New parent is driving me nuts!!!

[Unregistered]

"very well said"

SO SORRY FOR THE LOSS OF A CHILD....

BUT VERY WELL SAID. IT IS SO TRUE...LOVE YOUR STATEMENT BELOW!! this is our way to vent, people do it in other professions as well, not just daycare providers. I must say, all people who have a job, always talks to people just to vent, about their manager, their boss, ect...well said.


Parents need to understand that childcare is a business, just like any other business. Yes it is a "different" business than plumbing and heating, lawncare, etc, as we are caring for your children while you are at your job earning your income. It comes with no benefits, low pay in many areas, it comes with long hours, our homes are no longer ours, our homes becomes "public space", and many are governed by rules and regulations that make no sense. Most of us chose this career because we enjoy caring for and teaching children.

Just because our job is taking care of someone's child, please don't come down on us because we complain when a parent picks up their child 1 hour late....when you work late at your job you expect to be paid for it, it should be the same for us, or get upset with providers bringing up issues when they have to deal with the parents. As with any job, there are expectations, rules, etc that must be followed. Why are childcare providers exempt from parents following these rules of their childcare provider. Bottom line is, childcare providers are independent contractors who offer a service for a set amount of dollars, just like any other service, only difference it is caring for a child, not washing windows or changing out a toilet. Most have guidelines to follow. If you don't like your providers guidelines, find someone else.

To say that a provider should not discuss issues that they deal with on a daily basis because it concerns childcare and someones child, is wrong. We have the right to discuss these things. And to say that the system is flawed....well maybe so, it would be so much better if the government would butt out...If a parent is such a good parent why do they need the government involved, if parents would take control of their children and their behavior, respect the providers and their guidelines, maybe that would change the flawed system. Not saying all parents are "bad" parents, but I have seen my share with this business.

I provide a service to families and the service is childcare. I am an independent contractor and I am NOT your employee. I have rules that need to be followed. Included in my daily service is 2 meals and 2 snacks a day, a safe place to play, learn, and grow, lots of hugs and love, a preschool curriculum, lots of fun and learning activities, their own blanket-pillow-mat for napping, a fenced in yard with a mini playground, a warm home when it is 20 below 0 outside, a cool home when it is 95 degrees outside, and more. All for a measly $15 to $17 per day caring for your child 9 to 10 hours per day. Do the math. Am I really in it for the money? Do I have a right to bring up issues that affect me and my business everyday? For some sad reason, parents have a real problems paying for childcare, but no problem making a big car payment, a fancy house payment, or taking trips, want to talk priorities?

[Chickenhauler]

It kills me to read some of these posts. On April 6th of this year my son died at a daycare. No it was not sids. Medically it has been determined that it was something else. It was his very first day VERY FIRST!!!!!!! He was 3 and a half months old healthy and happy! My son will never come back to me and my wife. But understand this we as parents are putting TRUST in you that you will take care of our children. I understand its a job and its hard but if you consistantly complain and moan about it GET OUT!!!! Find something else to do . These are our children and you need to Respect that fact. The daycare system has so many flaws, and it starts with posts like these that i have read. Please treat the children that you take care of like they were your own , that would be the best start to a flawed system.


Thank You!
God Bless

I don't see how asking other DC providers how they would handle a situation where the parents are acting like flakes correlates to poor or dangerous care or being overstressed.

What you may see as someone who "consistently complains and moans" is actually a provider looking to their peers (other providers) for advice to on this situation, and maybe a provider may have dealt with something similar, how they dealt with it, and how it worked out in the end.

[Denise]

Parents need to understand that childcare is a business, just like any other business. Yes it is a "different" business than plumbing and heating, lawncare, etc, as we are caring for your children while you are at your job earning your income. It comes with no benefits, low pay in many areas, it comes with long hours, our homes are no longer ours, our homes becomes "public space", and many are governed by rules and regulations that make no sense. Most of us chose this career because we enjoy caring for and teaching children.

Just because our job is taking care of someone's child, please don't come down on us because we complain when a parent picks up their child 1 hour late....when you work late at your job you expect to be paid for it, it should be the same for us, or get upset with providers bringing up issues when they have to deal with the parents. As with any job, there are expectations, rules, etc that must be followed. Why are childcare providers exempt from parents following these rules of their childcare provider. Bottom line is, childcare providers are independent contractors who offer a service for a set amount of dollars, just like any other service, only difference it is caring for a child, not washing windows or changing out a toilet. Most have guidelines to follow. If you don't like your providers guidelines, find someone else.

To say that a provider should not discuss issues that they deal with on a daily basis because it concerns childcare and someones child, is wrong. We have the right to discuss these things. And to say that the system is flawed....well maybe so, it would be so much better if the government would butt out...If a parent is such a good parent why do they need the government involved, if parents would take control of their children and their behavior, respect the providers and their guidelines, maybe that would change the flawed system. Not saying all parents are "bad" parents, but I have seen my share with this business.

I provide a service to families and the service is childcare. I am an independent contractor and I am NOT your employee. I have rules that need to be followed. Included in my daily service is 2 meals and 2 snacks a day, a safe place to play, learn, and grow, lots of hugs and love, a preschool curriculum, lots of fun and learning activities, their own blanket-pillow-mat for napping, a fenced in yard with a mini playground, a warm home when it is 20 below 0 outside, a cool home when it is 95 degrees outside, and more. All for a measly $15 to $17 per day caring for your child 9 to 10 hours per day. Do the math. Am I really in it for the money? Do I have a right to bring up issues that affect me and my business everyday? For some sad reason, parents have a real problems paying for childcare, but no problem making a big car payment, a fancy house payment, or taking trips, want to talk priorities?

I love how you said you are Not my employee,---really? Hmmm...that position comes in handy because your vocation (not, profession) demands you be treated with the benefits of being MY employee---paid vacations, paid sick and bad weather days, pay when you're not providing services under a contract agreement you make up that benefits you under any circumstances because you want guaranteed income. Oh yes, when you play with those rules you are indeed an emplyoyee.

[Unregistered]

I love how you said you are Not my employee,---really? Hmmm...that position comes in handy because your vocation (not, profession) demands you be treated with the benefits of being MY employee---paid vacations, paid sick and bad weather days, pay when you're not providing services under a contract agreement you make up that benefits you under any circumstances because you want guaranteed income. Oh yes, when you play with those rules you are indeed an emplyoyee.

Look up the legal definition of an employee because you are INCORRECT. We are NOT employees. My husband is an attorney, and you would LOSE, LOSE, LOSE in court.

We are independent contractors.
Black's Law Dictionary defines "employee" as "a person in the service of another under any contract of hire, express or implied, oral or written, where the employer has the power or right to control and direct the employee in the material details of how the work is to be performed." (4) In contrast, an "independent contractor" is one who, "in the exercise of an independent employment, contracts to do a piece of work according to his own methods and is subject to his employer's control only as to the end product or final result of his work."

You don't set our hours. You agree to a contract that WE write on our terms. WE set the terms of our work. So sorry. And stick it where the sun don't shine with your "vocation" "not profession" crap! We run our own business and I am sure you have never stopped once to think what it entails. There IS continuing education, we do write contracts, we do file taxes, etc, etc, but most of ALL we take care of your MOST PRECIOUS gifts in life. And I feel sorry for anyone you hire to care of your kids because you obviously do not value that piece of it at all. Nor do you have any respect for the professionals who devote their lives to doing that job. A job that you must trust someone with as much as you trust yourself.

[laundryduchess@yahoo.com]

I respectfully disagree Denise

I am NOT an employee. The parents are not my "Boss". I am an independent contractor. This is my business, I am SELF EMPLOYED. I pay my own taxes, furnish my own supplies, make my own rules and insure my training and inspections are up to date. If I were their employee,...I would clock in, let them deal with all my administrative headaches, and clock out.

I am sure your comment about vocation and profession was meant as an insult,...However it seems you missed the mark. The truth is a profession is a vocation founded on specialized training. A vocation is something that you are called to do,.. some believe by a higher power. Others believe it is something you have special skill or aptitude to do. So yes,.. I was called to provide childcare, by who I believe to be God. I have had many years of specialized training. Both in the classroom and out. I have been both mentored and mentored others. So I consider myself a professional childcare in a vocation I love.

For the last 20 years I have "weeded" out people who feel superior because we change their children's diapers for a living. We insure that stories are read, boo boo's kissed and days are filled with safe, loving times. We are the ones who know which way they like their blankets, who has to have their socks lined up perfectly on ther toes, and the names of every pet, grandma, uncle and neighbor of every child we care for. We can manage to read 4 books, 12 times apiece, change 23 diapers, feed and entertain our charges for 9-12 hours a day and still manage to put a smile on our face and say,.. "hey it happens" when you are late on a friday afternoon to pick up your angel. While our families get pushed to the wayside. If I were the employee,.. and my shift was over, I would clock out, drop your child in your lap, and walk out the door. Oh and when you fire me for my refusal to work forced overtime without compensation or notice,.. I would file unemployment and find another job. I am pretty proud that I am a self employed profesional childcare provider. I love my chosen career and Im pretty sure my parents are happy with the service I provide. Yes they pay me for holidays. Yes they agree to a contract I made. And yes, they count themselves among the lucky few who have a safe, warm, nurturing place for their child to be when they cant be there. I guess Im doing something right,.. I've not advertised in over 15 years and am always as full as I want to be with a few waiting on me to call and say I have room for their little darlings.

[jen]

I love how you said you are Not my employee,---really? Hmmm...that position comes in handy because your vocation (not, profession) demands you be treated with the benefits of being MY employee---paid vacations, paid sick and bad weather days, pay when you're not providing services under a contract agreement you make up that benefits you under any circumstances because you want guaranteed income. Oh yes, when you play with those rules you are indeed an emplyoyee.

LOL! You are too funny! Does that make you the boss of all the people at Target too? After all, you buy stuff there...the money you spend pays for their vacations???

You are a customer...a client...you deserve to be as such...but daycare is our business...we make the rules...you follow them or leave.

Although, if you are the boss...then I want my 401K, my workers-comp insurance, health insurance, unemployment insurance, and oh yeah...will you be picking up the tab for my self employment taxes too???

I enjoy my PROfession...I have a BA in Community Psychology, make an above average income, get to be my own boss, and the tax benefits are awesome! Plus, I am there for my kids and my clients' kids. What could be more imporant that?!

[jen]

It kills me to read some of these posts. On April 6th of this year my son died at a daycare. No it was not sids. Medically it has been determined that it was something else. It was his very first day VERY FIRST!!!!!!! He was 3 and a half months old healthy and happy! My son will never come back to me and my wife. But understand this we as parents are putting TRUST in you that you will take care of our children. I understand its a job and its hard but if you consistantly complain and moan about it GET OUT!!!! Find something else to do . These are our children and you need to Respect that fact. The daycare system has so many flaws, and it starts with posts like these that i have read. Please treat the children that you take care of like they were your own , that would be the best start to a flawed system.


Thank You!
God Bless

I'm sorry for your loss. Might I respectfully suggest that this may not be the best place to hang out right now. Most of us love kids, would never dream of hurting one, and truly value and respect the trust parent place in us. That said, there are many parents out there that are more respectful to the people who cut their hair than help to raise their children. That is a difficult fact, but please know that most of us would never let that affect the care we give to a child.