Comments Like This...

[daycarediva]

dcm: When can kids can go to UPK or head start?
Me: They start at 4 here.
dcm: Oh great, I know she needs 'real preschool' before kindergarten and want to make sure to enroll her.
Me: It's a lottery system, it's income based and I doubt you qualify, and it isn't guaranteed. She is also already in REAL PRESCHOOL, unfortunately mine is high quality and isn't free so just let me know mid august if you get a spot.
DCM#2 says: (we were all talking right before this exchange) "I wouldn't put my dog in head start or UPK here."

and I started laughing. Couldn't help it.

Dcm1 asked WHY!?
and DCM2 filled her in about the poor quality, type of staff, program, etc (she is a FORMER HEAD START TEACHER, so she knows!)
and Dcm1 said "It's free though, right?"
and Dcm2 didn't miss a beat "you've got your priorities straight."

The whole room went DEAD SILENT. Another dcm and dcd were there, my dh was with our kids in the dining room. Even the KIDS noticed and stared.

Dcm 1 left in a huff and dcm 2 apologized to me. I told her people don't like hearing the truth.

Guess I can start interviewing.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

She called it like she saw it. I would want to be her friend due to her grip on reality. Now, as for dcm who doesn't mind the negatives of head start because it's free...yeah, I would start interviewing.

[drseuss]

Dcm2 for the win.

[snbauser]

Kudo's to dcm#2 for putting it bluntly to dcm#1. Sometimes the truth hurts.

[LadyPearl]

I have seen our local head start program in action. I told dh if that was our son's option then he wouldn't go. Our school houses the program as well as play school and preschool. Head start isn't technically part of the school whereas the other programs are. Originally, the school's programs were based on need but that changed just as my youngest son was old enough to attend. I was fine with play school and preschool but would never send him to the head start program.

[Naptime yet?]

What's great is, you didn't make the comment, so DCM1 shouldn't be angry with you (DCM2 just voiced what you were thinking).

Would DCM1 really pull because of that comment?

[butterfly]

::

Do your head start programs run for a full day? Even if she got in for "free", I'm assuming she'd still have to pay someone to watch the child while she works. Here the headstart class is only 3 or 4 hours and it seems to be in the middle of the day so they can feed the kids lunch. It'd be difficult to find anyone to watch the child before/after headstart hours and save any money doing it.

[TaylorTots]

[daycarediva]

::

Do your head start programs run for a full day? Even if she got in for "free", I'm assuming she'd still have to pay someone to watch the child while she works. Here the headstart class is only 3 or 4 hours and it seems to be in the middle of the day so they can feed the kids lunch. It'd be difficult to find anyone to watch the child before/after headstart hours and save any money doing it.

ours used to be AM/PM and now it's full day (why the need for a lottery based system).

It's a TERRIBLE program here.

[Shell]

Dcm2 for the win.

::

[butterfly]

ours used to be AM/PM and now it's full day (why the need for a lottery based system).

It's a TERRIBLE program here.

gotcha. I agree with the "quality". ::

[taylorw1210]

DCM#2 is awesome!

And yea ... start interviewing.

[daycarediva]

Dcm might pull because of it, which is funny since on interview she said she wanted a good preschool until K and loved my program (and still raves about me). She just wants cheap now, and I am not about to wait until fall when she does/does not decide to leave. I can and will replace her sooner.

It's not just this, her kid has the most behavioral issues, she had been a great client until she got a new bf and now it's late pick ups, late payments, not backing me on the kids behavior and breaking (attempting to break...) policies.

I should give dcm a gift. :: I REALLY wanted to say something similar, but wouldn't do so.

[Mister Sir Husband]

DCM2 definitely gets a "hats off" from me. That was prefect. You should ask her back over to help explain things (her way) to other parents if the need arises..

[mema]

::! Dcm 2 is definitely a keeper!