I Feel Judged By My DCP's For THEIR Skinny Kids

[SunshineMama]

Do any of you feel judged by your dcp's for thir kids eatin habits?

I'm so fed up with my dck's eating habits.

This is what I made for lunch today for the kids (ages 1,1,3,3, and 4)

Homemade Organic Chicken and Veggie Nuggets
Homemade Organic Sweet Potato Fries
Mango
Organic Avocado
Yogurt

The only things they ate were a few bites of chicken nuggets and the yogurt. I serve a wide variety of foods everyday and I feel like it is always wasted. My dd's ate everything of course, and wanted more. I am an aweome cook, btw

What is wrong with these kids? I have to almost make some of them eat bananas! What kid doesnt like bananas? All of the dck's are skinny and the parents of 2 of them have made comments to me, asking if they are eating well, etc bc they are so skinny. I serve 2 snacks and lunch- I cant make them eat.

I hate feeling judged by the parents, and frankly, I blame them for pawning off their kid's total nutrition on me. They are welcome to introduce them to healthy foods for breakfast and dinner instead of boxed waffles, doughnuts, and corn (the only veggie they eat).

[countrymom]

I have kids who are picky, but I was told last week to not let dcg eat too much food because she is getting chunky (she's not, she is tall and lean) I will let you know that none of my kids would eat what you made, and I have some really good eaters. I find that I always add something that I know that they would eat.

[Breezy]

Mmmmm sounds so yummy! It irritates me to no end that children refuse to eat healthy foods! What they think is good is not food!!

[littlemissmuffet]

Do any of you feel judged by your dcp's for thir kids eatin habits?

Nope. It's my job to make and serve healthy nutritious meals and it's the DCKs job to eat it. If they don't, it's not my problem. When parents mention anything about their child's weight or the foods I'm cooking, or even have the audacity to suggest I serve GARBAGE I simply reply by letting them know I teach children the importance of eating healthy well-balanced diets - "and I recommend you do the same at home if you aren't already"... and I just walk away. I am not these children's mother, and my parents don't have any kind of say in what I do/don't do in my daycare. I don't do guilt. There are plenty of daycares in my area that serve junk and they charge much less than I do - don't let the door hit you on the way out

[Blackcat31]

My parents would never judge me for that as I guarantee that ALL my DCK's eat far better here than they do at home.

I hear "Oh, they won't eat that at home so why do they eat it at your house?" so often that I wonder if there is more to it than just the food itself.

Either way, I would never let parents make me feel bad that their child is skinny or not eating much. You can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink.

[SunshineMama]

Nope. It's my job to make and serve healthy nutritious meals and it's the DCKs job to eat it. If they don't, it's not my problem. When parents mention anything about their child's weight or the foods I'm cooking, or even have the audacity to suggest I serve GARBAGE I simply reply by letting them know I teach children the importance of eating healthy well-balanced diets - "and I recommend you do the same at home if you aren't already"... and I just walk away. I am not these children's mother, and my parents don't have any kind of say in what I do/don't do in my daycare. I don't do guilt. There are plenty of daycares in my area that serve junk and they charge much less than I do - don't let the door hit you on the way out

I write down daily logs for these parents, even the older ones, about what they eat, so the parents are aware of what I serve. I dont like the judgment from them I suppose I could just brush my shoulders off. It is very frustrating to work so hard and then not even feel appreciated.

Maybe I should just serve whole milk and goldfish all day. Then they would have nice round chunky kids. (j/k obviously)

[littlemissmuffet]

I write down daily logs for these parents, even the older ones, about what they eat, so the parents are aware of what I serve. I dont like the judgment from them I suppose I could just brush my shoulders off. It is very frustrating to work so hard and then not even feel appreciated.

Maybe I should just serve whole milk and goldfish all day. Then they would have nice round chunky kids. (j/k obviously)

I don't let parents pass judgement on me. Quite simply, I am with most of these children more often than their own parents - and I make it VERY clear that I do not put up with rude behaviour. I do more than enough for these families as is, I am not about to tolerate being treated without respect. For the most part, my current families are extremely appreciative and aware of all the good hard work I put into their children... those who don't, don't get to stay

Put your foot down and tell these people that you don't appreciate the condesending behaviour and if they want a daycare that serves crap to go and find one. Anyone who leaves is not someone you want as a client, I promise.

[B Lou]

Welcome to daycare. We are the most unappreciated job in the world. If you feel that your dcp are judging you, you need to just get over it. If you know your doing your job and you do it well then it's their fault not yours.
Not trying to sound rude just trying to give some advice. If our job was easy and appreciated everyone could do it. ::

[familyschoolcare]

I sloved this problem in the same way as SunshineMama. I send home a 1/2 sheet (only to the parents that whant it) that has what I offered and how

much they eat. For my very picky child whose parent cmplained that when he came to pick up DCB he was "starving" and could not even make it home to

have dinner, they had to stop and get McD's, I started whritng what child said about not eating, what he did eat form his lunch box, what I said to

encourage him to eat more. When the dad saw that I offered grapes and the child said no thank you themeat his grapes, then when I said DCB you need

to eat something so your tummy is not empty when dad picks you up he said "thats ok when dad picks me up we go get chicken nuggets I will just

eat that; The dad stopped talking to me about why DCB is hungery at pick up. Child still does not eat very much at snack and I think is still being taken

to get chicken muggets about 30% of the time that dad picks up. However, I do not get the talk about how DCB is starving at pick up.

[Live and Learn]

Nope. It's my job to make and serve healthy nutritious meals and it's the DCKs job to eat it. If they don't, it's not my problem. When parents mention anything about their child's weight or the foods I'm cooking, or even have the audacity to suggest I serve GARBAGE I simply reply by letting them know I teach children the importance of eating healthy well-balanced diets - "and I recommend you do the same at home if you aren't already"... and I just walk away. I am not these children's mother, and my parents don't have any kind of say in what I do/don't do in my daycare. I don't do guilt. There are plenty of daycares in my area that serve junk and they charge much less than I do - don't let the door hit you on the way out

Absolutely and totally agree. You can lead a horse to water but you can not make it drink.

Parents feed the crappy foods at home out of laziness because at the end of the day they don't want to hear their kids whine.

Try not to let heir little comments bother you.

[MarinaVanessa]

Can I be one of your DC kids???

Sounds yummy. But I wouldn't worry too much about what the parents are thinking when it comes to eating. There's not too much you can do anyway. You serve your meals and they choose to eat it or not. Most of the time my DC kids don't want to try something because they're not used to eating it at home. That's what happens here at my DC and there's no way that I'm serving corn dogs, chicken nuggets and hot dogs everyday.

NONE of my DC kids have ever liked vegetables when they first start coming here but we do The Two Bite Club which is where they have to have at least two bites of everything on their plate and then they can eat the rest of it or not. After a few times they'll come around. All of my DC kids now like celery, avocado, carrots, potatoes, tomatoes, green peppers, raddishes and salads. They still don't like broccoli, go figure, but we're working on it .
I wouldn't worry too much about it.

[JenNJ]

I have 2 girls (age 3) who also play the starving card at pickup. Turns out that both moms give the girls snacks while they cook dinner. Snacks are Goldfish, granola bars, chips, etc. I asked both moms to take a week off supper snacks and we would see what happened. Imagine their surprise when the kids were no longer starved while they made dinner.

Kids are very bright. They know that parents won't ignore cries of hunger. They know that unwrapping a granola bar is easy for mom so they whine and tantrum until they get that granola bar. Once parents consistently say, "Wait for supper," the whining stops.

[cheerfuldom]

I write down daily logs for these parents, even the older ones, about what they eat, so the parents are aware of what I serve. I dont like the judgment from them I suppose I could just brush my shoulders off. It is very frustrating to work so hard and then not even feel appreciated.

Maybe I should just serve whole milk and goldfish all day. Then they would have nice round chunky kids. (j/k obviously)

I thought your meal selection sounded divine!

But another thought is that if you need appreciation to continue with a job, then daycare is absolutely the wrong job for you. its important that you gain that confidence in your job outside of parents fickly and sometimes disrespectful behavior.

[SunshineMama]

I thought your meal selection sounded divine!

But another thought is that if you need appreciation to continue with a job, then daycare is absolutely the wrong job for you. its important that you gain that confidence in your job outside of parents fickly and sometimes disrespectful behavior.

You're right- daycare is not for those who need to feel appreciated!

[wdmmom]

I have some pretty good eaters on my hands. They'll eat or at least try just about anything I make. About the only thing I have found is that NONE of them like mashed potatoes!

Of course, I have no idea what they eat at home but I know there are several parents that do drive thru's, pizza and subway often.

I've got one 2.5 year old. When he's picked up by his DCM, every night he will say, "I want chicken nuggets and french fries." Go figure!!!