MN Budget Shutdown....

[laurasophia]

I do!

LOL! LOL! Struck a nerve, didn't I, nannyde?! More self-righteous blah blah blah!! You offered NOTHING of substance in your post.

I DO do free childcare!!!!!!!!!! For young, recovering addict mothers who are doing the right thing and trying to put their lives back together when their baby-daddies are gone/never there/not helping support child, when their own families won't help, when they get turned down for child care assistance by county and state programs (but put on a waiting list with 500+ people on it!) when trying to go back to school/college or work!!!

I repeat: if YOUR financial security hinges on the payments of clients with assistance, you have other issues!!

Ultimately, WHAT MAKES YOU BETTER THAN THOSE FAMILIES THAT NEED/GET CHILDCARE ASSISTANCE?! Go ahead! Keep cashing those checks!! Look down your nose at those families and kids all the way to the bank. But don't waste one more second of your precious time blowing your smoke up my behind lady! I've smelled your flavor of prejudice my entire life: 49 years old, four children, 2 grandchildren, 3 college degrees...Criminal Justice, Psychology, and Social Worker... and ZERO tolerance for holier-than-thou, judgmental BS like you and your comrades on here shovel!

[nannyde]

LOL! LOL! Struck a nerve, didn't I, nannyde?! More self-righteous blah blah blah!! You offered NOTHING of substance in your post.

I DO do free childcare!!!!!!!!!! For young, recovering addict mothers who are doing the right thing and trying to put their lives back together when their baby-daddies are gone/never there/not helping support child, when their own families won't help, when they get turned down for child care assistance by county and state programs (but put on a waiting list with 500+ people on it!) when trying to go back to school/college or work!!!

I repeat: if YOUR financial security hinges on the payments of clients with assistance, you have other issues!!

Ultimately, WHAT MAKES YOU BETTER THAN THOSE FAMILIES THAT NEED/GET CHILDCARE ASSISTANCE?! Go ahead! Keep cashing those checks!! Look down your nose at those families and kids all the way to the bank. But don't waste one more second of your precious time blowing your smoke up my behind lady! I've smelled your flavor of prejudice my entire life: 49 years old, four children, 2 grandchildren, 3 college degrees...Criminal Justice, Psychology, and Social Worker... and ZERO tolerance for holier-than-thou, judgmental BS like you and your comrades on here shovel!

Fair enough: Now YOUR name please and where are you located.

Also your college degrees please. Specifically what they are in and where did you get them?

I gave you my name and where I live. I have a BSN from Grandview College in Des Moines Iowa and I'm a licensed RN in the State of Iowa.

Also, I do NOT take State Assistance. I don't cash checks for them because I don't provide service for them. Quit accusing me of looking down on clients I don't even have.

You said "I repeat: if YOUR financial security hinges on the payments of clients with assistance, you have other issues!!

As I said, I don't have state paid clients but I'm certain those who do have issues. Issues like a house payment, car payment, utility bills, food bills, gas, and food cost.

[Cat Herder]

SHAME ON YOU!! You are obviously biased and prejudiced and resentful!!

Ugh, seriously?? Ok, short story..

I started my childcare after my son died in his daycare. I could not drop my kids off after that, so I had to adapt and find a way to earn a living AND be home with my kids.

My EX walked with our kids in diapers. This is not an easy lifestyle choice.

I have three kids to support. I feed and educate them with income from providing childcare for medically brittle kids.

I don't drink, smoke or do illegal drugs. I don't live beyond my means. I made good life choices for my family and work over 60 hours each week. I have 2 free slots available for families who need it for reasons beyond their own control. The State allowed the extra slots (variance) as long as I receive no pay for them, otherwise I could not afford to. I have given YEARS of free care to these families over time. I also volunteer with a Womens shelter.

I am far from ashamed of my life choices. My parents are proud, as well since I am also helping to care for them.

Why do people keep thinking it is my responsibility to make up for other peoples life choices with my income??? I just don't understand that.

I have no say where my taxes go, but my own income??? Come on, get real.

[nannyde]

Why do people keep thinking it is my responsibility to make up for other peoples life choices with my income??? I just don't understand that.

Because if you do child care you should do it for free. It's our obligation to society to do free.

It should not be about OUR kids and OUR livlihood. In order for it to be honorable it has to be for OTHER people's families. That's what's really important. What we do for OTHERS for free.

Too bad that thought process doesn't get applied to the ones who already get free. Maybe it's time to say to them that they shouldn't be asking for help for their kids they should be doing free for others.

It's NOT about money for us... but it's okay for it to be about money for the ones who get free money.

That makes a load of sense to me.

[Cat Herder]

I hear and understand you, Nan.

I am just really tired of people acting like "laurasophia" when we HAVE to put our own childrens needs above theirs...

Isn't that EXACTLY what they are doing when they try to guilt us into it????????

I should NOT have to ever defend the right to provide food, shelter and an education for my kids, too. I earn a whopping $600 a week after costs, I am not "The Man"...YKWIM???

[Crystal]

Laura,

Let me ask you, why should the provider be the one to give up income, when she is providing a service and paying out of her pocket for supplies/materials/food/etc. rather than the parent? This would put most providers in a financial bind, requiring borrowing of funds, etc.

Why should it be the provider that makes the sacrifice, rather than the parent, when the parent is the person recivieng the service?Why should the provider have to borrow funding to provide free services, rather than the parent borrowing funding to pay for her child care services?

I understand your passion about this. I really do, as I really FEEL for the parents and children that this impacts. But it also impacts providers, probably in a more significant way.....when a provider loses funding from 3 or 4 families due to the cuts, imagine how much MORE that affects her, than when the parent loses funding for her 1 or 2 children.

Also, you may provide FREE child care, but YOU don't do it for free......you do it for a paycheck, correct? You don't lose anything when the parent loses her subsidy, the organization that you work for does, you still get paid. So, your argument there is worthless.

Anyhow, I am a provider who has and would work with my subsidy recieving clients ( I don't currently have any and haven't for some time, but....)when subsidy is in limbo. I have and would compromise with a parent.....with the parent paying HALF of my fees and then we both got reimbursed when the budget passed. BUT, I had a savings account, so I could afford to that, many providers live paycheck to paycheck, just like their DC families do.

[Sugar Magnolia]

Enough!!!!

Laurasophia-you JUST joined here and all of your 4 posts just spew venom. There is NO need for name calling and language like "f'ed up". Go away if you are incapable of contributing to a debate without personal attacks and junior-high "LOL!!LOL!! Struck a nerve" type comments.
I SUPPORT state assistance to the working poor. I accept it at my center. Many others here do not. But we express our opinions with CIVILITY here, not hate-filled, taunting speech. If you don't agree with people who will not care for children without getting paid, laurasophia, than just disagree without accusing GOOD PEOPLE like Nan and Cat of being uncaring providers. Nan and Cat and everyone else insulted by this persons comments: take the high road, and leave the low road to those types who feed on creating tension and drama. To all providers here from MN- my heart aches for you and your children and parents.

[jen]

If I was the client of any of you providers who are going off about YOUR income and YOUR life, I would NEVER return my kids to your care!! Is it me or ? Don't most people expect the people who do childcare to be primarily concerned for children? NOT $$$$$!! These families are already (obviously) needing help BEFORE shutdown or they wouldn't be receiving childcare assistance! And now they will likely have to choose between a job or no job because you providers won't care for their children for the interim? UNBELIEVABLE!!

To the person who said her clients have already received more help than (s)he ever has: SHAME ON YOU!! You are obviously biased and prejudiced and resentful!! I don't believe for one second you don't "look" at those children differently than the other "private-pay" children. And if YOU are being paid....if YOUR name is on that payment for childcare....then I put it to you that YOU are also a beneficiary of the assistance!! If you want to be so high and mighty, refuse to care for children who are recipients of childcare assistance!

With the exception of the ONE individual who stated they would continue to care for the children, I think every single one of you ought to lose your license!! Your priorities are f'd up!! How dare you put needy families out on the street and in a corner when they are already in trouble!! If you rely so closely (financially) on a couple of families' childcare bills for your own financial security, you have other issues other than IF you should continue to care for the children!

How old are you people? How long have you been doing this?! Crikey!! The last shutdown in MN was in 2005 and it lasted two weeks. Big whoop!! You can't carry someone for TWO weeks?! And who is the moron that said "give only basic care?" SICK!! These are innocent children who need to be treated the same as private-pay children. EVERY day of the week!! Not just when you are getting paid!! How can you discriminate?

I don't know how I got to this forum but I am disgusted!! I had to use daycare assistance when I was a young mother (and not receiving child support) WHILE I WAS WORKING AND GOING TO SCHOOL TO BETTER MY AND MY CHILDREN'S LIFE!! It's not bad enough these pathetic politicians have the nerve to let this happen to us (I receive CCAP funds for a child I care for AND my ex is a state employee so NO child support until this is over!! Double whammy for me financially!...should I stop caring for my child now because I am not receiving child support?!?!) but now child care providers are putting children out?! As far as I'm concerned, the people who posted here are just like the politicians. Had we made them stay in a room (with no A/C...since there's no $$ for anything) all 4th of July weekend until they came to an agreement, I'm tellin' ya: they'd have agreed an a budget before Saturday afternoon!! How dare those politicians go on holiday weekend last weekend while SO many people are left twisting in the wind!!!!!

Put your real names out here providers!! Let your clients know how you really feel about them and their assistance status. Bet you won't have to worry about getting paid anymore. I know I'd yank my kids out of your care!! You can fill all your "slots" with private pay children.....let those kids get referred to as "slots"!! UGH!! Ya....you all completely disgusted me this a.m.

I have a question for you: What is the point of your posts?

A) To upset people
B) To share your opinion and hopefully persuade people more to your side of line
c) Share your opinion with no expectation of change

If you simply want to upset people, you have succeeded. If you wanted to share your opinion in hopes of creating positive change, or simply voice your opinion you are failing miserably.

No one listens when you accuse, degrade, belittle and disregard the real concerns of the providers on the board. We all have bills to pay, some of us are single parents, some of us have significant others who have lost their jobs due to the economy and may be teetering on the edge themselves.

Your failure to see the perspective of others or to communicate in a thoughtful and respectful manner is severely limiting your ability to get your message across. I would suggest you take a moment to think about what it is you're trying to accomplish and rethink your method of accomplishing that goal.

[laurasophia]

do the math...

If I was the client of any of you providers who are going off about YOUR income and YOUR life, I would NEVER return my kids to your care!! Is it me or ? Don't most people expect the people who do childcare to be primarily concerned for children? NOT $$$$$!!

No it's not you unfortunately. Many people expect the people who do childcare to be primarily concerned about the children ... not money. The problem is finding providers who think the same way since they have to have money as their primary concern to care for their own children and family.

These families are already (obviously) needing help BEFORE shutdown or they wouldn't be receiving childcare assistance! And now they will likely have to choose between a job or no job because you providers won't care for their children for the interim? UNBELIEVABLE!!

It's the parents respeonsibility to make sure they have a place to take their chld while they work. The parents have accessed a funding that may not be available all the time. They need to manage THAT part of the funding they accessed. It's not just about getting free day care. There are human beings behind the decision of whether or not the taxpayers CAN pay for the free day care. It's a risk they take when they sign on to it. It's good when it's good but not good when it's not so good.

You are somehow making it have to do with the provider and it doesn't have a thing to do with her. She must have guaranteed payment for her services. This is between the parent and the State. Keep the provider out of it. She has a service to offer that costs money. When the client presents without ability to make sure the services are paid for then she isn't able to provide the service.

To the person who said her clients have already received more help than (s)he ever has: SHAME ON YOU!! You are obviously biased and prejudiced and resentful!! I don't believe for one second you don't "look" at those children differently than the other "private-pay" children.

That would be Cathearder.

To Cathearder: When you go back to work on Monday take a good long look at the State paid kids and tell me you don't look at them differently than the private pay kids.

To Laura: Cat just has private pay kids but I'm sure she'll take a look at the state paid kids she doesn't have. She's crazy like that.

And if YOU are being paid....if YOUR name is on that payment for childcare....then I put it to you that YOU are also a beneficiary of the assistance!! If you want to be so high and mighty, refuse to care for children who are recipients of childcare assistance!

So when a person goes to a store and buys food and pays for it in food stamps then the STORE is the beneficiary of that??????????

How dat work? :confused: The beneficiary isn't the person who has a cart full of groceries to put in their cabinet... it's the STORE????????

How old are you people? How long have you been doing this?!

50 and this is my 32nd year of caring for kids. almost 18 in home child care.

Put your real names out here providers!! Let your clients know how you really feel about them and their assistance status. Bet you won't have to worry about getting paid anymore.

Tori Fees I'm from Des Moines Iowa. I own A Nurse's Home Day Care. I don't have state paid clients but if I did I would tell them what you said to tell them. I don't want to work for a state paid client that doesn't GET that it's about the money. As little as our State pays for state paid day care... every single cent of the paltry payment would definitely HAVE to be about THE MONEY. The pay is REDICULOUSLY low.

I know I'd yank my kids out of your care!! You wouldn't have gotten past the first phone call much less given an actual interview. I can smell "it's not about the money" when it's someone ELSE'S money a mile away.


You can fill all your "slots" with private pay children.....let those kids get referred to as "slots"!!

Already do that and yes I refer to their space in my day care as "slots".

If you are so gung ho about people providing child care for love and not money then why don't you open a free day care and start providing it? If you offer free your slots would fill up in a few days. Go for it.

Hmm...50 years old, been doing in-home daycare for 32 years, so....you've been doing it since you were 18?! Start doing daycare that young cuz you had a kid you couldn't pay child care for?! How many PROVIDERS have the grand idea to stay at home with their own kids and become a provider for the income? And WHERE does this experience come from to qualify someone to do in-home daycare? (Just do some paperwork, pass a background check and get some liability ins!!) How does it feel to have blanket judgments made by people who know nothing about you or your situation?

MN CCAP (for my county,licensed for maximum of 10 kids, 2 of which can be infants):

$134.82/wk infant rate * 2 infants = $269.64 PLUS $121.34/wk all other age groups * 8 kids = $970.72 for a total of $1240.36 per WEEK....PLUS food programs, activity fees!!!! $1240.36 * 4.3 weeks per month = a GRAND TOTAL of $5333/month JUST IN CASH!!! (Damn! I went out and got all those college degrees and I could've just stayed home with some fun, little people all day? Maybe I AM the ignorant one here.....)

Ya.....keep judging people who receive assistance as one, big group of go-nowhere, do-nothing bunch of losers who are out to take a free ride on the system. Oh, wait! You don't even take "state paid" clients, do you?! HAHAHAHAHA!!! So....what are you basing your bias on?

You're good for a laugh at least. Can hardly wait to share this dribble with a couple of commissions/committees I am on....but please, be careful....I do NOT want to see any of you fall off your pedestals. It's obviously a long drop...

[Michael]

Hmm...50 years old, been doing in-home daycare for 32 years, so....you've been doing it since you were 18?! Start doing daycare that young cuz you had a kid you couldn't pay child care for?! How many PROVIDERS have the grand idea to stay at home with their own kids and become a provider for the income? And WHERE does this experience come from to qualify someone to do in-home daycare? (Just do some paperwork, pass a background check and get some liability ins!!) How does it feel to have blanket judgments made by people who know nothing about you or your situation?

MN CCAP (for my county,licensed for maximum of 10 kids, 2 of which can be infants):

$134.82/wk infant rate * 2 infants = $269.64 PLUS $121.34/wk all other age groups * 8 kids = $970.72 for a total of $1240.36 per WEEK....PLUS food programs, activity fees!!!! $1240.36 * 4.3 weeks per month = a GRAND TOTAL of $5333/month JUST IN CASH!!! (Damn! I went out and got all those college degrees and I could've just stayed home with some fun, little people all day? Maybe I AM the ignorant one here.....)

Ya.....keep judging people who receive assistance as one, big group of go-nowhere, do-nothing bunch of losers who are out to take a free ride on the system. Oh, wait! You don't even take "state paid" clients, do you?! HAHAHAHAHA!!! So....what are you basing your bias on?

You're good for a laugh at least. Can hardly wait to share this dribble with a couple of commissions/committees I am on....but please, be careful....I do NOT want to see any of you fall off your pedestals. It's obviously a long drop...

I've wondered why you were a registered member but still in moderated mode. I went through all 5 of your posts and now understand. One thing comes to mind; "Live and let live."

[nannyde]

Hmm...50 years old, been doing in-home daycare for 32 years, so....you've been doing it since you were 18?! Start doing daycare that young cuz you had a kid you couldn't pay child care for?! How many PROVIDERS have the grand idea to stay at home with their own kids and become a provider for the income? And WHERE does this experience come from to qualify someone to do in-home daycare? (Just do some paperwork, pass a background check and get some liability ins!!) How does it feel to have blanket judgments made by people who know nothing about you or your situation?

MN CCAP (for my county,licensed for maximum of 10 kids, 2 of which can be infants):

$134.82/wk infant rate * 2 infants = $269.64 PLUS $121.34/wk all other age groups * 8 kids = $970.72 for a total of $1240.36 per WEEK....PLUS food programs, activity fees!!!! $1240.36 * 4.3 weeks per month = a GRAND TOTAL of $5333/month JUST IN CASH!!! (Damn! I went out and got all those college degrees and I could've just stayed home with some fun, little people all day? Maybe I AM the ignorant one here.....)

Ya.....keep judging people who receive assistance as one, big group of go-nowhere, do-nothing bunch of losers who are out to take a free ride on the system. Oh, wait! You don't even take "state paid" clients, do you?! HAHAHAHAHA!!! So....what are you basing your bias on?

You're good for a laugh at least. Can hardly wait to share this dribble with a couple of commissions/committees I am on....but please, be careful....I do NOT want to see any of you fall off your pedestals. It's obviously a long drop...

Yes I started caring for kids at eighteen as a live out part time Nanny for a family in Des Moines that started and owned KGGO radio here in Des Moines. I worked for a family that owns an Amusement park as their live in nanny when I was 19. I will be 51 in a few weeks. I lived with them, cleaned their house, did their laundry, and cared for their then three school aged kids. I also worked as a live in Nanny in my twenties. I didn't become a mother until I was 39 when I adopted my son.

I did all this while I went to Grand View College to become a registered Nurse. My training came from a LOT of years of experience as a Nanny, School Nurse at Moulton Elementary School in Des Moines (1990-93), and a home child care. I taught myself how to care for kids for the most part but getting a nursing education helped very much every step of the way.

Now again.... what is your real name, what are your degrees, where did you get them from, and where are you located in Minnesota???

You asked for mine and I gave them to you. Now how about you back up what you say or are you just making stuff up as you go along?

[Country Kids]

I just wanted to say I don't even make 1/2 of what laurasophia figured up and even if all my children were full time-two aren't-I still wouldn't come close. Why-because of where I live! Childcare is not a money maker in my area but I did it so that I could stay home with my children and raise them. I also enjoying teaching so that is why I incorporated pre-school into my childcare.

Just to let people know what is sad is I have several friends that actually work for our state. The majority all qualify for help from the state. I always thought they would make big bucks but no they don't. I was actually shocked by that. Do any of them take the help-no.

We won't all agree to what is right. At this time do I have any state paid children in my care-no-but I have in the past. The moms that were on it both had very professional jobs but didn't make enough to support their families. One had a husband that walked out on her and the other was a single mom (older). Would I take care of children for free if something happened to our state budget? That is something that my husband and I would have to discuss and figure out. Why-because I did chose this as my profession and I do have to pay bills just like eveyone else. I expect to be paid for my job just like everyone else does when they go to work.

I have been doing this for 15 years so I'm not a spring chicken at it! The hostility though needs to stop. I'm tired of hearing from different threads lately that we are in it for the money. Please tell me why do most people work? Mostly for the money! It is the art of survival!

[sharlan]

This is OT, but.................

I've never seen a more "I'm entitled", hateful person in my life.

Maybe if others ignore her, she will go away.

[Sugar Magnolia]

You're good for a laugh at least. Can hardly wait to share this dribble with a couple of commissions/committees I am on....but please, be careful....I do NOT want to see any of you fall off your pedestals. It's obviously a long drop...

Uhmmm, Michael maybe? Nannyde gave personal info here and I think this person has now gone beyond making insulting comments. The quote above really seems threatening. I know this is a free country and freedom of speech is protected online, but this is cyber-bullying IMO. "Be careful", "long drop". I don't like this. It smells.

[nannyde]

MN CCAP (for my county,licensed for maximum of 10 kids, 2 of which can be infants):

$134.82/wk infant rate * 2 infants = $269.64 PLUS $121.34/wk all other age groups * 8 kids = $970.72 for a total of $1240.36 per WEEK....PLUS food programs, activity fees!!!! $1240.36 * 4.3 weeks per month = a GRAND TOTAL of $5333/month JUST IN CASH!!! (Damn! I went out and got all those college degrees and I could've just stayed home with some fun, little people all day? Maybe I AM the ignorant one here.....)

That's a rediculously low salary for eight kids.

When you go to your commissions and committees to tell them about my dribble will you please tell them Nannyde The Daycarewhisperer said they need to give you guys a substantial raise.