Venting Thread

[daycarediva]

OMG! If I have to repeat myself to the SA kids anymore, I'm going to go batty. Even the 2 yo is telling them to stop things 7 days, 7 days, 7 days then done

11 days here! I am throwing an 'end of summer party' (shaving cream fight, water balloons, scavenger hunt & prizes, etc) each of my SA kids has to EARN THIS and 'buy' the games with a set # of stickers, they get 1 sticker on the chart for a variety of listed reasons. So far, it's a MIRACLE! happyface I didn't repeat myself at all today and actually got help from 2 of them!

[daycarediva]

Up at 5, showered and opened the doors for my 6am family. They showed up at 7:30. (not their fault, a power outage) but OMG! ugh!

[Unregistered]

rYou need tough skin in this business.

I am a new daycare provider and I am wondering if I am just to sensitive to do this. I get back from my unpaid vacation to find out -one child will be leaving for a month (who last I heard was going to start coming full time) (no payment left to hold her spot as per contract), -one child is cutting back their days (more lost income), -a new family is starting later than expected, -another new child that was set to start is moving, I get bombarded with this info. in just two days time. Then when I asked one family if they may consider a MWF schedule since they now come part time in order to help accomidate another PT infant they threatened to pull their child. I am trying to make ends meet the best I can and I can not understand the logic of these families. Do they think I have a tree that grows money in my backyard and that I can hold a spot for everyone to come anytime that is conenient for them? This has left me so upset I don't know what to do with these demanding families, I wish I could turn back the clock and start again.

I am still fairly new to the daycare business, i just made 3 years in business, my husband and i have a group family daycare and trust me i feel your pain. I dont think you are too sensitive for this business you are just inexpierienced. I had many of the same issues and sometimes still have them, but i have learned very quickly that parents will walk all over you if you allow them too, DO NOT BEND YOUR RULES. If you break your owns rules for some parents that will be a sign that they can break rules also. Be very verbal about your rules it will feel awkward but remember these families dont care about your bills or your family, and as long as you dont enforce your rules many of them wont care that they have not paid you for a childcare spot as they are only thinking of themeselves. Be professional, be firm, and enforce all of your rules, no one else will care if you can put food on your table but you, so long story short dont be a push over if you continue to let parents make their own rules you will lose all control of your own business.

[Sunshine74]

The father for one DCB(2 1/2) stays for at least 20 minutes every time he drops off (he is only once a week). It is almost like he wants his son to cry. The whole time he is there he repeats "I have to go to work... don't be upset... don't cry...I really have to go now, etc", and the child isn't even crying until he starts all that. DCB isn't new, he has been coming to the center for over a year and a half!

[Unregistered]

I have a 14 month old in my care who is squeezed into clothes that are so small/tight that it leaves marks on his skin. I can barely get his pants off/on for diaper changes, and he is in cloth diapers which are bulky. This poor child! I don't understand why his parents can't get him clothes that fit, and trust me money is not an issue for this family.

[Unregistered]

UGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!! I have this one dcm who just so happen to run out of milk every morning before dropping off the dcb. Not to mention that she dropped him off with only 3 diapers. Did I mention that he has a bm all day long?!?!?!?!? Who does that?!?!?!?

[Lyss]

Bugs!

Morning drop offs business as usual then at pick up DCM says "did DCB tell you about our bugs?" (keep in mind I haven't seen them in nearly a week because mom took time off work)

Umm what?! No...

Apparently Sunday night (Tues is their "Monday" here) they discovered their home is overrun with fleas to the point that the dogs had to go to the vet and get flea baths (one can barely walk his legs are so irritated) AND have their carpet replaced! She said DCB even had them in his hair!!

So DCM brought clothes, blankets, extra clothes in a canvas bag that morning and didn't think to tell me maybe to be on the look out? Plus she drops off early (615ish) and DCB goes back to sleep on a mat in play area!

I have 2 young ones that are on the floor all day and a dog of my own.

Now my dog is scratching and I need to go buy bug bombs and flea medicine...

[daycarediva]

Morning drop offs business as usual then at pick up DCM says "did DCB tell you about our bugs?" (keep in mind I haven't seen them in nearly a week because mom took time off work)

Umm what?! No...

Apparently Sunday night (Tues is their "Monday" here) they discovered their home is overrun with fleas to the point that the dogs had to go to the vet and get flea baths (one can barely walk his legs are so irritated) AND have their carpet replaced! She said DCB even had them in his hair!!

So DCM brought clothes, blankets, extra clothes in a canvas bag that morning and didn't think to tell me maybe to be on the look out? Plus she drops off early (615ish) and DCB goes back to sleep on a mat in play area!

I have 2 young ones that are on the floor all day and a dog of my own.

Now my dog is scratching and I need to go buy bug bombs and flea medicine...

oh ewwwww! GROSS!

[SilverSabre25]

Now my dog is scratching and I need to go buy bug bombs and flea medicine...

Fleas are awful but don't go straight to bug bombs! Since it's probably a brand new infestation, you should be okay just treating the dog and vacuuming frequently. If you kill the fleas at the food source (dog) you should be okay. Vacuum daily, empty the bag after each vacuuming OR sprinkle flea powder in the bag to kill any you vacuum up. Avoid the noxious chemicals--but do get a good flea med for your pup. Ask around and find out if Frontline or Advantage work better in your area.

[Lyss]

Fleas are awful but don't go straight to bug bombs! Since it's probably a brand new infestation, you should be okay just treating the dog and vacuuming frequently. If you kill the fleas at the food source (dog) you should be okay. Vacuum daily, empty the bag after each vacuuming OR sprinkle flea powder in the bag to kill any you vacuum up. Avoid the noxious chemicals--but do get a good flea med for your pup. Ask around and find out if Frontline or Advantage work better in your area.

Thanks! I'll do that! I hate bombs! I've been vacuumung like a mad man! I thought about bathing the dog too but I think I recall the flea medicine saying not to wash right before or right after? Maybe I'm wrong but I'm heading to the store soon anyway so I'll just get the flea meds. My poor dog HATES the meds! She hides when she sees/hears the packaging and runs around like crazy for hours after applied. I feel like I've tortured her afterwards but I'm sure its torture to be infested with fleas so I tell myself its the lesser of 2 evils!

[Bookworm]

Thanks! I'll do that! I hate bombs! I've been vacuumung like a mad man! I thought about bathing the dog too but I think I recall the flea medicine saying not to wash right before or right after? Maybe I'm wrong but I'm heading to the store soon anyway so I'll just get the flea meds. My poor dog HATES the meds! She hides when she sees/hears the packaging and runs around like crazy for hours after applied. I feel like I've tortured her afterwards but I'm sure its torture to be infested with fleas so I tell myself its the lesser of 2 evils!

I have a cat and we had a flea infestation a couple of on months ago. It normally takes the 3 of us to herd, trap, catch and medicate my cat so I feel your pain. I believe we used Frontline and it work perfectly. If you catch the infestation early enough, you will quickly get it under control. Good luck.

[SilverSabre25]

If anyone ever wonders why sometimes I seem incapable of carrying on a linear conversation, they just need to come hang out with me for a few hours. I have two kiddos that don't seem to grasp "linear train of thought". There are so many non-sequitors in their conversations that it's a wonder they even know what they're talking about!

[SilverSabre25]

Thanks! I'll do that! I hate bombs! I've been vacuumung like a mad man! I thought about bathing the dog too but I think I recall the flea medicine saying not to wash right before or right after? Maybe I'm wrong but I'm heading to the store soon anyway so I'll just get the flea meds. My poor dog HATES the meds! She hides when she sees/hears the packaging and runs around like crazy for hours after applied. I feel like I've tortured her afterwards but I'm sure its torture to be infested with fleas so I tell myself its the lesser of 2 evils!

I hope it works for you! We've been through a few flea infestations--by far the worst was the first one, that showed up within a week after we moved into a new apartment. Our kitty was indoor-only at the time and the infestation was SO bad SO fast that we finally concluded that the flea were already IN the apartment when we moved in! It was awful; we'd pull 40-50 fleas off our kitty with a flea comb, 4 or 5 times a day! Nothing worked until we treated the place with nasty chemicals.

every other time we kill the fleas on the cats and the rest takes care of itself.

[AmyLeigh]

Here I thought I was done with the vent thread. I am down to one ft dcg. This morning, mom arrives 30 minutes early without telling me (third time in two months), and has dressed her 2 yo in all white. Really? Who does that? Just yesterday we were outside most of the day playing in the dirt! Oh, and no change of clothes in the bag either. She is going to be filthy by the end of the day. Sigh.....

[SilverSabre25]

Here I thought I was done with the vent thread. I am down to one ft dcg. This morning, mom arrives 30 minutes early without telling me (third time in two months), and has dressed her 2 yo in all white. Really? Who does that? Just yesterday we were outside most of the day playing in the dirt! Oh, and no change of clothes in the bag either. She is going to be filthy by the end of the day. Sigh.....

Oh, how frustrating! I don't even know why they MAKE white clothes for babies. Or toddlers. Or preschoolers. Heck I don't understand white clothing at all!