So Oblivious!

[KIDZRMYBIZ]

Now this is a new one for me. I had a new DCG start just last week, 18mo. Cute as can be, fun and sweet! This morning, DCM brings her in and she is chewing gum.:confused: DCM says she loves it, gets it out of her purse herself, never swallows it, hands it to you when she's done, blah, blah, blah.

I don't care. No way I am letting your BABY toddle around with GUM in her mouth to choke to death, stick it in the carpet, or so nicely share it with a friend!

I just used my smile-and-nod-then-do-what-needs-to-be-done-after-DCM/DCD-leaves maneuver. I could tell that DCM thinks her DD is a natural genius over this, and would have been completely obtuse about any argument I would have posed. Picking my battles today!

On a side note, wouldn't it be awesome if EVERYONE dropped off and picked up at the same time?! I would love to converse with the parents for just 15 minutes total (or less!) at the beginning and the end of the day, instead of 10 minutes (or longer) 7 different times twice a day, every dang day. Plus it would help the one's whose mommies are not actually working that day and they know it separate if there was a bunch of excited chaos when they dropped off. I know it's all part of the job, it would just be nice. I guess I just don't want to spend more than a few minutes with most people taller than 3 1/2 feet!::

[Leigh]

Now this is a new one for me. I had a new DCG start just last week, 18mo. Cute as can be, fun and sweet! This morning, DCM brings her in and she is chewing gum.:confused: DCM says she loves it, gets it out of her purse herself, never swallows it, hands it to you when she's done, blah, blah, blah.

I don't care. No way I am letting your BABY toddle around with GUM in her mouth to choke to death, stick it in the carpet, or so nicely share it with a friend!

I just used my smile-and-nod-then-do-what-needs-to-be-done-after-DCM/DCD-leaves maneuver. I could tell that DCM thinks her DD is a natural genius over this, and would have been completely obtuse about any argument I would have posed. Picking my battles today!

On a side note, wouldn't it be awesome if EVERYONE dropped off and picked up at the same time?! I would love to converse with the parents for just 15 minutes total (or less!) at the beginning and the end of the day, instead of 10 minutes (or longer) 7 different times twice a day, every dang day. Plus it would help the one's whose mommies are not actually working that day and they know it separate if there was a bunch of excited chaos when they dropped off. I know it's all part of the job, it would just be nice. I guess I just don't want to spend more than a few minutes with most people taller than 3 1/2 feet!::

No child of any age is allowed gum in my home. I would inform Mom of that immediately. I already address this in my handbook. How rude to send an 18 month old to someone else's home with gum!

[KIDZRMYBIZ]

I should probably ban it, but it hasn't really been an issue. I've had 2 different DCK's at different times that started coming in with gum, but they were 4yo, not 18mo!!! With them, I just made them choose between spitting it out immediately or sitting at the table to chew, and it stopped almost as soon as it started.

I think if this little gem comes in with it again, I will give her the same choice-spit it out or sit in the highchair before DCM walks out the door.

[AmyKidsCo]

I had a DCG come in with gum but her parents knew my No Gum rule and had her spit it into their hands as soon as they got inside.

[heyhun77]

On a side note, wouldn't it be awesome if EVERYONE dropped off and picked up at the same time?! I would love to converse with the parents for just 15 minutes total (or less!) at the beginning and the end of the day, instead of 10 minutes (or longer) 7 different times twice a day, every dang day. Plus it would help the one's whose mommies are not actually working that day and they know it separate if there was a bunch of excited chaos when they dropped off. I know it's all part of the job, it would just be nice. I guess I just don't want to spend more than a few minutes with most people taller than 3 1/2 feet!::

Careful what you wish for! I used to have all my drop offs and pick ups spread out a little (usually about 5 minutes apart) without scheduling it that way and now I have 8 kiddos that show up all within 5 minutes. Grr. I can't communicate with parents about their night/day and it's soooo chaotic in the mornings when they all come at the same time.

That said, I do like having everyone in and done early. I can usually calm the chaos fairly fast and then we go on with our day.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

Careful what you wish for! I used to have all my drop offs and pick ups spread out a little (usually about 5 minutes apart) without scheduling it that way and now I have 8 kiddos that show up all within 5 minutes. Grr. I can't communicate with parents about their night/day and it's soooo chaotic in the mornings when they all come at the same time.

That said, I do like having everyone in and done early. I can usually calm the chaos fairly fast and then we go on with our day.

My group USED to be more like this and I LOVED it. I send home daily reports so if I want to communicate something I can do it easily and quickly through e-mail that way. I PREFER to not have social gatherings and I miss that. This whole chitchat thing 4+ times each morning and evening devastates my soul.

How odd about the gum!

[midaycare]

A little off topic but ... when I was younger we hosted a foreign exchange student from Italy. She said no one from Italy chewed gum and that everyone over there thought people who did it looked like cows chewing cud.

[taylorw1210]

My group USED to be more like this and I LOVED it. I send home daily reports so if I want to communicate something I can do it easily and quickly through e-mail that way. I PREFER to not have social gatherings and I miss that. This whole chitchat thing 4+ times each morning and evening devastates my soul.

How odd about the gum!

I must be odd because I really enjoy chit chatting 2x a day with each set of parents! It's nice to have adult conversation after hanging with littles all day.

One time a boy brought a pack of gum to my home. I took it away after he chewed up and spit out a piece on my floor. He was mad at me. When dad picked him up, he "tattled" on me, and then dad proceeded to give him back his package of gum that I put in his little sister's diaper bag! Right in front of me, saying, "Well, we are leaving now so you can have it back."

[TwinKristi]

Gum??? Oh my! I don't even let my own kids chew gum in my house or car, why on earth would someone think to bring an 18 month old with gum?? She may be ok with it now, but give it a few months and I bet she gets it all over everything one day and mom goes
But if she argues I would print out a page about unsafe foods for infants and she can choose to do that outside of daycare but for safety reasons (along with the possibility of ruining your furniture, carpet, another child's hair or clothes) you just cannot allow it.

[crazydaycarelady]

On a side note, wouldn't it be awesome if EVERYONE dropped off and picked up at the same time?! I would love to converse with the parents for just 15 minutes total (or less!) at the beginning and the end of the day, instead of 10 minutes (or longer) 7 different times twice a day, every dang day. Plus it would help the one's whose mommies are not actually working that day and they know it separate if there was a bunch of excited chaos when they dropped off. I know it's all part of the job, it would just be nice. I guess I just don't want to spend more than a few minutes with most people taller than 3 1/2 feet!

I agree! I keep telling hubby I want a drive-thru window for drop-offs and pick-ups!