Tell Me How You Would Take This

[crazydaycarelady]

Long time family, I watched the older child and now I watch their middle child part-time and baby (15mo) full-time.

A couple of weeks ago another child (2yo) went up to their child and yelled in the 15mos face. Dcd was picking up and saw. He sent me an email to let me know because he was concerned this 2yo was being mean to the baby. I have kept an eye on the situation but there has been nothing to report.

Today we are getting the older kids ready to go outside and middle child says he can't go outside because he is supposed to watch baby and report back to parents if anyone is mean to baby.

I think I am going to comment at pick-up that middle child didn't want to go out and why.

Coincidentally the WORST behavior I have ever seen in my dc came from their older child who kicked a 1yo (who was on the floor) in the head with the heel of her boot!

[daycarediva]

I would definitely say "Susie didn't want to go outside today because she is supposed to be watching baby Bean for you! Any idea where she got that from?" *big smile*

It would be SUPER SUPER hard to refrain from referencing the past situation. I probably would, to be honest. "The other toddlers are learning social skills and you remember how that was with Big Sister, right? We stay close to intervene and offer guidance, and of course if it gets physical, which it has not, we would address that immediately..." blah blah

[crazydaycarelady]

I said "B balked at going outside today because he said he needed to watch his brother so the other kids wouldn't be mean to him." Dad just said "Oh really" and changed the subject. If dcm says anything in the morning I will remind her that at one time it was HER child that other parents were concerned about having their children around.

Unfortunately I will stew about this all night.

[Kabob]

The lack of trust on their part concerns me...

[TwinKristi]

Ugh- yeah it's funny how quickly they forget huh?

I'm sure the parent said something to the child and I would probably find a way to talk to them about it in depth if it continues. To expect a preschooler (3-4?) to watch an infant at daycare and report back. Of course you can ask but we all know how kids are. If we reported everything a 3-4yr old told us , their parents would probably be quite upset with us. Yet when they say it about someone else it's taken as truth.
If it keeps up I would bring it up. Having had 3 children with you now you would think they trust you, ya know? But obviously there's some issues there. Hopefully someone has a good dialog to discuss this with the parents. It's not fair to put that responsibility on the child, they should be able to play and not watch their sibling.

[crazydaycarelady]

The lack of trust on their part concerns me...

I know....it's odd. I have had this family for 6-7 years. Once the dcd even got laid off but they continued to pay me for 4 months to save their spot. Mom has complimented me within the last 2 weeks about the good care and also last week started they bringing the baby and extra day!

I DO have a little 2yo brat in care right now (the child who yelled in their child's face) but from the example above with their own child, things happen. I'm on it!

I have no idea what their deal is.

[MyAngels]

I doubt this is an issue they have with you. I remember when my kids were little, before I started daycare, I specifically enrolled my two (3 years apart) in the same program so that my older child could keep an eye out for the younger. I didn't specifically say "watch your sister" or anything, but it was definitely on my mind. It had nothing to do with the provider, I think that's just how some parents think.

Of course now I realize just how pointless it was, but you live and learn ::

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I know....it's odd. I have had this family for 6-7 years. Once the dcd even got laid off but they continued to pay me for 4 months to save their spot. Mom has complimented me within the last 2 weeks about the good care and also last week started they bringing the baby and extra day!

I DO have a little 2yo brat in care right now (the child who yelled in their child's face) but from the example above with their own child, things happen. I'm on it!

I have no idea what their deal is.

That is odd. I am sorry.

[daycare]

I might have slipped and said..... you know I have things under control, just like I did when I had to control your little Darling Devil a few years back.

I guess it should be no surprise that your daughter is not the only one that acts up.

I would be offended by this.

[cheerfuldom]

I would be a little offended but not surprised at all. Mom-nesia is alive and well with many parents.....complaining about other kids when their kid did the exact same thing last week!

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I might have slipped and said..... you know I have things under control, just like I did when I had to control your little Darling Devil a few years back.

I guess it should be no surprise that your daughter is not the only one that acts up.

I would be offended by this.

Lol, I would as well.