How Has Operating A Family Childcare Affected Your Family/Kids?

[MyAngels]

My kids get treats when we go out, dck's only if parents leave 'petty cash' for them. My kids can play with whatever they want wherever they want, they do not have to share their personal toys with dcks. I hug them, kiss them, and let them sit on my lap. Never the dcks. My kids come first always. It may not seem fair to others but their moms decided to work outside the home, that's the cards they were dealt.

That is so sad. I am a very loving and affectionate mother and if I behaved like you do I doubt that my children would see me that way. I want to be a positive role model not only for my own children, but for the children in my care. I wonder how the parents of the children you care for would feel if they knew you were treating their children as second class citizens?

[Hunni Bee]

That is so sad. I am a very loving and affectionate mother and if I behaved like you do I doubt that my children would see me that way. I want to be a positive role model not only for my own children, but for the children in my care. I wonder how the parents of the children you care for would feel if they knew you were treating their children as second class citizens?

I agree. I have to say, Im not the huggiest, tickliest teacher in my preschool. I dont grab them and pick them up and talk in baby voices. I'm just not that kind of person.

But you will always find one of my hands smoothing hair or patting a back or holding a little hand. When they need a quick cuddle, they run to me. They always tell me they love me.

I can't imagine denying a child love or affection because they weren't my own!! This is not the profession to choose if you can't do that, IMHO. And while I realize the pp didn't say she is not kind to the dcks, I think young children absolutely need that physical affection.

[snips&snails]

Thank you Marina for the encouragement!!

[MamaG]

I don't treat them like second class citizens I treat them like day care children. I do not physically touch other people's kids ever unless helping them up on or off of playground toys. I am not their mother. They are my charges not my children. I care for all of them. I am not going to purchase out of pocket 'treats' for others kids, they each have petty cash to spend and their parents buy their treats. This is a bussines not a charity. I will never choose somebody else's child over my own child. If my kid falls off the bed while jumping on it I don't have to explain that to an angery parent or bother my insurance guy. All the children in my care are happy, healthy, and good kids. They all ask repeatedly if they get to come here every time mom pulls out the driveway. They all talk about the fun they have here to all their families.

[snips&snails]

I do not physically touch other people's kids ever unless helping them up on or off of playground toys.

What ages do you have? I cannot imagine not cuddling & loving young children or having my child somewhere where he did not recieve physical affection. School age children would be a somewhat differnt story...

[MamaG]

Obviously this excludes infants and toddlers. If I have an infant I wear them, toddlers get a hug if they fall down or when they leave at pickup if they ask me for one. I'm not a touchy person with older children, I'd say starting at 3 or 4 years old. I come from a family that believes deeply in modesty and personal space with non relatives. A high five, a pat on the head will usually suffice older children. I don't baby or coddle children overly much. This is because of my upbringing. It is out of respect for the kids real mom and the child, and my own personal comfort levels. I asked my pediatricians advice and a councilor on when is to much. I was told if I wasn't %100 comfortable then to respect my need for personal space. I love my DCG! She knows I do, I don't hug her often, I hold her hand in parking lots and crossing the street only! I see no reason to call that treating a child like a second class citizen. Must be a real jaded version of a second class!

[Country Kids]

Its weeks like this week that it really bothers my kiddo's. I was suppose to have 3-4 kids this week (every day) and I have only had 1 a day. We usually do some after Christmas shopping out of town and if I had known I would only be having 1 child a day I would have taken extra days off. That is where it gets frustrating for my family.

[CrackerJacks]

Thanks a bunch for everyone's input it is very helpful. I think in the long run things will be just fine and they are actually fine now, I just was anticipating at some point my own child may feel differently. We have candid conversations about daycare and having the daycare and how she feels about it and overall she says she is happy with it and the way things flow, although she does say to me at times that I am nicer to the DCK than I am to her. I can see how this may seem to be true in her eyes. She is the oldest, she is mine, and this is her house, I think sometimes I may expect her to behave better and set an example to the other little ones. This is something though that I am aware of and can work on.