Venting Thread

[Annalee]

My kindy child was KICKING my door this morning so I open the door and say 'now what's this kicking all about'...dcm looks clueless, never even acted like she heard me....I took the 1.5 year old sibling by the hand and told dcb5 to come on in......this is his LAST WEEK.....down to hours till dcb5 leaves.....she is BEGGING me still to keep him when schools out...... NOPE NOPE NOPE, did I say NOPE....uhm NOPE......NOPE....another text......NOPE....another text....still NOPE!

[CountryRoads]

Siblings...

I don't mind then, but I've got one set that are aeveral yeara apart. Big sister is always saying things like "are you going to feed him?", "don't forget to give him his water", "he's all done, you need to get him down", "he's crying".

Like, yes. I know what I'm doing. Thank you

[e.j.]

I've had older siblings that have done the same thing and it's just one of the reasons I don't usually let school age siblings come during the summer or on school vacation weeks if I can help it. I once had to tell an older kid, "You're a great big sister and I know B*** loves you. When you're here at daycare, though, your job is to play and be a kid. It's my job to make sure your sister is taken care of. Why don't you go play and have some fun and I'll take care of B***."

[CountryRoads]

e.j. I don't take school agers, either....this sister ages out in a few weeks to start school. That's a good response, I'll try that!

[Guest]

I realize this is a general question but I have to ask? What happened to parents and children? Closed in 2016 reopened in 2022. The toddlers and preschoolers are leading the parents. They come in the house when they’re ready, consistently bickering, breaking toys, very “needy”. I have a quality program w/experiential curriculum. We cook, engage in sensory play etc. however they can not attend to a task more than five minutes. I absolutely love working with children this is the first time in 20 years that I absolutely hate opening my door in the morning. I used to look fwd. to my day. Am I the only one?

[girlmomma]

I accepted a temporary family for the summer. I’m so glad they’re temporary. Every morning, it’s negotiation after negotiation to get them in door. And OMG, the special treat crap! “If you show me how to walk into Ms. GirlMomma’s, you’ll get a special treat when I pick you up!” One day, DCM tried to look at me (in a mom-to-mom way) and said, “I don’t even know what special treat I’m going to give them today.” I ignored her, I can’t relate. My girls don’t get special treats when they do what is expected of them.

I don’t engage in the twins ridiculous behavior or persuade them to come in. I force the parents figure it out. At 4YO, they are fully capable of walking in the door when they’re asked to do so by an adult. It’s the parents fault for not setting clear expectations and boundaries for the child.

[e.j.]

No; you're definitely not the only one. It wasn't that long ago that I used to say I wanted to stay licensed and working for as long as possible or that if I won the lottery, I'd continue to work, at least until the youngest daycare child headed off to school. Maybe it's my age or the post-pandemic world we're living in now but that's all changed now. I'm relicensing for what I hope is the last time and am looking forward to retirement in 3 years. It can't come soon enough.

[Guest]

Thanks for the reply. I agree it’s the lack of expectations.

[Guest]

Yes, I agree also a little bit of both. I’m 54 and the post-pandemic babies.

[CountryRoads]

It's such a pet peeve of mine when parents text me outside of hours for things that are not urgent.

They wouldn't try to text or call a center on a Sunday. And no, I didn't respond until today.

[Alwaysgreener]

I personally do, I do not expect a response but I will sit down on the weekend and call/text or email businesses about things. If it is to the school, and the teacher is known for responding to me after hours. I will start by saying, In the morning can you let me know...

[CountryRoads]

I only provide care for kids until they go to KG. Once they start school, they are done with me.

I've got two 5 year olds and I'm so ready for them to move on They are very sweet, but they've hit the stage where they are bored and start to not follow rules.

Only 4 more days. I can do this

[Alwaysgreener]

I just lost one to state funded preschool. DCM is giving me a month notice and asked about coming back in the summer.

​​​​​​DCG is DS best friend, he will be in K in the same building.

Next May when preschool ends, ds will age out of my DC ratios, so her timing of wanting to restart maybe in her favor. I offered her a drop in contract for the school year.

​​​​​

[girlmomma]

I quit accepting drop-ins, too. But, I will be taking one next year. ONLY because I’ve had this child since they were 18 months old and they’re the same age as DD. I adore this family.

I tell everyone else no

[Alwaysgreener]

@girlmoma I had her since she was 18 months, she's a year young then DS. But I always called them my Bonnie and Clyde.

DCM is a single mom but always picks up early, even started dropping off later because she didn't need to be to work as early after training. She is one of most favorite dcp.

[girlmomma]

Alwaysgreener in that case, I’d probably keep her

[Alwaysgreener]

That was a hard last day before vaca.

It was the school-age kids' last day of summer break at DC.

[e.j.]

It was smart to schedule a vacation when you did. If it were me, I'd need a vacation to recover from a summer of school-age kids! Enjoy it; you've earned some down time.

[Alwaysgreener]

Well, it just happens to fall that way, DH has taken this week off for a decade before I opened the daycare. It was my grandma bday week til she passed, my siblings and I still get together this week ever since my sister#3 bought grandma's house.

[Blackcat31]

Have 2 DCK’s who’ve been a bit “off” for a few days. Low grade temp, slow moving and just not their typical selves.
I mentioned to DCD that strep had been going around and perhaps that could be the issue.

So DCD said “I had a sore throat a few days ago and they tested me for strep and it was negative so there’s no way the kids have it.”

Ive been doing this job long enough to know opening my mouth would be a bad idea so I just turned away and occupied myself with something else.

I seriously contemplate showing up here everyday.

[Annalee]

Have 2 DCK’s who’ve been a bit “off” for a few days. Low grade temp, slow moving and just not their typical selves.
I mentioned to DCD that strep had been going around and perhaps that could be the issue.

So DCD said “I had a sore throat a few days ago and they tested me for strep and it was negative so there’s no way the kids have it.”

Ive been doing this job long enough to know opening my mouth would be a bad idea so I just turned away and occupied myself with something else.

I seriously contemplate showing up here everyday.

I think our eyes say what we are thinking but people just are so shallow or don’t care…frustrating

[Annalee]

I think our eyes say what we are thinking but people just are so shallow or don’t care…frustrating

this explains it

[Springvalley]

We started our school year curriculum today and I found out while I was off that we had an employee quit for another job opportunity which isn't a big deal however the way that they said they were quitting was appalling. Typically, if you're an employee or you have a child enrolled in the daycare you give a 2 week notice however this employee didn't do that instead they told they could work this week but only Monday and Friday but needed off Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday and then all of a sudden they left us in a bind♀️

[e.j.]

It doesn't surprise me much. It seems to be the way many people are behaving these days.

[sahm1225]

Vent but also a little funny. Long term family 2 kiddos. One leaving for full day pre-K. No big deal, between a PT kiddo and before care, I’m same income wise. Dcg 4 has been saying since Friday that she is not coming back so I asked yesterday since they need to sign new contract. And you prob know where this is going.,. ‘Oh did we forget to tell you that the before/after care is cheaper through the school so we’re going w them, but don’t worry dcg will come on no school days and since there’s a delay in signing up with the program, we’ll go day by day if you need to have dcg at daycare’… ummmm no, no no. (This is where they pretend to not see the text reply that says as we discussed, I don’t offer care for children after they leave the program).
so this is where it’s funny - they’re on this different military subsidy that is very picky. They require a ton of education to get a provider approved… I get an email that they’ve forgotten to renew subsidy so it’s urgent that I print & fill out the papers and get it to them asap. I have kids of my own and even if I wanted to, my next few evenings are packed. Plus… the subsidy would’ve paid me for before/after care since I have a teaching license. The program they’re using is notorious for not being reliable and don’t have anyone with a teaching license, so they won’t be able to use subsidy.

so now they’re in a bind and im waiting for them to come back and realize that had they listened they wouldn’t be in a bind. This ‘free’ program is about to cost them money and not sure what they’ll do with all the no school days (that I told them the school calendar has been available since March 2023 and they keep saying they’ll wait for the school to give it to them ).

[Blackcat31]

Isn’t it “amusing” that we can manage so many schedules and changes and most daycare families just can’t figure it out.
As the saying goes…. “Their lack of planning does not constitute an emergency on your part.”

I’m dealing with something similar… eye roll

[girlmomma]

DCD text: Can I drop DCK1 off a little early? Like, in a few mins? It’s (older child) first day of school.

My text: No. I’m dropping my DD’s off at school. (At this point I realize he’s trying to drop off THIRTY minutes before their scheduled arrival time.)

DCD text: That makes sense. Never mind, we’ll be there at regular time.

DCD arrives around normal time.

DCD: Sorry I text you so late, I guess I should’ve mentioned it yesterday.

Me: *Confused and awkwardly smiling.*



I will never regret going to contracted hours and learning how to say “no.” Whether he mentioned it yesterday or not, it wasn’t going to happen. Lol

[Rockgirl]

I had a dcd do this awhile back! “Can I just pay the equivalent of a late fee to drop off right now?” It was about ten minutes before my opening time, and they were sitting out front in their car. I ignored the text and opened my regular time. In other words, NO!

[girlmomma]

Rockgirl I just can’t believe people ask providers for things they wouldn’t ask McDonalds or Walmart for Lol