Making Lemons Into Lemonade!

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I have a family that struggles to follow the rules. The deadline for a coat was Monday, they brought in coats today.
The coat for a toddler that wears 18 month sized clothing (she is very small for a 2-year-old) is a size 7/8. At first I was stunned. Then I had to laugh. The sleeves are twice her arm length and the coat looks like it is a floating object with a head attached. I laughed my way through a very cold recess this morning.
:: I guess when your DC provider keeps insisting that you bring a coat, you'll show her!!!

Cracks me up. ::

[itlw8]

I would say so are you bringing a coat that fits or shall I cut the sleeves off. This coat is a hazard

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I would say so are you bringing a coat that fits or shall I cut the sleeves off. This coat is a hazard

I rolled them to her armpits and it stayed. It is just ridiculously long (as in, to her ankles almost).

[MarinaVanessa]

I would say so are you bringing a coat that fits or shall I cut the sleeves off. This coat is a hazard

Ditto to this too. Personally I would see this as a deliberate act and hand the coat back to them and they can either return the large one and buy one that fits properly or they can take the coat home and cut the sleeves and sew the edges themselves. Sounds like a blatant form of direspect to me.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

Both the children had size 7/8 coats (one wears 18 months clothing, one wears a size 4). The size 4 child can wear is without much rolling of the sleeves.

They had tags on them still from the Disney store but had other people's names embroidered on them. I sent a link to Walmart and Target for coats that are $15.00 that would fit the children great.

If you sent it back home with the parent would you say, "I'm sorry, but this size 7/8 coat simply does not fit little DCG. Please bring in one that is her size on Monday." I feel like I keep NAGGING. I don't nag my husband, it feels wrong to have to nag a child's parent.

[Chatter Box]

I would say so are you bringing a coat that fits or shall I cut the sleeves off. This coat is a hazard

Why do people always have to push boundaries? Why can't they just stop being drama and comply. They always have to make everything a bigger deal than it really is. I've put notes on the door twice this year already that if it is 65 or under in the morning to please bring them wearing a coat. It was 40 out this morning and mom walks in with her 6 month old no coat or socks but SHE has a coat on!!

"Well... it was warm in the car." Hello... how many cars break down expectedly??

But the funny thing is it was like mid 70's the last two mornings she brought him this week and she brought him wearing fleece pull overs that were so tight I could barely get off of him. I don't get it...:confused:

[itlw8]

so make sure the child is wearing it this evening when ALL the parents pick up or take a group picture and post it in the room. IS your child dressed properly for the cold?

looks like they do not want their child playing outdoors in the chilly air so are trying to make you keep her in.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

so make sure the child is wearing it this evening when ALL the parents pick up or take a group picture and post it in the room. IS your child dressed properly for the cold?

looks like they do not want their child playing outdoors in the chilly air so are trying to make you keep her in.

I can't for pick up since they pick up almost an hour after everybody else AND that is the coat that is supposed to be for DC only. Both of them barely fit in the cubbies.

The photo idea would work IF Mom picked them up more. But, it's Dad who does and he doesn't care.

[MarinaVanessa]

Both the children had size 7/8 coats (one wears 18 months clothing, one wears a size 4). The size 4 child can wear is without much rolling of the sleeves.

They had tags on them still from the Disney store but had other people's names embroidered on them. I sent a link to Walmart and Target for coats that are $15.00 that would fit the children great.

If you sent it back home with the parent would you say, "I'm sorry, but this size 7/8 coat simply does not fit little DCG. Please bring in one that is her size on Monday." I feel like I keep NAGGING. I don't nag my husband, it feels wrong to have to nag a child's parent.

I would ask them to sit down and just talk to them.

"Hey Nancy, I know that you went out to get the coats for winter and I noticed that they are both a larger size than your kids wear. I also noticed the names on the coats. Although Big Suzie can fit okay in her coat Little Sally has trouble in hers because it's so large. Unfortunately for me it's a safety hazard as I need her to have her arms and hands free and be able to catch herself should she fall. The extremely long sleeves interfere with her play and are uncomfortable for her to wear if I roll them up because I have to roll them up to her armpits in order to get them to stay out of her way. Before I ask you to provide a winter coat that fits properly, can I ask you whether you are having difficulty with buying one?"

Then let the conversation progress. Maybe she's having money problems. If that's the reason then you can bring up the very inexpensive coats in your links.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I would ask them to sit down and just talk to them.

"Hey Nancy, I know that you went out to get the coats for winter and I noticed that they are both a larger size than your kids wear. I also noticed the names on the coats. Although Big Suzie can fit okay in her coat Little Sally has trouble in hers because it's so large. Unfortunately for me it's a safety hazard as I need her to have her arms and hands free and be able to catch herself should she fall. The extremely long sleeves interfere with her play and are uncomfortable for her to wear if I roll them up because I have to roll them up to her armpits in order to get them to stay out of her way. Before I ask you to provide a winter coat that fits properly, can I ask you whether you are having difficulty with buying one?"

Then let the conversation progress. Maybe she's having money problems. If that's the reason then you can bring up the very inexpensive coats in your links.

None of that would go over very well with these parents. They aren't "normal" parents. I can't explain it much better than that, unfortunately.

[MarinaVanessa]

None of that would go over very well with these parents. They aren't "normal" parents. I can't explain it much better than that, unfortunately.

Then I don't know how you deal with them. I'm EXASPERATED and I don't even deal with them ::::::. In that case ... good luck. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

Then I don't know how you deal with them. I'm EXASPERATED and I don't even deal with them ::::::. In that case ... good luck. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

The children are great. I think that's why I'm able to "handle" it to an extent. But, we have been less than friendly lately when our policies are broken (less fluffy, happy, rainbow bunnies added to the policy breaking letters and conversations) and in return they have been less than friendly as well. I predicted they'll term themselves before our winter vacation to DH, so we will see.

[nanglgrl]

I wish I had some advice but unfortunately I'm going trough a similar situation with parents testing boundaries. Mine has nothing to do with coats but late pick ups and some other small things. Like you, I just don't nag, I love the children involved and really like the families. If I had to nag and stress out every day I would quit with no notice because it would make me miserable. Right now it seems like half of my parents are breaking/bending at least one rule every day and of course I just sent new contracts/policies out a few weeks ago so to me it seems purposeful. I usually say everything in a nice way and include something happy. I have been slowly getting more strict and less friendly and the parents are reacting by acting out more and being less friendly.
I just don't understand it. The children love it here which is obvious to the parents and parents seem to like having their child here. Why do they have to push boundaries. Sometimes I wish they would just leave on their own so they could find out how good they had it here. I had that happen once and a month later the parents were asking for their spot back and apologizing. It felt good to say "sorry, I filled your spot a week after you left but I can let you know if anything opens up".

[MarinaVanessa]

The children are great.

The kids are deffinetely usually always the great ones. It's the parents that you have to worry about ::

[daycarediva]

I bought my OWN ds one of those $15 walmart coats, just for daycare use (he has a cubby, to feel included). It keeps his good coat from getting dirty and those coats ae VERY warm.

I have had TWO dcp's just this week bring in last years winter gear to me, to keep or give away as needed, so it looks like I might be going the 'keep extras on hand' route as one of those old coats came in handy this week.