Venting Thread

[Josiegirl]

You guys who only do infants, you have my utmost respect. Although the 1 baby I have right now is my easiest child by far, I cannot imagine having 4 or 5 of them. My state only allows 3 under 2 with no others. I've thought about switching but 3 dcks wouldn't pay the bills.

[Miss A]

My step-grandma invited herself over for dinner tonight. She asked to take us out to dinner in November, and between Thanksgiving (3) and Christmas (4) celebrations, as well as DF working late 3 nights a week, we haven't had time to meet.

I feel horrible, but I am dreading it. My Grandad passed away a year ago next month, and we were not close. He abused my mother as a infant, breaking multiple bones, and because of the abuse I only met him a handful of times. His wife now lives near us, and while I totally understand that the holidays are hard on her, we barely know her, and don't have much to talk about.

Plus, we have another family Christmas tomorrow I have to make food for, I have end of the week daycare cleaning and laundry to do, I am exhausted!

Why am I such a horrible person?!?

[Unregistered]

Why does the director accept children she knows have developmental delays when we are not equipped to handle special needs? This one child practically needs a constant assistant. He is three, mostly talks in single words and those are not clear at all. He can barely sit still, during free play constantly takes toys from others or chases them (I assume to try to interact), puts things in his mouth, and generally is high maintenance and needs a lot of help. With guidance he will play nicely but we don't have a staff member we can dedicate to assisting him all day. I understand not wanting to turn someone away but isn't it just enabling his family to remain in denial? How much are we allowed to say to his parents in regard to his delays?

[MsLisa]

I feel so silly just complaining this but....
As much as I love this easygoing family, only watching their baby is soooo boring to me. But it's the easiest money ever.
He's just started to crawl so for an hour he tries to get into everything he shouldn't (with the balance of a drunk person). No attention span to do anything with, so nothing I could bring amuses him. AND by the time I get there he's on bedtime tired meltdown hour so I get to do "overtired crying fit" bedtime too. Then I sit in the dark with the tv playing the same show on repeat for 2hrs because the baby sleeps in a bouncer in the living room. So easy, yet so boring. I miss my school age kids....

[Silly Songs]

Are the parents aware that infants should be in cribs, not car seats or bouncers ? Maybe you could update them. Safe sleep practices reduce SIDS.

[Claraskids]

I thought I had developed my backbone. I have learned to enforce my policies, I have learned to never give an immediate answer to parents requests, I can pick up red flags during interviews, and infants' cryings doesn't drive me batty. But no one told me to not get attached to the kids!!
I redid my parent handbook/contract for the first time ever and none of the changes were major. Mostly spelling out better some minor rules that were getting broken by bad apples (no items from home, no dousing with essential oils) and trying to get ahead of some situations that may arise in the future (snow days, no electricity, etc.). I gave all families the handbook over the holidays to look over and they were suppose to sign and return by last Friday.
Just got an email that one family won't be back because of the changes - didn't say which ones but I can guess. What is driving me nuts is that I even wrote up an addendum to their contract just for them that gave them an extra five minutes on the closing time because they have the longest commute. They are also the only family getting a sibling discount, the only one that I never charged any extra fees on, and the only one I ever made any exceptions to! Why? Because I adored their kids, especially the youngest. Tends to happen when you've had her since she was six weeks old and she is as easy as pie. They've been here for nearly 18 months and I just let myself get too attached. From now on, I don't care what a parent requests. Go to the handbook. Want me to open 10 minutes early - no. Want a discount because you're a school teacher who has a three day week - no! I'm sorry that this one family ruined it for everyone else, but my heart has been stomped on. I am truly a business owner now, not your friend!
Thanks for letting me vent.

[Annalee]

I thought I had developed my backbone. I have learned to enforce my policies, I have learned to never give an immediate answer to parents requests, I can pick up red flags during interviews, and infants' cryings doesn't drive me batty. But no one told me to not get attached to the kids!!
I redid my parent handbook/contract for the first time ever and none of the changes were major. Mostly spelling out better some minor rules that were getting broken by bad apples (no items from home, no dousing with essential oils) and trying to get ahead of some situations that may arise in the future (snow days, no electricity, etc.). I gave all families the handbook over the holidays to look over and they were suppose to sign and return by last Friday.
Just got an email that one family won't be back because of the changes - didn't say which ones but I can guess. What is driving me nuts is that I even wrote up an addendum to their contract just for them that gave them an extra five minutes on the closing time because they have the longest commute. They are also the only family getting a sibling discount, the only one that I never charged any extra fees on, and the only one I ever made any exceptions to! Why? Because I adored their kids, especially the youngest. Tends to happen when you've had her since she was six weeks old and she is as easy as pie. They've been here for nearly 18 months and I just let myself get too attached. From now on, I don't care what a parent requests. Go to the handbook. Want me to open 10 minutes early - no. Want a discount because you're a school teacher who has a three day week - no! I'm sorry that this one family ruined it for everyone else, but my heart has been stomped on. I am truly a business owner now, not your friend!
Thanks for letting me vent.

:hug:It seems the ones we do the MOST for end up hurting us the worst:confused:YES, THIS IS A BUSINESS! NO FRIENDS ALLOWED

[MsLisa]

Are the parents aware that infants should be in cribs, not car seats or bouncers ? Maybe you could update them. Safe sleep practices reduce SIDS.

Oh I know and you would think they would having 5 kids total. Apparently he has acid reflux and the swing helps.

Being they are only a Date Night family, I don't care to say anything. If they were a more steady part of my work I would have no problem correcting everything. Also the crib in crammed into a tiny closet room, surrounded by random boxes and clothes....so don't even get me started. I get my money, I hold down the fort, and I go home.

[Heart12]

I thought I had developed my backbone. I have learned to enforce my policies, I have learned to never give an immediate answer to parents requests, I can pick up red flags during interviews, and infants' cryings doesn't drive me batty. But no one told me to not get attached to the kids!!
I redid my parent handbook/contract for the first time ever and none of the changes were major. Mostly spelling out better some minor rules that were getting broken by bad apples (no items from home, no dousing with essential oils) and trying to get ahead of some situations that may arise in the future (snow days, no electricity, etc.). I gave all families the handbook over the holidays to look over and they were suppose to sign and return by last Friday.
Just got an email that one family won't be back because of the changes - didn't say which ones but I can guess. What is driving me nuts is that I even wrote up an addendum to their contract just for them that gave them an extra five minutes on the closing time because they have the longest commute. They are also the only family getting a sibling discount, the only one that I never charged any extra fees on, and the only one I ever made any exceptions to! Why? Because I adored their kids, especially the youngest. Tends to happen when you've had her since she was six weeks old and she is as easy as pie. They've been here for nearly 18 months and I just let myself get too attached. From now on, I don't care what a parent requests. Go to the handbook. Want me to open 10 minutes early - no. Want a discount because you're a school teacher who has a three day week - no! I'm sorry that this one family ruined it for everyone else, but my heart has been stomped on. I am truly a business owner now, not your friend!
Thanks for letting me vent.

:hug: My "fave" family has been taking full advantage of me lately. They got an attitude with me when I finally enforced one of my rules. Lesson learned! Like you, I am trying my best to stay a business owner & NOT their friend! The lines can so easily get blurred & us providers always get the short end!

[Play Care]

Not dc related, but I got the message this morning to put

lovethis as my status for breast cancer awareness.

I HATE these types of posts. How is "vaguebooking" something raising awareness? And I'm pretty sure we are all aware of breast cancer at this point.

You know what any cancer needs?

FUNDING.

[daycarediva]

Not dc related, but I got the message this morning to put

lovethis as my status for breast cancer awareness.

I HATE these types of posts. How is "vaguebooking" something raising awareness? And I'm pretty sure we are all aware of breast cancer at this point.

You know what any cancer needs?

FUNDING.

I had a dcf wear blue on autism awareness day and came in all proud to show me their blue. I wasn't wearing blue and they said "Oh we wore blue for your ds! You know what today is?" I was honestly a little offended (and I don't get offended easily at all) I said "You know what's better than awareness? making a donation to fund research."

I loved how the ALS ice bucket challenge made an ACTUAL difference.

[Play Care]

I had a dcf wear blue on autism awareness day and came in all proud to show me their blue. I wasn't wearing blue and they said "Oh we wore blue for your ds! You know what today is?" I was honestly a little offended (and I don't get offended easily at all) I said "You know what's better than awareness? making a donation to fund research."

I loved how the ALS ice bucket challenge made an ACTUAL difference.

I like when schools or businesses have kids pay a $1 or whatever to wear jeans or hats, etc with the $ raised going to the cause. Because otherwise, wearing blue on any given day is just wearing blue.

[MyAngels]

Not dc related, but I got the message this morning to put

lovethis as my status for breast cancer awareness.

I HATE these types of posts. How is "vaguebooking" something raising awareness? And I'm pretty sure we are all aware of breast cancer at this point.

You know what any cancer needs?

FUNDING.

This stuff is so frustrating. I got the same thing, and the person who sent it to me had the nerve to be offended when I didn't comply because, after all, they knew I had breast cancer and this should be close to my heart. My response was "Thank you for your concern, but awareness only goes so far. What is truly close to my heart is finding a cure for all cancers, not just breast cancer. In honor of that I just wrote my yearly check to the Illinois Cancer Care Foundation. Perhaps you will consider doing the same." I was promptly unfriended ::

[Josiegirl]

This stuff is so frustrating. I got the same thing, and the person who sent it to me had the nerve to be offended when I didn't comply because, after all, they knew I had breast cancer and this should be close to my heart. My response was "Thank you for your concern, but awareness only goes so far. What is truly close to my heart is finding a cure for all cancers, not just breast cancer. In honor of that I just wrote my yearly check to the Illinois Cancer Care Foundation. Perhaps you will consider doing the same." I was promptly unfriended ::

Unfriended?? Geez. Methinks you hit a nerve. It's so easy to click forward or wear blue but anything else requires a little bit deeper. You said it so nicely in your response too.:confused:

[Play Care]

This stuff is so frustrating. I got the same thing, and the person who sent it to me had the nerve to be offended when I didn't comply because, after all, they knew I had breast cancer and this should be close to my heart. My response was "Thank you for your concern, but awareness only goes so far. What is truly close to my heart is finding a cure for all cancers, not just breast cancer. In honor of that I just wrote my yearly check to the Illinois Cancer Care Foundation. Perhaps you will consider doing the same." I was promptly unfriended ::

Wow. I'd said I'm sorry, but I think you're better off.