Daily Text: "How Are My Angels Doing?" How To Respond?

[Cat Herder]

"I just don't want you to worry or get upset with me when I don't respond."

When...I....don't.

I see them twice a day, unless there are issues, I don't have time to text each parent during the day.

When their kids start K here, they see the teacher on the first day and one conference only, unless there is an issue.

:::: I hear you. If I had an assistant or a lunch break maybe it would be different.

I do text if there is something really good (like a good citizen award or caught being good certificate) or something really bad (like illness) to communicate with just that parent.

Occasional texts are fine (other than the notorious dope and drop sign ), but everyday texts, after being asked to stop, would be grating...

Great article Nan!! I don't know how I missed that one.

[CraftyMom]

I get a text every morning from one dcm asking how her kids are behaving. Truthfully, the one boy isn't great, but it's nothing I can't handle. I'm not sure if she is expecting a laundry list of all the rules he has broken, or if she just wants me to say "good" and move on. I really dread the text every morning because I feel like I'm lying when I say everything is fine, but it really isn't beneficial for me to explain everything he is doing wrong either when his behaviors are just normal spoiled boy behaviors. How do you respond to these sorts of questions?

I had a few like this. One in particular with 2 kids here (worst kids I've ever had in my care) Text everyday, how are the boys? I finally asked if she wanted details or just a general ok? She wanted details. "I want to know EVERYTHING so I can know what is going on" Ok, so I started giving details. Most of it was just normal everyday stuff that she made a big deal of when I told her. Turns out she didn't really want to know, and ended up getting super defensive, and it all went south. Worst term ever!

Moral of the story...just a give a quick "fine, I'll let you know if anything needs mentioning"

[daycare]

I love to take pics and send via text, but only when I have time and I tell the parents this...

I never really have parents ask unless they know their kid has been having issues.


If a parent asks and i have the time I will snap a pic of exactly what that kid is doing. That means if they are throwing a tantrum right then that is what they get a pic of. That usually gets them to stop and some parents will say oh sorry you are having a rough day with them. Sorry for your troubles, that usually gets them to stop asking me.

[Indoorvoice]

I love to take pics and send via text, but only when I have time and I tell the parents this...

I never really have parents ask unless they know their kid has been having issues.


If a parent asks and i have the time I will snap a pic of exactly what that kid is doing. That means if they are throwing a tantrum right then that is what they get a pic of. That usually gets them to stop and some parents will say oh sorry you are having a rough day with them. Sorry for your troubles, that usually gets them to stop asking me.

Oh this is great! I'm going to start responding, "Everything is great! Look, DCB is jumping on my couch for 18 billionth time! Oh, and here is a pic of him pulling my daughter's hair. Doing fine over here!"

[Annalee]

For texting you can answer: "Same. How are they doing at home?" That puts her having to type out behaviors. She has to bring up stuff.

I can't wait to use this! Love it!

[dave4him]

Mine is usually from my wife asking about ours..... um driving daddy nuts but nothing new about that.

[Josiegirl]

I have to admit I do miss my DD when she is in school and if the teacher had an option for me to check in I would. I would probably do it a lot and drive the teacher crazy. Hahaha! So I understand why the moms check in. They miss their kids. I usually respond with a cute picture or tell them something cute the child has done or said. I don't really think the parents are checking to see if they are being good or bad....they just miss them.

This exactly

[mrsnj]

I usually send a general reply. "Great morning" type of thing but only for a few days once they start. After that I become too busy to reply. They get the message after that . I don't mind in the adjustment period but after that it's time to move on.

[KidGrind]

I get a text every morning from one dcm asking how her kids are behaving. Truthfully, the one boy isn't great, but it's nothing I can't handle. I'm not sure if she is expecting a laundry list of all the rules he has broken, or if she just wants me to say "good" and move on. I really dread the text every morning because I feel like I'm lying when I say everything is fine, but it really isn't beneficial for me to explain everything he is doing wrong either when his behaviors are just normal spoiled boy behaviors. How do you respond to these sorts of questions?

Thanks for you inquiry overall we’re good. Normal redirection and reminders, I hope you have a great day. See you at pick-up.

[hope]

Mine is usually from my wife asking about ours..... um driving daddy nuts but nothing new about that.

Haha! Yes same here from DH but I send him pictures of the kids along with the dcms

[AmyKidsCo]

I'd reply at nap time, if I had time. Generally I handle problems here and don't tell the parents about them unless it's an ongoing problem that I've worked on for a while and it's not getting so I want their "backup."

I use the Daily Connect app as a daily sheet and try to upload 1 photo of each child every day. Since parents can log in whenever they want to see updates I think it helps cut down on texts like you get. (Although I did have a parent who I think would have loved it if I had video streaming so she could watch her Special Snowflake play all day.)

[Wubby]

I get a text every morning from one dcm asking how her kids are behaving. Truthfully, the one boy isn't great, but it's nothing I can't handle. I'm not sure if she is expecting a laundry list of all the rules he has broken, or if she just wants me to say "good" and move on. I really dread the text every morning because I feel like I'm lying when I say everything is fine, but it really isn't beneficial for me to explain everything he is doing wrong either when his behaviors are just normal spoiled boy behaviors. How do you respond to these sorts of questions?

I have a parent that did this all the time. I would respond with great, playing, having lunch, just whatever the kiddos were doing. But after a while it became a pain, so being the rude smart a$$ I can sometimes be ( and I have known her for 14 yrs), I started responding with, "Wonderful, the baby just learned how to climb on the roof" "Girls are riding the big wheel bikes off the roof, you should see how much air they can get" "Wow, they love eating mud" "Just climb the tree in their Tarzan costume, they look great".. Yup I don't hear from her at all now....

[dave4him]

They are still alive....

They have developed their own language and are planning an escape...

Our oldest has renamed the Daycare and proclaimed herself leader...

Well.... at least the diapers are out of the house....

The cat should make it...

Angels?...... hahahahahahah

..... when are you coming home?

[Meeko]

They are still alive....

They have developed their own language and are planning an escape...

Our oldest has renamed the Daycare and proclaimed herself leader...

Well.... at least the diapers are out of the house....

The cat should make it...

Angels?...... hahahahahahah

..... when are you coming home?

:::::: Love it!

[Mister Sir Husband]

If she asked everyday I'd be good for a while, but eventually I'd maybe get a bit creative, like telling her everything's actually pretty quiet here, but could she possibly stop on the way later and grab me a couple more rolls of duct tape cause I just used all mine up..