Venting Thread

[Springvalley]

Had several new kids start within the last few weeks, employee's start as well. What would you do about a particular employee that does the following?

1. Doesn't clean room before they leave for the day even though they are primary teacher
2. Stays on cell phone while the children are running around
3. Uses electrical outlet to charge cell phone but doesn't replace the cover before they leave
4. Instead of sending a text on said cell phone they continue scrolling while the children are running around
5. Runs approximately 5 to 10 minutes several days a week and tries to come up with an excuse
6. Went and told another teacher they lied about the reason they were running late

[Rockgirl]

The director should be handling these issues.

[Springvalley]

we are having a meeting Monday to discuss all of this!

[Annalee]

Woke up with a sore throat, cough, and aching.....tested myself for covid which I've never had to my knowledge and it was negative so I'm working today but ready for the day to be over. I only have five working days left in June so that makes me feel better,

[Rockgirl]

Sorry you’re sick! Hope you bounce back quickly.

[Annalee]

Thanks, Rockgirl!

[Annalee]

Clinic gave me an antibiotic shot and steroid shot; and some meds; said there is a viral crud going around....so I'm taking it easy tonight. I'm rarely sick so this is different for me.

[Guest]

So frustrating when a parent tells me that their child will be gone, just to last minute say they'll be coming.

Why get my hopes up? Lol

[girlmomma]

I personally wouldn’t accept after the parent said the child wouldn’t be coming - unless it was an emergency situation.

I had a banker mom do this to me SEVERAL times on federal holidays. On Friday, DCM would says DCK would be “staying home on Monday.” Come Sunday, I’d get a text saying DCK would be there because “something came up”

Now I close for all federal holidays, I don’t return texts/calls after hours and I won’t accept a child at the last min.

[sahm1225]

It was more annoying than anything. For Father’s Day, we did a questionnaire with the older kiddos (4 of 8). Laminated and added their picture. For the youngest kids (2 infants, 1 toddler, and one two mom family) I didn’t do anything this year. They’re all new families so no expectations. For Mother’s Day, i went all out and each family got their own special gift made by the kids: this took about a month to do, plus late night adding the stain to the wood, sealing it, etc. I did not get a single thank you. I even posted the pictures on the daycare app of all the gifts and zero comments of appreciation or saying happy Mother’s Day.
so Father’s Day came along and I didn’t want to go through all the trouble since it’s never appreciated, so I didn’t.

then mom of an infant tells me today that she wondered why I didn’t do anything for Father’s Day because she was counting on me doing something to give to her husband .
i told her that it was such a busy few weeks that I didn’t have the energy to do so much after daycare especially since for Mother’s Day I didn’t get a single thank you and I chose to spend the time after daycare with my own kids doing things for Father’s Day . She stared and asked if I was planning to make it up another time. Seriously?!! I didn’t realize it was my responsibility to make things for them to give each other . This family now has a star on the calendar (lots of other things, but this was the one that surprised me the most with the audacity to be upset that I didn’t do extra).

[Springvalley]

Some people's just rude! sorry that happened

[e.j.]

she wondered why I didn’t do anything for Father’s Day because she was counting on me doing something to give to her husband

Wow! What else is there to say? Just shaking my head.

[girlmomma]

I am laughing. Even when my kids make stuff, DH and I still get a gift to show appreciation for one another on these holidays. Nothing big. Usually something we need/sometimes have been wanting. LOL

[e.j.]

I know! Same here. My kids are adults now and my husband and I still give each other gifts. Before I had my dd, my ds was in daycare. I always had him make something at home in addition to what he made in daycare. I would never have assumed it was my daycare provider's responsibility to have him make something for Father's Day. Geez!

[Eowyn123]

Please don't take your kids out of the country and then bring them in so jetlagged that they scream and cry and need constant attention!!! I really, really wish the company would institute a rule that parents cannot bring their child in jetlagged. It's so ridiculous what parents and society expect us to put up with!!!

[Alwaysgreener]

What does your policy say? Mine says that they have to be able to participate. So if they are unable to participate because the are overtired, they go home.

[sahm1225]

I had a family wanting to bring their 9 month old straight from the airport so they could go home and sleep: I was shocked and of course said no, but my goodness

[Eowyn123]

Alwaysgreenerwe don't have a policy about that. Parents can drop off when they want to as long as they let us know by 9:00. They can pick up and drop off and then pick up again for the day. It can make for some interesting days. The company doesn't want to alienate paying parents.

[Springvalley]

When will kids learn to stay out of other people's business especially things that don't involve them? Just had a kid ask if a school age kid got kicked out because they wasn't here today

[e.j.]

To be honest, kids are curious and depending on their age, I almost expect them to ask questions that aren't really appropriate or any of their business. They need to be taught and reminded that some subjects are off limits to them. It's the adults that don't seem to learn to stay out of other people's business that bother me more than the kids.

[Springvalley]

@ej: That i totally agree with you on. Reason this kid asked is because this other kid that they asked about has been out all summer because what happened was during the school year him and another child would both disobey the rules, not listen when asked to do something etc and it got to the point that the owner was thinking about terming the both of them but what was weird was that when this particular child wasn't there this other child was perfect. So when summer came, mom asked if we had a spot and we told her that we didn't but didn't tell her the reason why so it was never brought up again

[Springvalley]

Had a new child start about a month ago and the first week was good but as the weeks went on the child began to show their true colors per say and he began to become a bully. Today he was in the play area in our gym and did something (I don't really know what occurred) however when he was talked to he yelled at his teacher and then yelled at another teacher and tried to hit her. Grandma was immediately called and the first words that came out of her mouth was "Can you spank"? and we told her no and how it was against the minimum standards etc and she said "im on my way". She pulls up and talked to the child then proceeds to spank the child in front of everyone! Let's just say whatever occurred will never occur again!

[CountryRoads]

I always thought having a small group would be such a nice break...and it usually is!

But today, I only have 2, and it's the most boring day ever. They are far apart in age (one year old and 5 year old), and the oldest is so bored. If it wasn't for the baby, we would've been able to leave the house.

I think having about 4 kids is my happy place...and no babies

[Alwaysgreener]

Defiant DCG today.

Me Time for a snack
DCG: NO!
Me Okay then you have a choice, time out or go wash your hands for a snack
DCG Snack

Repeat this for crafts, outside, lunch, and a big fit at nap time.

The fit went like this...

I don't want to be here anymore, I want mommy, I don't want to go potty, I don't want to lie down as she is crying on the top of her lungs

[e.j.]

The past month has been like that for me. I'm on vacation this week and to say I really needed this week to save my sanity is no exaggeration. Sorry you're going through it. It's not fun.

[Alwaysgreener]

DCG keeps snapping at me and screaming. She is not listening. Ex I say "X you it is your turn to go potty". DCG screams "I don't want to go potty". I say "dcg, I was talking to x." DCG "Oh".

[Annalee]

Consistency is so hard! Dcg3.5 started that cry/whine this morning and it excelates with sound to the point it becomes disruptive so I do the 'here's your place, you are welcome to join the group when your are ready and are not bothering the other children'. Did this no less than 10 time over the last hour and FINALLY she is playing/smiling. It's a power-struggle and always happens when I have a FEW children; not sure what that trigger is; maybe she thinks I will cater to her on those days; who knows but whining can drive you nuts!

[Annalee]

And the Health Dept just left; just keeps spiraling....all was good but what a day! LOL

[sahm1225]

This is vent but at the same time it’s funny: same family I’ve vented about above about the lack of Father’s Day gifts, so one that has had a star on the calendar that kept getting moved up.

we have a field trip next week. We’re taking a school bus. Parents have been helping with fundraising and it’s going amazing. Every family said YES before we booked. Every family (even infants who are not attending) has helped with fundraising. It’s been cute fun stuff and we needed to raise $100 which two families were wanting to donate outright to help so it’s been amazing and so much fun. We borrowed a popcorn maker from our local school and my kids and former teenage daycare kids sold popcorn. It’s just been really nice.

That family hasn’t participated in anything. despite TONs of ways to participate. Today they say there’s safety concerns so they’re opting out of trip AND fundraising. I gave a different option - (both work from home, flexible jobs). Drive dck to/from field trip. Nope saying work isn’t flexible and they can’t take the day off.., so that means that they need to pay for the day AND keep dck home ♀️. Not sure they’ve thought things through but I just submitted the final numbers to the bus company and I have their texts confirming they are not attending sooo

[Annalee]

Some people!!!!!!!! nothing surprises me anymore....too many live from the neck up and never go any further leading to NO logic or any feelings of any kind...oh my goodness, just the world we live in now! LOL

[Springvalley]

sahm1225 They state that they have safety concerns and have opted out of the trip & fundraising. And claim that their job will not allow them to take off work but yet they work at home and then at Father's Day complain about the gifts or lack thereof. I'm sorry but if I were you, I would either have a meeting with them and discuss ALL of their concerns or I would quit listening to their complaining because it sounds like to me all they enjoy doing is creating drama and love to have something started.

[sahm1225]

I think you hit the nail on the head - I think they like starting drama. I’m usually very nice and won’t engage but I was so angry Friday that I sent a reply text that said something like it’s such a shame you didn’t express your concerns before confirming in June since we’ve already paid for the bus. Dcm replied yea it’s such a shame I didn’t know about the seating situation in June and I guess we can participate in the fundraising…

..: that’s where I’m confused… I gave them all the info; how did they think their kid was going to go on the bus? I listed the info and even linked the bus safety info… then fundraising is over. Everyone turned it in Thursday and I placed the order Friday so too little too late


But it is what it is: I’m actively trying to replace. I
refuse to deal with someone who is so unhappy all the time and seems to think I need to do more for them ♀️

[gumdrops]

Every year I tell myself DO NOT TAKE SCHOOL AGE KIDS IN THE SUMMER! Then every year I want to work with my teacher family, so I allow them to keep their kids at home in the summer and I pick up another regular family's school age kids and by July I want to bang my head against the wall! They are good kids, but they get bored and loud and I hate my job! It doesn't help that this year I have another DCK who will be going to K in the fall, so it's like having 3 school agers...all boys....all loud!

[Alwaysgreener]

@gumdrops

I have my DD11, dcb10 and Dcg6.5 (ds5 that starts school in the fall but he still plays with the daycare kids and plays in his room during nap)

My DD has summer work that I assigned her, she has 45 minutes to do in the morning. I print packets offline for dcg6.5. I bought science kits off Amazon for the dcb10. He does a kit a week, there is six kids per box in the boxes cost about $20. He's only here two days a week and just assembles during free play.

All the kids are required to read it quietly for 20-30 minutes at the beginning of nap time. They bring books from home but if they request something I'll grab it from the library.

Then for June it they made a book. They had to write and illustrate the book. Then I stapled it and made a cover. My daughter read hers to the kids during circle time.

For July they're making their own game board. They have to name the game, come up with rules and make pieces. Then everything will get laminated and put in a bag for them to take home. And they can play the game before they take it home.

I haven't come up with a project for August yet.

[e.j.]

My heart goes out to you! It can make for a long, miserable summer. I had 3 kids going off to school last year and although they were all good kids, the energy level was through the roof. I couldn't wait until September when they were all due to ship out.

After kicking myself so many times over the years during the summer months, I've learned to tell parents I don't have any openings for kids over the age of 5. Sometimes it's obvious that I do have an opening, so I end up taking an older sibling who used to be enrolled here just for a day or two. As much as I still love them all, having them back for the day is enough to remind me why I no longer take school aged kids for the summer.