Providers--Let’s Pretend To Be The Parents...

[countrymom]

if you were looking for a home daycare would you choose one that had an assistant, I'm talking about those who have under 6 kids.

but then discover that the provider was always going out, like getting her nails done, or shopping, mostly shopping and the assistant was there by themslves with the kids a good portion of the day.

or that the provider would go on vacation and leave thurs and friday and have the assistant there at the providers house for those two days.

would you as a parent be mad because the provider is there half the time and the assistant is there alot of the times.

[daycare]

if you were looking for a home daycare would you choose one that had an assistant, I'm talking about those who have under 6 kids.

but then discover that the provider was always going out, like getting her nails done, or shopping, mostly shopping and the assistant was there by themslves with the kids a good portion of the day.

or that the provider would go on vacation and leave thurs and friday and have the assistant there at the providers house for those two days.

would you as a parent be mad because the provider is there half the time and the assistant is there alot of the times.

this is a very good question. my SIL just dealt with this and ended up pulling her child out.

I think that I would really have to say that it depends on what I was told when I signed up for the daycare.

[Heidi]

No, not as long as I was told in advance that the lead provider would be leaving for a while (details are not my business though), and as long as I felt comfortable with the assistant (that's completely arbitrary, but still applies), and as long as the provider is not out of compliance due to one person leaving.

[MarinaVanessa]

If the provider disclosed this information when I signed up then no.

If I chose this DC because of the fact that I would be looking at a higher adult ratio of 1:3 and the provider was not always present without any notification whatsoever and I was misled to believe or this informaton was not given to me during the interview process then yes, I would be upset.

[wahmof3]

if you were looking for a home daycare would you choose one that had an assistant, I'm talking about those who have under 6 kids.

but then discover that the provider was always going out, like getting her nails done, or shopping, mostly shopping and the assistant was there by themslves with the kids a good portion of the day.

or that the provider would go on vacation and leave thurs and friday and have the assistant there at the providers house for those two days.

would you as a parent be mad because the provider is there half the time and the assistant is there alot of the times.

I would be concerned. I would be ok with every now and then BUT not all the time. I would be under the assumption that the assistant would be there only for doctors appointments and such, not vacations & shopping etc. JMO

[rhymia1]

No, not as long as I was told in advance that the lead provider would be leaving for a while (details are not my business though), and as long as I felt comfortable with the assistant (that's completely arbitrary, but still applies), and as long as the provider is not out of compliance due to one person leaving.

Kind of this. I think as a parent I would like that my provider was being proactive and had coverage for appointments and such. Certainly an improvement over them having to close frequently or ignore their health/well being for work
BUT even though I would feel like what she is doing is none of my business, I would feel a bit odd about the hair/nail appts. I have to make those things for after work, why should they? Nor do I think the constant vacations would be okay.

[cheerfuldom]

I would absolutely be concerned. my daycare parents know that my assistant is here every tues and fri afternoon and that is the regular schedule. i dont randomly leave the kids and I never leave town without first informing the parents. They have a right to know who is watching their kids and be able to make an informed choice.

[countrymom]

but wait there's more.

this is about a provider that I use incase I go on vacation. she's gone alot (lets just say I have a relative that lives next door) the parents are informed of the assistant, but they are not told of the amount that the provider is gone. Now I don't want to send my kids there (there is more about why) but she keeps asking me why she hasn't been getting any calls. I have a feeling its because of this. Also, she has a younger crowd so they can't really say what is going on.

[jojosmommy]

I WOULD care IF it was presented during interview in a way that seemed like 2 providers would be there most of the time; lower ratio per adult.

I WOULD NOT care if that wasn't presented that way.

I would only sign up my child with a provider if I was also comfortable with the assistant being there alone, NO MATTER HOW LONG OR HOW FREQUENT. So the issue of going here and there and whatever is moot to me. If a person is ever watching my kid I am 100% comfortable with them. NO questions.

I do think for those who said they wouldnt be comfortable need to consider if its the activity the provider is doing that makes them uncomfortable (nails hair shopipng etc). If this provider had cancer and needed 3x weekly chemo tx I bet you would not even think to question having the assistant there. Again, having said I would be 100% comfortable with said assistant OR I would have never signed up there.

[e.j.]

If the provider disclosed this information when I signed up then no.

If I chose this DC because of the fact that I would be looking at a higher adult ratio of 1:3 and the provider was not always present without any notification whatsoever and I was misled to believe or this informaton was not given to me during the interview process then yes, I would be upset.

As long as I had been told upfront during the interview, as long as the dc provider was honest about the amount of time she is generally away, as long as the day care was in compliance with all regulations including provider to child ratios, and as long as the assistant was qualified and I had met and trusted her, I would be okay with it. It doesn't sound as if this provider has been honest with you or her other clients so, as a parent, I would mind and would not leave my kids with her.

[Oneluckymom]

YES, I would be upset. No provider is going to tell a parent "oh by the way I'm gone A LOT so my assistant is the one primarily with the kids." I think the provider is the one who should be with the kids after all it's HER business to care for these children! I know this is a common occurrence, as I have 2 kids who's daycare closed and that was a complaint the parents had!

[countrymom]

I wouldn't have an issue if it was for a short period of time, or if they were sick and needed medical attention. But when you go get your self done up and go shopping or the bank then I wouldn't be fine with this. Oh her children are older so its not like she can't take them (they are really bad but you reap what you sow soo...) its funny thou, how she complains that the parents stop and do things when before picking up but she just does it during the day.

[countrymom]

YES, I would be upset. No provider is going to tell a parent "oh by the way I'm gone A LOT so my assistant is the one primarily with the kids." I think the provider is the one who should be with the kids after all it's HER business to care for these children! I know this is a common occurrence, as I have 2 kids who's daycare closed and that was a complaint the parents had!

yes!!!! I have a child and thats what happened to them too. The provider got another job so she went to work in the afternoon while someone else watched the kids, the provider was there in the morning. The parents started to get annoyed because they didn't know what was going on during the day.

[Country Kids]

I wouldn't even pick her if I knew this. I'm paying for services to be rendered from her. Now if she takes a day every few months or 6 months to go to the doctor, dentist type appts. that is fine.

If there is a medical issue ( I went through this with hubs) that isn't on going but for a short period that may be different.

If it is things that can be done on the weekend like I have to do, then thats when it needs to be done!

[daycare]

I think that if there were no issues, and like I said before, I knew this up front, I would not have a problem with it.

I look at it from the perspective as if I were a preschool owner. I would want my philosophy and teaching style carried out, yet I would not be there to teach it every day myself. I would train my staff to do the best possible job, as if I were there beside them teaching it daily. Most of all, I would expect the director to enforce these things daily.

BUT I do think that when the cats away the mice will play............or however that saying goes.

HOw would you feel if the provider was leaving the kids for different reasons such as to further educate herself or to attend necessary classes regarding her license? Then would it be ok???