Biggest Issue

[cheerfuldom]

Mine is a toss up between clueless parents and screamer babies. I no longer take children under 9 months because I really feel that it is a rare baby that can tolerate the hustle and bustle of full time daycare, meals, napping without mom....it almost always results in a lot of crying. It's probably two thirds of the babies that just cry soooo much. Its just awful for me and them. The clueless parents are all loving, hard working people. They have just never been around kids and it's shocking the things that these people don't know....complete lack of common sense sometimes and also, poor listening and communicating skills with me. I work for middle class folks, they all have good jobs, it makes me wonder how they do at work when it takes three reminders that I am closed for holiday a particular day.

Never have payment issues, love to clean and organize, don't mind paperwork, and rarely have the illness policy issues. Not too much trouble with potty trainers either. I seem to have the opposite issue sometimes...parents that do not want to potty train the kids when they are clearly ready!

[Crazy8]

I chose Other. It isn't policy issues, it is just thir parenting. 50% of them **** at being parents. They provide the basics, but otherwise they let their kid call the shots and look stunned when their child listens to me. Sigh. It's exhausting. And that is coming from someone who chases toddlers all day!

I was kind of looking for an option of just "parents" - cause it is so many things. Like their inability to tell a child "no" to ANYTHING and like the one who is now texting me 3 hrs after pick up asking about the bump on the childs head - the bump I commented on when they walked in the door this morning. :confused:

[LaLa1923]

What is the BIGGEST issue you personally have with your child care/business?

too bad we couldn't choose more than one option

[e.j.]

I picked "other" because my biggest problem I have running my day care is me!

Initially, I was going to say my biggest problem is parents not following policies which for me, would include late payments since I do have a payment policy that is not followed or ignored more often than I would like. The more I thought about it though...I realized that "Parents not following policies" is a problem for me only because my backbone is not as strong as it could/should be. It's a work in progress and my backbone is much stronger than it was when I first started out. After all these years, you would think it shouldn't be an issue for me but I still feel like a big, bad witch when I have to confront a parent and enforce one of my policies.

[Childminder]

I put payment because of issue I have with subsidy kids but my biggest issue right now is getting children. Enrollment is at it's worst. Never have I been so low.

[melilley]

I chose child behavior only because I just opened in Jan. and so far the parents have followed my policies, I haven't had any payment issues, I haven't done taxes yet (though I am behind in recording things on MMK) etc..
I do, however, have a 24 mo old who is aggressive, but mom and I are working together and it's getting a little better. And I also have a 14 mo. old who used to cry everyday and it slowed down and now he's back at it every day.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

Lately it has been with children's behavior. I have found that a.) only children who are their parent's whole world and b.) children who have parents who want to be their child's friend and want them to be happy all of the time REALLY make my day difficult. Most of the children can adjust quite well here.

Although, parents are a very close second at times. Right now I have a good group of clients and I feel VERY thankful that I have weeded out the ones that didn't respect me. It made me very sad.

[TwinKristi]

I voted other because my biggest problem (besides one bad apple former parent) is getting kids enrolled because of the amount of illegal and cheap providers.

Same here. I haven't had too many issues with the other things yet, it's just getting kids at this point. Was full and now almost empty!

[nanglgrl]

I picked parents not following policy, it's not all of them but I always have 1 or 2 in every bunch. They act like children and are constantly trying to text boundaries especially with my sick policy. I use my backbone most of the time (sent a child home today and said he couldn't come back tomorrow) but they still test them.

[Sugar Magnolia]

Other......enrollment.

[daycarediva]

Lately it has been with children's behavior. I have found that a.) only children who are their parent's whole world and b.) children who have parents who want to be their child's friend and want them to be happy all of the time REALLY make my day difficult. Most of the children can adjust quite well here.

Although, parents are a very close second at times. Right now I have a good group of clients and I feel VERY thankful that I have weeded out the ones that didn't respect me. It made me very sad.

Exactly this.

I have 20m-4.5 years, a reminded, reinforced set of rules that NEVER change and every week I am re-training kids.

Get off the couch, we don't jump on furniture
Don't kick my garden statues
Don't hit the cat
Don't hit your friends
No throwing toys

repeat until blue in the face. The parents watch and laugh/allow it when they're here so I am literally pushing kids out of the door at p/u.

I had a kid break my flag pole (those small garden flags) and his Mom didn't say a word until I put him in T/O. Then she apologized to him. Completely understand why that 3.5yo is a wild child every Monday and P/U.

[caregiver]

Exactly this.

I have 20m-4.5 years, a reminded, reinforced set of rules that NEVER change and every week I am re-training kids.

Get off the couch, we don't jump on furniture
Don't kick my garden statues
Don't hit the cat
Don't hit your friends
No throwing toys

repeat until blue in the face. The parents watch and laugh/allow it when they're here so I am literally pushing kids out of the door at p/u.

I had a kid break my flag pole (those small garden flags) and his Mom didn't say a word until I put him in T/O. Then she apologized to him. Completely understand why that 3.5yo is a wild child every Monday and P/U.

I had replied earlier and said my biggest issue was parents, but I guess kids behavior is also a issue as parents are not disciplining anymore it seems like.
I also have to remind and reinforce my rules all the time too. Like be nice to my cat,pet her nice and no hitting her or kicking her,don't hit others,don't take toys away from another while they are playing with them, no spitting, which one does a lot,no running in the house,no screaming to the top of their lungs and no melt downs when your told to do something,like when it is time to pick up the toys.
One Christmas a few years ago when my tree was up, I had a DCB throw a toy at the tree,on purpose and broke a very valuable ornament,one that my son had made in school and it was very special to me. I told DCM when she came to pick him up what he did and that it was one that my son had made and was very special and all she said was "Boys will be Boys", and didn't even say she was sorry he did this and said not a thing to him about it. I cried after they left because I was so upset that he did this and no apologize from her at all. I had a few issue with the Mom anyway as she would come in in the morning,set him on my new couch to take his winter coat and boots off, to which I asked her not to do that, but she didn't listen and let him jump on the couch as she got him down,to which again I asked her not to do and her answer was to her son,well when we get home, you can jump on our couch at home. Do you believe that!!! Well needless to say, I termed him that day at pick up time. Sorry, but you don't let your child jump on my new couch,or take his boots off on it and not listen when your told to please do not do that. I really hate that saying"Boys will be Boys" that is just a excuse.

[Cat Herder]

The Fickle State Rules and Regs..... Hands down.

[littleblossoms]

My bggest issues are parents do not respect me and my home. Yes children listen better than adults.

I right now went on my facebook page and wrote disobey my signs at the front door will be immediate termination

[Blackcat31]

too bad we couldn't choose more than one option

I considered having multiple options available and then decided not to go that route for a couple reasons...

I do think we all have issues in each area at one time or another but I was genuinely interested in each providers MAIN issue/stressor.

Allowing posters to choose more than one option gives false results then as to what is overall the biggest issue for child care providers is.

Some posters would choose 2 or more options while another would only choose one...so I think that would alter the "big picture" I was trying to see. kwim?