Respecting Our Home

[mac60]

I have an unwritten rule, and all parents know it.....shoes off when you come in the door (for children). Well this morning, a child came in and ran around the living room, went back to the family room/dc room, while mom was talking to me. Mom left, and about 1/2 hour later, it was discovered that the child had dog poop all over the bottom of her shoes. So, that meant that I got to spend my morning shampooing my carpets, 2 rooms, and the third one tonight. Makes me very upset that it happened. Why can't parents respect our homes any more than this. While I am sure the mom didn't do it on purpose, still, she knows shoes off when you come in the door.

Since I don't have an actual foyer, I have a 5 x 8 foot area rug inside my door, so there is ample room to stand and take shoes off. Grr. I had to shampoo that too. Our homes get so much abuse from families being disrepectful.

[Unregistered]

OH GROSS!!!!!! We have the same rule. The kids lockers are right by the door with a rug in front of the locker. I have a girl who never sits on the rug to take her stuff off, but she hasn't tracked much in, so no biggie, for now. She also had a habit of kicking/throwing her shoes off before putting them in the locker basket. I finally had to tell her in front of dad to not do that anymore. Just because they are kids doesn't give them the right to trash things or make a mess. I wish some parents had common sense. I think that's really lacking in our society right now. That and saying no to your kid, but that's a different tangent...

Hope the rest of your day isn't as "poopy".

[Unregistered]

I was raised to take shoes off in the home. Unfortunately, it seems those were not already raised to do so, EASILY forget that is what WE want and expect of them. I do suggest you start making it a written rule. After all,some daycares have a written rule that kids MUST wear shoes when attending. I used to hate this rule wih my kids. Who wants to wear shoes all day long. It wears your carpet down faster too. I know because I worked for Stanley Steemer Carpet Cleaning Company. I know about carpet stuff to an extent.

Also, if she was already told upfront about this rule and seemed ok with it, then maybe she just needs a friendly reminder. She probably forgot. I would have told her that very day (on pick up) that her child had dog poop on her shoes and act like I was "letting her know so she didn't get poo on her own carpet " and then say because you got some on yours and had to clean your carpets all day lngo and didn't want the same thing to happen to her She wil get the message and then probably feel bad.

[Chickenhauler]

Our home has a "no shoes" rule, but we are lucky that we have a large entry room that shoes are not allowed past, with an old church pew for installing/removing the shoes.

In my experience, it's the parents who are the worst violators of this rule. The child wants to show mom/dad something, and in they walk, right into the kitchen and onto the carpet with their muddy or snow covered footwear, which I then trod through their wet spot in my socks.

There is nothing in life that will raise one's blood pressure than treading through a water puddle in bare feet in their living room.

[Texasjeepgirl]

Isn't it interesting how we all have different rules on this issue.

My rule at my daycare ..children MUST WEAR SHOES.

And ...the really BIG RULE with the kids is..
If you can't put the shoes on yourself...You don't get to remove your shoes at naptime.
When I get these children up from nap...I'm so busy getting hands washed...potty trips..fresh diapers.....snack served...
getting everyone 'with it' after being asleep..

I just don't have the time to sit down and put shoes on 12 children before we are able to go out to the playground.

It's actually been mentioned by many of the parents over the years...because as the children grow and learn...they specifically request to wear shoes to daycare that they know how to take off and put on with out assistance....plus...it motivates them to LEARN to put their own shoes on.
I don't mind tieing shoe laces, ..but...they have to be able to get the shoe on properly and be ready for me to step over and tie it.
It's actually funny...every day at lunch...one by one...they will say..
can I take off my shoes for nap today?
I KNOW HOW to put these shoes on myself..
Sometimes we have to have a test....to see if it's true or not...

[tymaboy]

I have wood floors & have the rule of socks or slippers that way in the winter I do not have the slush & salt dragged in. Most of the parents that I have I have interviewed all asked or took their shoes off right away. If they do not then I really pay attention to the way they carry themself & what they say. Its all signs as to if they will respect you & your home.

[mac60]

I could not imagine what my carpets would look like with 12 children coming in and running around with their shoes on each day.

[netfiltering]

Well this morning, a child came in and ran around the living room, went back to the family room/dc room, while mom was talking to me.

Did you notice that the child was wearing shoes inside before discovering that the shoes were dirty?

Maybe next time, step in and have the child remove their shoes before being allowed to enter the main areas. It may be hard to enforce at times, but if you don't do it then other parents may forget or take advantage of the situation.