I'm Very Grateful My Kids Are Not In Daycare

[My4SunshineGirlsNY]

I am thankful to be providing daycare and having fun while I work....but I am very glad my kids do not have to be in daycare.

Am I a minority??? It seems as though it comes so easy for most parents to drop off their kids (most of the time earlier than they need to be dropped off) and never ask questions at pick up such as how were they today or what did they do? It just comes SOOO easy for them and I don't get it.

I have had a couple jobs outside of the home in the past several years and each time it was so difficult on me...worried about my kids even though I was sure they were in good hands and worried if they behaved themselves, if they were being fed enough, if they were able to rest when they needed to rest, go to the bathroom when they needed to go, and the list goes on.

I run a small size home daycare and have only had a handful of parents over the past few years, and most of them don't seem to care if their child was good or even ask questions about their day...as if they don't care I guess???? It's nice they put that much trust in me, I know I do a good job with the kids, but most of the time I feel sad that they don't seem to care what their kids did or that I went out of my way to make them happy while they had to be away at work...or on the other spectrum if their kids were behaved and respectful. Some parents know their child is a handful and don't bother asking how they were today....I know I would!

I feel underappreciated sometimes and just so glad my kids can be with me and I don't have to worry.

[Heidi]

I'm fairly certain that it's why the majority of us got into daycare to begin with!

[Kiki]

I'm fairly certain that it's why the majority of us got into daycare to begin with!

This is a good chunk of my reasoning for doing it! And I get it, I have a couple of parents that are like that too, in and out as fast as can be, without a single question about if they behaved, had fun, and so on. Hopefully they ask when they get home, I'd want to know all about their day if they were mine!

[cheerfuldom]

I have put aside many of my dreams in order that my children do not have to go to daycare. I find that my daycare parents are concerned but I know that there are many that have no problem dropping off their kids all day....or worse, doing daycare during the day and then another babysitter for evenings or weekends. It makes me wonder why they even had kids in the first place.

[DaisyMamma]

Id never send my kids to daycare and miss out on them growing up.
With that said I'm working in childcare just as I always have and I'm not doing it just to be home with them. I held off doing it as long as financially possible to be home ALONE with them during their formative years.

[littlemissmuffet]

I am thankful to be providing daycare and having fun while I work....but I am very glad my kids do not have to be in daycare.

Am I a minority??? It seems as though it comes so easy for most parents to drop off their kids (most of the time earlier than they need to be dropped off) and never ask questions at pick up such as how were they today or what did they do? It just comes SOOO easy for them and I don't get it.

I have had a couple jobs outside of the home in the past several years and each time it was so difficult on me...worried about my kids even though I was sure they were in good hands and worried if they behaved themselves, if they were being fed enough, if they were able to rest when they needed to rest, go to the bathroom when they needed to go, and the list goes on.

I run a small size home daycare and have only had a handful of parents over the past few years, and most of them don't seem to care if their child was good or even ask questions about their day...as if they don't care I guess???? It's nice they put that much trust in me, I know I do a good job with the kids, but most of the time I feel sad that they don't seem to care what their kids did or that I went out of my way to make them happy while they had to be away at work...or on the other spectrum if their kids were behaved and respectful. Some parents know their child is a handful and don't bother asking how they were today....I know I would!

I feel underappreciated sometimes and just so glad my kids can be with me and I don't have to worry.

I would only ever put my child in daycare as a VERY last resort. I don't have kids yet, but the primary reason I started a home daycare was so I could be home with our children when the time comes. I love my daycare kiddos, and I love the benefits of working from home - but at the end of the day, these kids are missing out on important moments with their moms and dads... and some of these moms and dads don't even know their children at all because their children are with me more often than them.

Also, I think in SOME cases daycare makes parents lazy. I can't tell you how many times I have watched parents be all upset about being away from their child in the beginning... can't wait to pick up little Johnny - and then within months see how much easier life is without their child so they try to drop off earlier and earlier, pick up later and later and try to drop off on all their days off.

I hear daycare parents complain ALL THE TIME about how hard it is to get groceries or wash the floor or basically do ANTYHING while having a child with them... meanwhile, I can juggle 30 diffrent tasks while handing 5-6 kids just fine. I watch stay-at-home/work-at-home moms do it all the time... then some of these working daycare parents feel so hard done by because they have to spend time with their own little one once in awhile.

It's sad.

[SunshineMama]

It is SOOO much easier to drop off your kids and go to work. I have done both and daycare is H.A.R.D!! But my kids need me so I feel that the sacrafice is worth it. Do I make a ton less doing daycare?!? Yup! Do I work longer hours and get less appreciation? Yup! But my littles need me, and you know what, my daycare kids need me too! The parents don't know how they lucky they are when they find a good provider. Where else can you get healthy organic/natural meals, a preschool curriculum run by someone with a Master's in education, and someone who hugs and loves your child... for $3.33 per hour (before taxes).

I am thankful to be providing daycare and having fun while I work....but I am very glad my kids do not have to be in daycare.

Am I a minority??? It seems as though it comes so easy for most parents to drop off their kids (most of the time earlier than they need to be dropped off) and never ask questions at pick up such as how were they today or what did they do? It just comes SOOO easy for them and I don't get it.

I have had a couple jobs outside of the home in the past several years and each time it was so difficult on me...worried about my kids even though I was sure they were in good hands and worried if they behaved themselves, if they were being fed enough, if they were able to rest when they needed to rest, go to the bathroom when they needed to go, and the list goes on.

I run a small size home daycare and have only had a handful of parents over the past few years, and most of them don't seem to care if their child was good or even ask questions about their day...as if they don't care I guess???? It's nice they put that much trust in me, I know I do a good job with the kids, but most of the time I feel sad that they don't seem to care what their kids did or that I went out of my way to make them happy while they had to be away at work...or on the other spectrum if their kids were behaved and respectful. Some parents know their child is a handful and don't bother asking how they were today....I know I would!

I feel underappreciated sometimes and just so glad my kids can be with me and I don't have to worry.

[Meeko]

I have several parents who honestly seem to spend as little time with their children as humanly possible. I don't get it.

[Blackcat31]

You know, I completely understand what you ladies are trying to say but you are also making it seem like if parents don't "sacrifice" everything and keep their children home with them that they are bad parents.

There are plenty of parents out there who would give anything to be able to stay home with their children and not put them in child care but have no other choice.

I started doing child care because I had a child who was every providers worst nightmare! I stayed in child care because I found I was good at it. My children did go to child care and I definitely don't think they were harmed at all by it. I worked teacher hours/schedules then and spent alot of quality time with my children when I was off work and in the summers when I didn't work.

Had my son not been having such a tough time in child care, I would have continued on with my kids in child care and a full-time job. I really don't think that made me a bad mom, nor do I feel as though I would have missed out on them growing up. :confused:

[Unregistered]

You know, some of you act like you are so much better than the evil, heartless parents who send their kids to daycare. But guess what, if you're doing daycare while your kids are home, they're in daycare, too. They do not have your undivided attention 100% of the time. And remember, if it weren't for these heartless parents who can't wait to drop their kids off, you wouldn't be doing what you're doing. It's sad that some of you have such little respect for your own profession.

[SunshineMama]

You know, some of you act like you are so much better than the evil, heartless parents who send their kids to daycare. But guess what, if you're doing daycare while your kids are home, they're in daycare, too. They do not have your undivided attention 100% of the time. And remember, if it weren't for these heartless parents who can't wait to drop their kids off, you wouldn't be doing what you're doing. It's sad that some of you have such little respect for your own profession.

I don't think all parents are evil or heartless at all. I like all of my daycare parents and families. I agree with Blackcat- if my child were not one of those impossible kids who needed to be with mom only, I would probably still be working outside the home. I have impossibly high standards for my kids (which I extend to my daycare kids), so I probably would be the worst helicoptor daycare parent anyway.

But there are a lot of times when the parents just don't "get it."

When your child has a fever and is sick and needs mom and dad- take a day off and care or your own child. I have had parents take a week off to run off to Las Vegas without their kids, but those same parents can't take time off to care for their own sick kid. I also have parents who leave their child for extra hours at daycare EVERY DAY, and show up in sweat pants and t-shirts because they just wanted the extra time to themselves. Occasionally- that' okay, but every day?? Don't you want to spend time with your own kids?

Of course people have to work. So do we.. I appreciate all of my families and they appreciate me. But I will say that I took a $35,000 paycut and work 10+ more hours a week because my child needed me. We take less vacations. We don't go out to eat. So yes, I do feel that I am better than the parent who drops their kid off every day for 12 hours a day when they only work 8 hour days. And yes, I am better than the parent who drugged up their kid on tylenol and cold meds because they used all of their vacation days while on vacation. And I am better than the parent who drives the Mercedes and has the 3,500 sq foot house, but drops off their colicky child who just won't adjust to daycare. If you are going to have kids you have to be prepared to make sacrafices if you have to. Not all working parents are bad, but there are a lot of selfish parents out there who don't prioritize their own kids at all.

My current families are generally great. I don't accept the selfish parents anymore- too many behavioral issues with the kids.

[Ariana]

I don't think anyone here is saying they hate working parents or think they're evil. I wouldn't have a job if it weren't for working parents!

I think we all know THOSE parents who simply don't give a darn about their kids!! Whether I am a childcare provider or not I still know those parents. The parent who drops off 2 hours before work starts or picks up 2 hours after work ends...or bring their kids in when they're on vacation. Or works 3 hours a day and goes to the gym for the rest of the day while their kid is in care. Kid comes in with dirty, ripped clothing and hair not brushed but they drive an expensive SUV that doesn't have a speck of dirt on it with rim's that are so shiny they'd blind you etc etc.

We have a bit of an exclusive view into children and parents doing what we do, so we see what YOU (general public you) don't. Same as a police officer knows more about kooks in my neighbourhood than I do!!

[Ariana]

There are plenty of parents out there who would give anything to be able to stay home with their children and not put them in child care but have no other choice.

I suppose I can't speak for everyone but I don't think these are the type of parent we're talking about. There are plenty of parents who work and have their kids in care that are interested in their day when they pick them up, spend vacations with them and if they get an unexpected day off rush to pick them up so they can spend time with them. I would say 90% of parents are like this thankfully

[Blackcat31]

I don't think anyone here is saying they hate working parents or think they're evil. I wouldn't have a job if it weren't for working parents!

I think we all know THOSE parents who simply don't give a darn about their kids!! Whether I am a childcare provider or not I still know those parents. The parent who drops off 2 hours before work starts or picks up 2 hours after work ends...or bring their kids in when they're on vacation. Or works 3 hours a day and goes to the gym for the rest of the day while their kid is in care. Kid comes in with dirty, ripped clothing and hair not brushed but they drive an expensive SUV that doesn't have a speck of dirt on it with rim's that are so shiny they'd blind you etc etc.

We have a bit of an exclusive view into children and parents doing what we do, so we see what YOU (general public you) don't. Same as a police officer knows more about kooks in my neighbourhood than I do!!

Until Meeko said she had "several parents who honestly seem to spend as little time with their children as humanly possible" I didn't really think this thread was about "those" kinds of parents.

I didn't at all take this thread as a complaint about "those" kinds of parents.

I read the thread and the posts within as if putting your child in child care and dropping off as if it was the easiest thing in the world made it sound as if they were bad parents for doing so... we have no idea if a DCM's heart is breaking as she leaves little Johnny and heads off to work trying hard not to think of everything she is missing while she is at work.

I guess I just read this thread as a bit judgmental about working parents. :confused:
Maybe it is just Monday....

[Kiki]

There are plenty of parents out there who would give anything to be able to stay home with their children and not put them in child care but have no other choice.

I suppose I can't speak for everyone but I don't think these are the type of parent we're talking about. There are plenty of parents who work and have their kids in care that are interested in their day when they pick them up, spend vacations with them and if they get an unexpected day off rush to pick them up so they can spend time with them. I would say 90% of parents are like this thankfully

Yea, those are not the parents I am talking about, I was a full time working mom up until we had our 3d. I'm talking about the ones that drop-off/pick-up early, don't inquire about their days, so on.

And sure, my kids I suppose are technically in day care, however, they are lucky enough to spend more time with me than most children can with their parents. (Again, I am not judging any parent that has to work, I know how hard it is!)
Also, who is able to give their kids 100% undivided attention? I'd like to meet that parent and give them a high five!