Logged Out Because I Can't Stand Myself

[Crystal]

OP.....35 minutes IS along time. so many things could have gone wrong during that time. I urge you to report this before someone else does, and I assure you that somebody will, if they have not already done so. To many people know for it not to get out, including all of us here,and if you are a regular member, someone here will figure out who you are......look even have nannyde with her mad skillz has made an appearance!

do the right thing and make that call.you will sleep better at night if you do.

[nannyde]

To many people know for it not to get out, including all of us here,and if you are a regular member, someone here will figure out who you are......look even have nannyde with her mad skillz has made an appearance!

I make an appearance when I see a health or safety issue. I wasn't seeing anyone pointing out that the OP is a mandatory reporter. I felt that needed to be brought up. Now that it has... more people are realizing that this goes beyond the parents and provider.

I do have "mad skillz". The OP needs to call her licensing today.

It's the right thing to do and it is so so so much better than having someone else do it for her. Everybody makes mistakes. I've made serious mistakes in my 34 year career... but I have never made one where I didn't confess right away.

[Blackcat31]

I agree.

I understand a mistake was made.

I get how these things can happen.

I am having trouble getting over the parental reaction and acceptance and I am really struggling with the fact that the OP seems comfortable sweeping it under the rug and not looking back.

Good providers make mistakes.

Really good ones acknowledge, address and fix them.


Being a child care provider means doing what is best for the children you have in care NOT doing what is best for you.

[Crystal]

I make an appearance when I see a health or safety issue. I wasn't seeing anyone pointing out that the OP is a mandatory reporter. I felt that needed to be brought up. Now that it has... more people are realizing that this goes beyond the parents and provider.

I do have "mad skillz". The OP needs to call her licensing today.

It's the right thing to do and it is so so so much better than having someone else do it for her. Everybody makes mistakes. I've made serious mistakes in my 34 year career... but I have never made one where I didn't confess right away.

I,for one,was glad to see you make an appearance on this one. you have given valid,professional advice and that is needed in this type of situation.

hope you are doing well,Nan!

[nannyde]

I,for one,was glad to see you make an appearance on this one. you have given valid,professional advice and that is needed in this type of situation.

hope you are doing well,Nan!

My Gutenberg bells are ringing off the wall ::::::

[Crystal]

My Gutenberg bells are ringing off the wall ::::::

! stupid kindle!!! gotta figure out this auto correct! :

[spud912]

I have been following this thread and I'm really glad it was posted. First, I hope this makes all of us be a little more cautious in our everyday dealings with these children. Granted, we all make mistakes and we are all human. However, these are not our children and we have to be held to a higher standard when taking care of them. Their parents have entrusted us with their safety. I, for one, will be re-evaluating many of my safety precautions.

Second, I really hope that the OP takes the advice written. I may be seen as a bad guy for saying this, but I think the OP should actually look into discontinuing child care for the time being. I don't mean to be judgmental and I have made my fair share of mistakes along the way, but I really do not know how you can forget about a child altogether for 30+ minutes. The OP must have been REALLY distracted and/or thought the child was not in attendance for the day. As a parent, the fact that the provider was unaware of my child for that length of time would make me think of how many other times the provider has not adequately supervised the children. Still, I have no idea how you can take children out of a van and not notice one still there. I can see forgetting one child when you are only one watching one child because you won't even look behind you, but when you are at the door pulling them out how do you not notice one is still in there? The only thing I can think of is that the children opened the door themselves and piled out, which is a safety concern in of itself.

Lastly (and really no offense to any of you who did this), this thread has made me even more nervous about leaving my children in the care of others. The fact that many providers would hesitate to turn themselves in or not tell the parents when there was a major safety concern makes me terrified!

I know I may get chastised for what I have said here, but serious mistakes should result in some blunt words at the least, if not more serious repercussions. I can only imagine the fear and sadness that the poor child felt while left in the vehicle. On top of being susceptible to the elements (weather), the child could have been kidnapped or gotten out of the car seat and put the vehicle in gear or left the vehicle altogether. I think the only way the parents were ok with the whole thing was if they were led to believe that the child was left for only a small amount of time.

[Sugar Magnolia]

OP, you made a very serious mistake. I say this with no malice or judgment.....report the incident or please voluntarily close your business. In the state of Florida, during the summer, this child would have died a horrible death and you would be in prison for a very long time. I'm sorry this happened, I am not being mean, but you needed to hear that.

[crazydaycarelady]

I have not had time to read ALL of the responses but here is my 2 cents.

There isn't a one of us who have any longevity in this business who could honestly say they haven't made a singular mistake that could have ended in tragedy but for pure luck saving us that one time.

This is so true! I once loaded up the kids to go pick up some other kids at vacation bible school, not our regular routine. I pulled out of the driveway and started down the street when I remembered I had a kid napping in my room! Screech went the tires and I backed up but OMG..............O.M.G.

In this situation my very first instinct would be to keep my mouth shut and not tell a soul. I know that is not right and you have already told the parents anyway. So I have to agree at this point with NannyDe - it should be reported. It's gonna **** though - really really ****. If you do not report it then I would mention to the dcparents why you didn't (that it didn't fall within the parameters of reporting) just so none of them try and hold it over your head.

[daycare]

I have also not read many of the responses here, but from what I do see is that the last thing you want is for someone, anyone, parent, licensing, CPS, and so on to come and question you first.

In this business I feel that you always need to be one step ahead. I NEVER let a parent question me if something happened to one of these kids. LIke lets say johnny falls and scrapes his knee. You bet the parent will hear this from me and not from little johnny first. I take NOTHING in this business lightly. I do treat this children most often better than my own.

I have been in situations where I have had to let my own child fall to save another. It's what I have to do to ensure that I am never having to answer to another why something happened.

I really hope that you find it within yourself to do the right thing. I am sure you are a very good person who has a conscience and know that you will come to do the right thing when you are ready.

I just hope that you do it before someone take it, turns it ugly and it makes news the wrong way.

Let your accident be told the way that it did happen by you. Hugs to you and I really hope that you find your way through this......

[Michael]

Congratulations daycare, you were the 100th post on this thread .

I was considering making the forum "members only" but this thread made me reconsider. I think there is a lot of good information and suggestions from our peers here. I think OP would have otherwise felt ostracized and kept this to herself if she had logged in.

[Blackcat31]

It's gonna **** though......really really ****.

It didn't HAVE to though. That is really the saddest part.

First ~ it happened. It was a mistake. The provider should have been proactive and professional. Documented it, reported it and had a plan of action so that it NEVER happened again.

I could have and would have respected that.

Second ~ she let the parents "advise" her on what she should do. ANY provider who has been in business for more than a month knows FULL well that parents don't make, enforce or decide the laws, rules and or penalties for providers.

I cringed when I read that.

Third ~ She decided that she was going to keep this under wraps and NOT report it. She lashed out at posters who didn't didn't agree and/or viewed this as frightening and serious.

I am floored by that.

I am really really disappointed in the number of posters who basically said "Yah! All your parents are okay with what happened so everything is all rainbows and sunshine again!"

I simply don't know what to say about that.

99% of the posters who replied are parents themselves.

Would any of you honestly and seriously have thought it was no big deal if it was YOUR child who was left in the car?!?! I doubt it.

My views, thoughts and opinions have forever been skewed by this thread.

[daycare]

Congratulations daycare, you were the 100th post on this thread .

I was considering making the forum "members only" but this thread made me reconsider. I think there is a lot of good information and suggestions from her peers here. I think OP would have otherwise felt ostracized and kept this to herself if she had logged in.

haha I did not even notice that I was the 100th...do I get a prize....

Yes, I am proud of the most of the member here for keeping this positive and not attacking the OP> I feel so bad for this person...

[daycare]

It didn't HAVE to though. That is really the saddest part.

First ~ it happened. It was a mistake. The provider should have been proactive and professional. Documented it, reported it and had a plan of action so that it NEVER happened again.

I could have and would have respected that.

Second ~ she let the parents "advise" her on what she should do. ANY provider who has been in business for more than a month knows FULL well that parents don't make, enforce or decide the laws, rules and or penalties for providers.

I cringed when I read that.

Third ~ She decided that she was going to keep this under wraps and NOT report it. She lashed out at posters who didn't agree and/or viewed this as frightening and serious.

I am floored by that.

I am really really disappointed in the number of posters who basically said "Yah! All your parents are okay with what happened so everything is all rainbows and sunshine again!"

I simply don't know what to say about that.

99% of the posters who replied are parents themselves.

Would any of you honestly and seriously have thought it was no big deal if it was YOUR child who was left in the car?!?! I doubt it.

My views, thoughts and opinions have forever been skewed by this thread.

wow I have missed alot!!! guess when I have some time I will have to go back and read..

[Michael]

Would any of you honestly and seriously have thought it was no big deal if it was YOUR child who was left in the car?!?! I doubt it.

My views, thoughts and opinions have forever been skewed by this thread.

As long as your opinions of us have not been skewed.