himself.

He's just waiting for when he gets to go home so he can get his Thomas on.

Ask the Mom about what thomas he has at home. Ask her how much he watches it... does he have a TV in his room... is his room done in thomas... does he have thomas silverware?

Is he doing a combo of watching the videos and lining up trains the majority of his evening and weekends?

If he is all thomas all the time.. he will be in withdrawl when he is with you. Talk with mom and find out if they are "doing" a thomas life with him and do some research on fixation.

Here's one article:
http://autism.about.com/b/2008/10/07...experience.htm

I have a version of this kid too. He's the one who I posted about who wouldn't use the toilet or, and refused drinks to avoid having to use the toilet. We have gotten past the bathroom thing, thank God.

But he's also a Thomas buff, his backpack is filled with Thomas train toys and books that he just carries with him. We have a wooden toy train that he must play with every day, fixates on it, and won't allow anyone else to touch it without a tantrum. But the train thing is mild...I deal with it like I deal with any fixations or tantrums.

He was non-verbal until about 9 months ago (he'll be 4 next month). He had remained in the Two-year-old room because he was not potty trained, non-verbal and socially delayed. Very random, choppy language...expressed wants and needs by pointing, noises or simply dragging the person over to it...couldn't play cooperatively at all. (Of course mom insisted he talked, was potty-trained, etc at home)

Just recently moved to me, and had what I can only describe as a language explosion. Suddenly began asking questions, saying what he wanted/needed, making comments, even tattling . He still kind of sounds like the computer in that movie Blank Check, and he has a habit of repeating himself, but I'm elated.

Our first success was the sentence "I need help". Instead of struggling/tantruming or thrusting his coat/shoe/whatever at someone...we insisted that he say the words "I need help" and would not provide help until he said it. Progressed to "I want water"..."I need to potty"..."I want to play with the train".

A lot has gone on in this boys life in the past couple months, including his parents separating and his mom taking on a night job , and now I'm seeing behavior issues that weren't present before.

But I can understand the other poster's frustration...

[AfterSchoolMom]

Another interview down the tubes. No call, no show. I HAAAAAAAAAAAAATE it when that happens!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

At least, though, I know ahead of time that I dodged a bullet. If they don't call or show up, they don't get a second chance unless someone was in an accident.

Five months now with no kids. I'm starting to question what is wrong with me!

[Cat Herder]

I was to have NO kids today. happyface I was getting ready to take mine out for the day.... one DCM pulls up at 5 minutes until arrival cut-off time (I was told she was to be out of State at her parents).

She changed her mind, since she is paying for it and all. She is going shopping with her friend and may be a "little later" than usual to pick up.

I have no recourse as I have set hours/rates. It typically is for the best, but on occasion bites me in the rear.

Well, she just lost her free "Christmas Shopping Saturday" childcare. Hope she is not looking forward to it. She knows I won't get to see my kids on Thanksgiving, too. (she is divorced as well, so KNOWS how bad visitation agreements ****)

Ugh, the holidays always seem to bring out the worst in some of my clients.

[KAWISTA9]

I was to have NO kids today. happyface I was getting ready to take mine out for the day.... one DCM pulls up at 5 minutes until arrival cut-off time (I was told she was to be out of State at her parents).

She changed her mind, since she is paying for it and all. She is going shopping with her friend and may be a "little later" than usual to pick up.

I have no recourse as I have set hours/rates. It typically is for the best, but on occasion bites me in the rear.

Well, she just lost her free "Christmas Shopping Saturday" childcare. Hope she is not looking forward to it. She knows I won't get to see my kids on Thanksgiving, too. (she is divorced as well, so KNOWS how bad visitation agreements ****)

Ugh, the holidays always seem to bring out the worst in some of my clients.

what a butt!!! Stupid heffa! That makes me sad...she initially told you that she wasn't coming and decided at the last minute without telling you that she was going to bring them??? Oh no, sweetheart. You better take them shopping! I am not Walmart...I am not sitting her waiting for you to spend your money. This is MY HOME AND DESERVES RESPECT; whether you are paying for it or not!!! That makes me sad and mad...

[Cat Herder]

what a butt!!! Stupid heffa! That makes me sad...she initially told you that she wasn't coming and decided at the last minute without telling you that she was going to bring them??? Oh no, sweetheart. You better take them shopping! I am not Walmart...I am not sitting her waiting for you to spend your money. This is MY HOME AND DESERVES RESPECT; whether you are paying for it or not!!! That makes me sad and mad...

It does stink.... Buuuutttt... I charge a flat tuition not based on attendance so TECHNICALLY she is entitled to come anytime she wants (up until arrival drop-off time). It IS a normal work day for me, after-all.

I think she is being passive aggressive because her e-bill/direct payment went through as usual last night (to go into my account friday) because she did not turn in her 30 day "unpaid vacation" notice (less than 3 days notice was given verbally).

Oh well. Little one had fun making Christmas ornaments from Plaster of Paris and molds (Grandparent gifts) with my kids. I just wish I was allowed to transport so we could have gone out to lunch... I had NOTHING prepared.

[Sunchimes]

It's most likely not you Afterschoolmom. I went 4 months with no kids, got 1 part time, then went another 4 1/2 months before I got 2 new families on the same day! It will happen!!! Nothing seems to be easy these days, just hang in there!!

[KAWISTA9]

It has been almost a week and a half and I have not had any 4 year olds here and it has been GREAT, but i did not know that was an issue until today. One of the boys I care for had his big brother come with him today. He is four. They have been here for 30 minutes and I am beyond annoyed! He talks too darn much and QUESTIONS everything. His one year old brother is better at following directions. I am not going to take on any four year olds full time. They should be in a real preschool and that's it! I am not sure what I am gonna do with my son when he is four! I plan to homeschool! I will get over it!