She's Not Learning?!? Vent

[Ariana]

Children learn through play plain and simple!! There is a LOT of research to back this up and I've read books on it by very educated people. The more a kid plays when they are children the more intelligent they are down the road. Studies even suggest that children are not ready for sit down rote learning until age 7 which is what some educational philosophies follow (Netherlands and Waldorf).

Unfortunately the vast majority of parents are not educated in the ways of child development and it's unfortunate that you don't have to be in order to have children. The only thing you can do is educate yourself and pass this knowledge on...but don't expect them to believe you or respect you, some people are just plain stubborn!!

[countrymom]

so what does your sil want you to teach her, the birds and the bees !

[dave4him]

Don't listen to your parents, they didn't listen to theirs.....

[cheerfuldom]

This is why I don't work for relatives or friends. Its so much easier to say no to a regular daycare family.

That said, I would never change my structure based on what a 17 year old teen mom says. Yes that sounds bad but it is exactly how I feel. I wouldnt change my program based on what a 30 year old mom said either.

[My3cents]

hoping for little encourgament

Dave,

Do you have a clear contract and policy book? IF you don't put one in place and plan to change it a lot your first few years of doing care. Make it clear to her that you are a business and you want her to respect that. The rules are the same for you as everyone else.

Being a father you know she does not have the experience that you have, all you can do is show her kindness and brush off her rudeness and what not...because she does not have the experiences that comes with time and maturity. Teach her by setting an example as you have but don't take it all on, family or not. Having a child she made a decision to be a parent........now let her, she will learn quick. Remember she has to fail and figure things out on her own........it just sounds like that is going to be her nature and what makes her or breaks her.

Stop trying to fix everyone- its your nature I can tell. If you keep up at this rate you will be out of daycare before you really get a chance to start. Would like to see you make it. Take the advice from others here too, its all good. Be professional, not wishy washy- and if your going to take on family make it fair and known that its the same rules for everyone. Arguing with her will only push her away- just stick to the plain facts and your rules for you daycare. Don't buckle down to anyone for the career you have chosen, they don't have to like it, you don't have to explain to anyone other then your wife, and don't engage in conversation that brings you down.

Best of luck- Hope this helps you. I always enjoy your humor- even if I don't get it sometimes.::

[My3cents]

So I hear from my Mil that my sil wants to take her d out of my care claiming she's not learning anything... At her other care center they were doing numbers and letters colors by now..... Um she's one! She turns two in two weeks but the kids not brilliant really! She's the reason I started my daycare in the first place so the amount of ingratitude makes me sick! I am doing the best I can but apparently not enough

one more thing, Tell your mother in law when she starts babbling at the mouth, to tell your SIL to talk to you instead of running her mouth all over the family. That will probably shut both of them up nicely. Family Gossip is not fun, wait till you hear from the horses mouth before you freak out about any of this.

Keep in mind if she has it in her mind to take her child out of your care, it's her choice, and move on. Don't let her hold it over your head to get what she wants- again have a policy, hand, rule book. Your own family should come first!!! Worrying that she will not let you see the child is worry you can not prevent......hard to hear, and I know this from personal experience in a completely different situation. Don't give anyone opportunity to have a grip hold on you like that. She could ultimately do it anyway for any reason

Show her respect but keep in mind she is probably a child in a forced to be adult situation- still no right to dump all unto you, or for you take all her dump on.

Again, hope this is food for thought and helps you-