Grrr...McDonalds

[midaycare]

So I have only 1 dcg today due to vacations and the end of school. A lot of my parents are taking some of this week of to spend with their kiddos. I have a very strict rule about bringing no food into the daycare because I serve only organic, healthy things. If kids bring stuff in, they will never eat what I fix them. I mean, who wants oatmeal and bananas when mom is offering you a pop tart?

So dcm shows up today and drops dcg off with McDonalds-she says that since it is only her today, she thought it would be okay. Ummm... No. She put me in an impossible situation, where I couldn't refuse because dcg already had the McDonalds in her hand.

Is it a huge deal this one day? Nope. But I don't want dcm thinking this is okay.

[SilverSabre25]

Sounds like mom is aware that it can't be an all the time thing. I'd just grin and bear it.

[midaycare]

Sounds like mom is aware that it can't be an all the time thing. I'd just grin and bear it.

I know, it just irked me because her dcg is the one I have the most trouble getting to eat what I cook. That only made my day harder, plus it threw off my snack and meal times. But ... Not so terrible with just one dcg here today.

[Blackcat31]

So I have only 1 dcg today due to vacations and the end of school. A lot of my parents are taking some of this week of to spend with their kiddos. I have a very strict rule about bringing no food into the daycare because I serve only organic, healthy things. If kids bring stuff in, they will never eat what I fix them. I mean, who wants oatmeal and bananas when mom is offering you a pop tart?

So dcm shows up today and drops dcg off with McDonalds-she says that since it is only her today, she thought it would be okay. Ummm... No. She put me in an impossible situation, where I couldn't refuse because dcg already had the McDonalds in her hand.

Is it a huge deal this one day? Nope. But I don't want dcm thinking this is okay.

I wouldn't be worried about DCM understanding that today is "different" than other days.... I'd be more worried about the daycare girl.

Kids have a hard time understanding why today is different than other days.

DCM just set her DD up for disappointment the next time she (DCG) wants McDonald's to bring to daycare kwim?

I would NOT have allowed it for that reason.

[midaycare]

I wouldn't be worried about DCM understanding that today is "different" than other days.... I'd be more worried about the daycare girl.

Kids have a hard time understanding why today is different than other days.

DCM just set her DD up for disappointment the next time she (DCG) wants McDonald's to bring to daycare kwim?

I would NOT have allowed it for that reason.

Good point ... But how do you phrase "no" when dcg already has McDonalds in hand? If other kids were here, I definitely would have been able to say no way, but with no one else, I felt like I couldn't think of a good enough reason fast enough.

[spinnymarie]

I know what you mean about not thinking of it fast enough. Just have to get to the point where 'No' is my first response, yk?

Since there's nothing to be done about it now, you might just try to remind DCG that today is a special 'mcdonalds day' and that it only happens once. And hope that mom is the one who has to deal with the fall-out next time

[Blackcat31]

Good point ... But how do you phrase "no" when dcg already has McDonalds in hand? If other kids were here, I definitely would have been able to say no way, but with no one else, I felt like I couldn't think of a good enough reason fast enough.

"Oh Janey! I see mommy took you to McDonald's for breakfast this morning. Unfortunately, Miss M does not allow food from home to be brought to daycare so mommy will have to take you back to the car until you've finished."

Then look at mom and do.not budge.

SHE can figure out what to do. Take it from the child or bring child to the car. HER call since SHE was the one who tried to bend the rule. (If child has a fit, I ask parent to take them out to the car until they are ready to come in calmly.

I REFUSE to be the bad guy in a situation the parent created. I also refuse to be "pushed" by DCP's when it comes to MY rules/policies. If any of them are bent or broken it's at MY discretion.

I know this already happened but I would still tell mom that it's hard for kids to differentiate one day from the next if the rules don't stay the same all the time so for future reference YOU will be turned away if Janey comes with food again. Even if she is the only one here.

[midaycare]

"Oh Janey! I see mommy took you to McDonald's for breakfast this morning. Unfortunately, Miss M does not allow food from home to be brought to daycare so mommy will have to take you back to the car until you've finished."

Then look at mom and do.not budge.

SHE can figure out what to do. Take it from the child or bring child to the car. HER call since SHE was the one who tried to bend the rule. (If child has a fit, I ask parent to take them out to the car until they are ready to come in calmly.

I REFUSE to be the bad guy in a situation the parent created. I also refuse to be "pushed" by DCP's when it comes to MY rules/policies. If any of them are bent or broken it's at MY discretion.

I know this already happened but I would still tell mom that it's hard for kids to differentiate one day from the next if the rules don't stay the same all the time so for future reference YOU will be turned away if Janey comes with food again. Even if she is the only one here.

Brilliant advice. Next time I'm put on the spot, this is coming out of my mouth!

[drseuss]

I have a parent that is continually bringing her daughter with things that she cannot have here. Things she knows, or should know, are not allowed here. Basically, her attitude is that it's not worth the screaming fit to tell her daughter NO to anything. I finally got tired of it last week when dcm brought her daughter in with a king-size candy from the gas station. She told me, "she usually eats the whole thing in one sitting, can you believe it?!" Then told her daughter that she would have to sit up at my counter so the other kids didn't get her candy. I was gobsmacked. Mom walked out the door, I took the candy and put it up in the cupboard, and dcg went to play with a smile on her face. She knows the rules. It's MOM that can't say no! Well when she came back for pick up that day, I smiled and handed her the candy back. She told her dd what a good girl she was for not eating the whole thing. That's when I said, "She didn't eat any of it. She cannot come in with candy in the morning. Please do not worry about ME when your dd is having a fit about something in the morning. She only does that for you. If there is something she wants that is not allowed here (and there always is), tell her no, bring her in, and say goodbye. I promise you she is not having that fit for me." Glory be, I think mom is getting the picture.

[TwinKristi]

^^ Isn't it funny how easy it is to do things some parents can't do? I had a dad bring DCGs sippy cup with her "because she as screaming and didn't want to leave it in the car" and as soon as I shut the door I asked for the cup, she handed it over and I put it in her backpack and she went to play. ::

[Blackcat31]

^^ Isn't it funny how easy it is to do things some parents can't do? I had a dad bring DCGs sippy cup with her "because she as screaming and didn't want to leave it in the car" and as soon as I shut the door I asked for the cup, she handed it over and I put it in her backpack and she went to play. ::

I used to have this mom who would let her DD bring random things in from the car. Her line was always "She wouldn't let me (fill in the blank), sorry"

I would always take whatever item away and hand it directly to mom and say "Well, I don't ASK her. I just do it."

Mom "got it" but cold never do it...kwim?

I always wondered what happened with them....I am sure mom is still "asking" her DD and having a heck of a time with her since I can't imagine many kids who would reply as their parent would like them to... ::


Some times I'll comment to a parent that God made them big and the child small so there was never any confusion as to who the "boss" of the family was/is.