Winter Frustration Already.. WWYD?

[HOHDirector]

Because I have encountered parents who simply figured why bother buying winter gear when daycare will just supply it for me.

Because I have parents that RELY on me having "extras" so when I actually have a case of real forgetfulness, there isn't enough "extras" to go around.

Because I am NOT a storage facility

Because I don't have the room to be

Because then I bear all the responsibility of being a parent to a child that isn't mine.

Because it isn't that hard to provide the basic requirements for the weather.

AGREED happyface

Plus I really want to say to the DCPS when they drop off "Would you like to stand outside for 45min w/out gloves or a hat on when its 30 degrees outside?" I'm 100% positive their answer would be no.

[Cradle2crayons]

I had a mom once who didn't bring her child in a jacket or hat or anything but a short sleeve shirt and pants and flip flops on a freezing day.

Mom says "oh I'm sure miss Lynn has some you can wear to the zoo today"

Miss Lynn said "gosh, no, I'm sorry, you'll have to just go back home with mom. See you tomorrow dcg!!" Door shut.

I have some extras for real oopsies. But I'm not providing extras to a parent who just ASSUMES my work revolves around providing things for their child that hey CAN afford to provide. Now, I will say, if their mom can't afford a coat or hat, I'll go get the child a set for here and a set for home. There's a difference.

[SilverSabre25]

I have now given up (for this year anyway) and am providing winter stuff. I had a ton anyway. Snowsuit for the baby, snowsuit for the 18 mo, basic mittens, hat, and pink snowpants for the 4. 5yo. I'm just not fighting it this year.


Part of the problem for me here in central OH is the climate is unpredictable. Some winters we get almost no snow, sometimes we get tons. sometimes it's so cold for months on end that no one can go out to play, and sometimes it barely drops below freezing even in the middle of january.

So parents resist buying the stuff because "it might not be needed". Especially the parents I seem to serve.

So I'm keeping everything that my own kids have accumulated, throwing it in one mammoth storage box that I recently emptied, and storing it in the storage area which also recently got mostly emptied. Not a big deal for me.

I'm not necessarily providing boots or heavy coats though. Maybe, if I have spare in a close enough size. Nor am I buying the expensive $10 waterproof, fleece lined mittens and gloves my own kids get, or the nice warm $10 hats. it's $1 stuff or leftovers from previous sizes of my kids. Is that mean? I don't think so. it's not rocket science that if there is snow on the ground you should be sending your child to care with all the right gear.

[Angelsj]

I'm not getting why it's not just easy to have them use what you have on hand? Not being mean, just don't see the problem?

I have a few extras of various things - a couple t-shirts, one with long sleeves, a jacket and coat, a few pair of gloves, and a hat or two. These are things that have been left behind over my 20 years of DC. If we need to go somewhere and someone forgot their coat, I've got one on hand they can use.

I do think it's irresponsible and just plain dumb of parents to not have them prepared, but it's not hurting anybody to let them wear what I have in my closet. I get exasperated at the parents' stupidity, but hey, that's why I have backup clothes!

Yes, it allows the parents to be lazy, but at pickup when I tell them that little Bobby wore my pink Hello Kitty gloves and hat outside, they feel like a failure. Maybe they'll think twice next time. But really, I don't care. I'm not here to school the parents, I'm here to provide excellent care for the kids. If that means letting them borrow something that's sitting in my closet, I'm ok with that.... for the kid's sake. (It doesn't mean I'm not gonna call them a loser parent in my head as I put the hat & gloves on though!! LOL j/k... or not...)

It just isn't worth my effort to argue. Some things bug me, but this isn't one of them. And I do have parents that donate stuff their kids have outgrown for the younger ones. It all works out.

[Angelsj]

It is in the 40's today dcg said I forgot my mittens dad turned and said it is too cold you won't be going out... I said yes we will I have so mis matched mitten or old socks she can wear... time to send a new notice. We will be going out this winter.

I have one of those. Now THAT drives me insane. Don't tell your kid what we are doing today without checking with me and YES we are going out, unless *I* or regulations say it is too cold!!! Ugh
And btw, the passive aggressive comments about how cold it is when you pick your kid up are going to end up getting you fired day care parent!!!

[Unregistered]

Parents forgetting hats & gloves already and its only November. You can only post flyers and notes so many times. I obviously dont want to hold the kid back because the parent is lazy, but what would you do? I dont want to keep on supplying them with our glove/hat stash. That's only allowing the parent to continue to be lazy.

HELP

I would have each parent buy a back up set for your home. Do not LET THEM TAKE SAID BACKUP SET no matter what. Even if it's -10 out, they brought the kid in that condition, they can take the kid home that way. Maybe they will learn not to forget next time when you tell them "Oh, no I'm sorry they can't take these home" MOM WHINING: But it's cold! You: "But it was ALSO just as cold, mom, this morning, when you didn't have hat/gloves for Jane"

[Unregistered]

I have one of those. Now THAT drives me insane. Don't tell your kid what we are doing today without checking with me and YES we are going out, unless *I* or regulations say it is too cold!!! Ugh
And btw, the passive aggressive comments about how cold it is when you pick your kid up are going to end up getting you fired day care parent!!!

I have noticed that a few times some people have mentioned " firing" a parent or a family. I know what they mean, but I find the use of that word very interesting.
As far as winter gear goes, some parents just don`t go outside with the kids , so they don't buy that stuff. Heavy coats are hard for kids in car seats,it is recommended that they just wear sweaters when riding in the car seat. But, I always brought a coat and gloves along too, because you never know.

[Josiegirl]

I've told all the dcps we HAVE to go outside every single day because I have to take the dogs out. At least for 5 minutes. Unless they would rather I leave all their kids in the house while I go by myself.
I do have extra mittens and hats but that's it. They keep extra clothes here so if someone gets wet, etc., they have something to change into.

[melskids]

I have a whole dresser full of winter gear. I even went and bought fancy waterproof gloves with the snow sleeves that go up the arm because I was tired of the crappy knit mittens that they soak through in 2 minutes.

I gave up on trying to prove my point to parents. I have bigger mountains to climb, and I do it simply because the kids deserve to be warm and dry.

[Laurel]

Since there are so many threads like this I've been thinking about it.

I don't live in a cold climate so I keep extras but like someone else said, they're not pretty and I don't send them home....ever.

Why not do like Blackcat said and ask them to bring a complete set. Then say, for those who don't bring them by such and such date I will provide them at $X amount of dollars which will be charged to your tuition bill. Then I would list what they will receive and make them good quality. I wonder if that would work.

Laurel

[christine19720]

A few parents here also refused to bring their kids warm winter coats, gloves, even shoes. So...I went to the thrift store or yard sales and picked up coats, shoes, socks, hats and gloves. The coats, hats are not stylish, or pretty items but useful and allowed me to go on with my day as planned. I was tired of the parents having that kind of power over me, so I just took back control. I have an old duffle bag I keep all this stuff in so it doesn't take up too much space. Win/win for all of us!

[jenn]

Each child has gloves and a hat that stay here at all times.

I request them in the fall and give them a cut off date to provide them. If they don't have them by the cutoff, I charge them $10 and buy them. I know it does not cost $10 to buy those items, but I charge for my time.

I store them in their cubby with their extra clothes, so they don't take up space.

If they come in the morning with gloves and hat like they should, great, that's what they wear. If they come without them, they use their extras and then put them back in their cubby at the end of the day. I do not allow them to take the extras home.

[Angelsj]

Since there are so many threads like this I've been thinking about it.

I don't live in a cold climate so I keep extras but like someone else said, they're not pretty and I don't send them home....ever.

Why not do like Blackcat said and ask them to bring a complete set. Then say, for those who don't bring them by such and such date I will provide them at $X amount of dollars which will be charged to your tuition bill. Then I would list what they will receive and make them good quality. I wonder if that would work.

Laurel

I have. Over and over and over...it just isn't a hill I am willing to die on. And honestly, I like to have multiples of certain kinds. Either they bring difficult to put on, keep on, get wet, too thin, too heavy, etc, etc....
To each their own. You have to do what works for you. This is just what works for me.

[jessrlee]

I ask each parent to provide 1 hat and 2 sets of mittens. I keep them at the end of the year and have a big bin we take from. then I just chuck it all in the wash at the end of the day.