Venting Thread

[Aussiedaycare]

I turned forty last month - no big deal, not worried about my age at all.
Was talking to a parent that I have had in care for the past two years. Her age had never been brought up, never had the need to talk about it.
This week she tells me that she's so excited because something big is happening in her life and being 27 it's even more special.
Everything after that was a blur because all I could think was - holy crap, I am old - I am looking after the children of parents that are in the same age bracket as one of my children (she is only 6 years older than my oldest).
Never have I ever felt so old. Give me 5 - 10 years and I will be back talking about how old I am because I am looking after the children of children I used to look after ::::

[Josiegirl]

It's not just age- there's 4 years between DW & I. She grew up in cities and I lived a few miles from a town of 60 growing up. Our childhood and teenage experiences are so unrelatable/ different as to be laughable.

But yeah- when a DCP tells me their age and my first thought is "I have hammers older than you" it hits home I'm old.

I really love it when dcks tell me I'm older than their grandparents.

[DaveA]

It's not just age- there's 4 years between DW & I. She grew up in cities and I lived a few miles from a town of 60 growing up. Our childhood and teenage experiences are so unrelatable/ different as to be laughable.

But yeah- when a DCP tells me their age and my first thought is "I have hammers older than you" it hits home I'm old.

[Blackcat31]

I wont lie when you typed your birth year it actually took me a minute to think adult. I'm only about 11 years older but its the same year as my brother was born. I still have his baby face flash in my head when I see him, and he has a kid older then mine.

This happens every time I talk to a new parent or provider.
When they mention their age, I think nothing of it but as soon as they say the year, I am like "Are you even old enough to drive etc?" ::

It's a shocker sometimes to realize how old I am.

[Jupadia]

Yeah my parents talk about how this is how it used to be all the time! I was born in 91. But for the record almost all of my high school memories are already gone as well :: If I vaguely remember something from my childhood I have to text old friends to ask because my memory is the worst.

I wont lie when you typed your birth year it actually took me a minute to think adult. I'm only about 11 years older but its the same year as my brother was born. I still have his baby face flash in my head when I see him, and he has a kid older then mine.

[sharlan]

Is it bad that after not being around kids for 4 days, I dont want to get up today?

[DaveA]

Snow day today. Yuck

Snowed a few inches yesterday. Not bad but it was powdery and the wind was supposed to be brutal last night and this morning so dangerous wind chill and drifting/ blowing on roads were predicted. School decided to call last evening instead of waiting till last minute. Wind died down early last night. So temps are cold but not ridiculous and roads are fine. No one else closed down. Oops. Our school district is going to catch holy heck from all sides.

[Ms.Kay]

My mom is 50 in a few weeks

Oh..Im with BC...that's is the norm here for snow and ice....Im a hour outside buffalo...so as we say its all the way the wind blows!( off the great lakes)lake effect is like predicting the wind!..we often joke about the storm.of 1977.....I was 10. 'nuff said.🤣

[storybookending]

and this tells you how old I am. ::

My mom is 50 in a few weeks

[storybookending]

:: :: This tells me how old you are.

This is really more normal for every winter I've ever experienced. It's only been since the mid 90ies that things have been more mild as far as snow fall goes.

The last winter that it was like this was probably when you were about 2 yrs old.

Anyways.....it's started snowing here.

Yeah my parents talk about how this is how it used to be all the time! I was born in 91. But for the record almost all of my high school memories are already gone as well :: If I vaguely remember something from my childhood I have to text old friends to ask because my memory is the worst.

[Blackcat31]

:: :: This tells me how old you are.

This is really more normal for every winter I've ever experienced. It's only been since the mid 90ies that things have been more mild as far as snow fall goes.

The last winter that it was like this was probably when you were about 2 yrs old.

Anyways.....it's started snowing here.

and this tells you how old I am. ::

[Blackcat31]

As for the 2-4 inches I am not even bothered by it at this point. I have never seen this much snow in my lifetime. The weatherman said that February has officially been our snowiest month on record and we have already surpassed totals to make this our snowiest winter on record. There is no where left to put the snow. Some area towns have instructed their residents to stop shoveling sidewalks as they have decided the best solution is to plow all the extra snow on the roads on to them. I plow paths through my backyard so we can still have outdoors time and the children could essentially jump the fence if they were so inclined as the snow piled up next to it is only 1-2 feet from the top. I have pictures of the kids standing by it because it’s hilarious. And to think I have a picture of them chasing my sister around the backyard that is dated January 16th and there is zero snow on the ground and just a bit of ice. It’s insanity. I’m more concerned about the melting process. My garage roof leaks on a mild winter, I had it raked once but it’s piled up again and now there is ice build up as it reached above freezing temps last weekend and some started to melt and then refroze. There’s been a few reports or area businesses and barns that have actually had their roofs collapse. Never seen anything like this.

:: :: This tells me how old you are.

This is really more normal for every winter I've ever experienced. It's only been since the mid 90ies that things have been more mild as far as snow fall goes.

The last winter that it was like this was probably when you were about 2 yrs old.

Anyways.....it's started snowing here.

[LittleExplorers]

DCM dropped off soon to be 2 year old in a rush 20 min late to work because DCG threw a tantrum over what hat to wear so Mom went through all the hats in the house to find one she wanted.

This should be a fun stage with DCG if daycare is the only place she hears the word no......

[nanglgrl]

Exhausted

I just need to vent. It's been a horrible winter and my daycare has seen more illness this winter than the past 3 combined. I actually had to reinstate a policy I had gotten rid of that required siblings of sick children to also stay home. There was a definite trend of the well sibling coming to daycare, becoming sick within a few days of their sibling (usually at daycare), and every other child picking up the illness within hours of each other. I have two sibling sets (its been a long time since I've had siblings since I don't accept under nine months or schoolagers) and it was so hard to tell parents that we'd be going back to the old policy. They have to pay for the spot and I understand how unfair it seems when they have to keep a well child home and still pay. However, it had become incredibly obvious because of how the spreads of illnesses were occurring that the majority were being spread by asymptomatic siblings of sick children.

For years using the 24/48 policy I learned about on this board worked so well and not only got rid of dose and drops but also made parents a lot more likely to keep children home when they weren't exhibiting symptoms I exclude for but were definitely showing signs that they were becoming sick with more than a common cold. It seemed parents had a "better safe than sorry" motto. Then it just changed. I'm not sure why. I know part of the change started with having sibling sets and I don't know how to fix it.

Also, I'm so tired of parents not knowing their child enough to recognize when they're becoming sick. Why do they need me to be the one to say at drop off "X has his sick eyes" or "J is chewing on his lips like he does when he's getting sick" etc. Are they ignoring the fact that their child, who usually wants to eat constantly but suddenly won't touch breakfast is showing signs of being ill? Are they oblivious when their child who usually fights sleep with every ounce of their being won't get out of bed in the morning?

Another thing, most of the ones that do keep them home always give me generic symptoms. "A little cough", "a low-grade fever", "didn't sleep well"...please, you've brought them to daycare when they vomited the night before (I found out later) so why would you keep them home for a slight cold? Your child has influenza. Why can't you just admit that your child is sick with symptoms that require exclusion?

Oh, and your 3 year old is now very capable and incredibly excited to tell me about how she got medicine/vomited etc. before daycare and I believe her. When I confront you and you say "that was this weekend" or some other nonsense I don't believe you.

I'm just so darn exhausted and sick of sickness and winter.

[storybookending]

I had a DCM came in this morning with 2 dozen chocolate
frosted donuts with sprinkles. She was also armed with apologies in advance. ::

No worries mom. Fridays are super silly days anyways and 2 dozen provides enough for a P.M. snack AND one to take home (for every kid). Sorry not sorry. ::

....and the 2-4 inches....my DH keeps saying that's just enough to keep the snowbanks looking pretty and white.
I'm looking forward to Spring for sure but it's so brown and ugly.

I think the snow will start here before heading your way....I'll let you know when it starts falling here.

Treats are welcome here but they will ALWAYS be a PM snack. We had a family wedding a few weeks ago that both my cousin and I stood up in. She also runs a daycare and she closed the Friday before and I did not. They went and got pedicures and stuff that morning and that is just not my thing so I stayed open and I took her child as a drop in while they went and did that. She shows up to my house with her child and about 40 doughtnut holes. Needless to say her child left after lunch and my original daycare kids enjoyed a few in the afternoon. I might have eaten the rest..

As for the 2-4 inches I am not even bothered by it at this point. I have never seen this much snow in my lifetime. The weatherman said that February has officially been our snowiest month on record and we have already surpassed totals to make this our snowiest winter on record. There is no where left to put the snow. Some area towns have instructed their residents to stop shoveling sidewalks as they have decided the best solution is to plow all the extra snow on the roads on to them. I plow paths through my backyard so we can still have outdoors time and the children could essentially jump the fence if they were so inclined as the snow piled up next to it is only 1-2 feet from the top. I have pictures of the kids standing by it because it’s hilarious. And to think I have a picture of them chasing my sister around the backyard that is dated January 16th and there is zero snow on the ground and just a bit of ice. It’s insanity. I’m more concerned about the melting process. My garage roof leaks on a mild winter, I had it raked once but it’s piled up again and now there is ice build up as it reached above freezing temps last weekend and some started to melt and then refroze. There’s been a few reports or area businesses and barns that have actually had their roofs collapse. Never seen anything like this.