MN Budget Shutdown....

[nannyde]

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.

Yeah it was a threat.

It's easy to sit at a keyboard and beat women up with words. We all need more people in our lives telling us to just DO whether we get paid or not because it's for the BABIES.

It gets old but it never goes away.

[Sugar Magnolia]

Yeah it was a threat.

It's easy to sit at a keyboard and beat women up with words. We all need more people in our lives telling us to just DO whether we get paid or not because it's for the BABIES.

It gets old but it never goes away.

Well since you put your personal info out there, I'm sure you'll alert us if this person harasses you by email, phone or via this forum. Yes "it" never goes away, but seriously, can't registered users go away if they make thinly veiled threats like this? Free speech stops when the harassment threshold is reached. As a past victim of cyberbullying and text and email harassment myself, I have a low level of tolerance for this junk.

[littlemissmuffet]

Personally, I cannot and will not provide my services for free, so I would have to let the families go unless they could pay out of their own pocket. This is my business, not a charity - and obviously the majority are in agreement - otherwise childcare would be free for everyone!

I know there are folks out their who genuinely NEED assistance, but in my own personal experiences, all the people I have met and known on assistance abused/are abusing it - and have ruined it for those who actually are in NEED.

The reality is, stereotypes exist for a reason.

[nannyde]

Well since you put your personal info out there, I'm sure you'll alert us if this person harasses you by email, phone or via this forum. Yes "it" never goes away, but seriously, can't registered users go away if they make thinly veiled threats like this? Free speech stops when the harassment threshold is reached. As a past victim of cyberbullying and text and email harassment myself, I have a low level of tolerance for this junk.

Thanks for your concern Shug. You are so nice.

My DHS has a special unit set up just to manage the influx of complaints on Nannyde. Funding has been allocated and is fixed for the Fiscal Year 2011-12.

Won't be long before I have my own worker stationed in my living room to protect the poor babies and make sure I'm not mean to the parents.

[jojosmommy]

Just thought I would update everyone on my particular case even though this thread has been hijacked into something it was never intended to be.

I still have this (non paying) family attending on a very minimal basis. Gma is helping out so kids are at daycare on a very limited basis. I am praying the state will back pay me for the time they are in care as this is the first two weeks I have done care and will not be getting paid due to the shut down.

I have bills to pay and do this for income ( I love kids but really nobody works for free) however b/c I am not getting calls/emails to fill the spaces these kids take up I am taking the approach to offer the care (very limited) and hope the state pays me back. The mother is very thankful and for that I am glad.

Otherwise it has been a very difficult time for myself and other providers in MN b/c we don't know if we will get paid, we don't know when IF they decide to back pay, and b/c so many other state employees have been laid off there really aren't people calling and switching daycares.

I am praying this good deed will turn into something good in the future, and until then I wait on MN to get its act together and settle the budget.

[Kaddidle Care]

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."

One thing comes to my mind after reading her 5 posts:

Weekend Troll

Sorry to the OP. Never trust the Government - do what you have to do. Hopefully they will get their acts together ASAP.

[Unregistered]

graceful she is not....

But I really liked this part:

"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? "

[MARSTELAC]

Food program payments in MN

Has anyone heard if we are going to get paid this month? My business is enrolled in the food program (to help with grocery bills and nutritious menu planning). I count on this money each month as my family lives paycheck to paycheck. Daycare providers do not get paid much in this area so this payment helps to supplement my low income. Plus, that payment helps when my families are on vacation and I have NO income from them. Hoping that our state gets the budget figured out and soon! This shutdown surely is causing problems for employees and recipients of state-funded programs. I am glad I don't have any state-pay families at the present time as I would not be able to pay my bills.

[squareone]

[quote=laurasophia;125798]

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?

A moron I am not. This is what I said:

If you decide to continue care, offer bare-bones, basic care. Have the parents supply EVERYTHING so that you have as little overhead as possible. Suspend your participation in the food program and have the parents provide all meals, drinks and snacks. If you supply diapers and wipes have the parents bring them, etc, etc. Suspend any paid curriculum programs that you use and and use free ones from the internet, make free crafts and have parents donate recycable materials like empty paper towel rolls, cereal boxes, scrap paper,etc for crafts. Suspend paid field trips and just walk to the neighborhood playground, nature walks,etc. Let parents know that you regret having to do this but if you work together, everyone can get through this and regular services will resume when the state budget is resovled.

As Crystal stated, many providers live check to check just like their daycare families do. I am one example of this and even if I wanted to offer free care, I couldn't afford to at this time. Free care still costs a provider money. So, my suggestion above was to have the parent share some of the financial burden that the provider will bear as a result of keeping these clients until the state resolves it's budget issues. This way, the parent can continue to use the provider's services and the provider won't take as large of a financial hit by providing what could potentially end up being free care. Provider's are taking a huge risk because the State has already said that it will not guarantee that providers will be reimbursed for the care they provide during the shutdown. If the state would guarantee payment, then this would be a no-brainer. The last shutdown may have "only" been two weeks but that has no bearing on how long this or any other shut down will last. Plus, two weeks without pay is a HUGE deal to most people who already live check to check.

Discrimination?? That's a stretch. Regardless of where the money comes from, when a provider doesn't get paid it affects ALL of the children in care, as well as the provider's own family. The temporary adjustments that the provider will have to make will affect EVERYONE in care, not just state paid clients. I DID NOT say she should reduce the amount of love, care and affection and that she provides to the children. I DID offer suggestions for less expensive alternatives for food, crafts, and curriculum until the issue is resolved. A business cannot survive without income - period. If you are going to work with parents and dont have a ton of money saved up, the only way to keep afloat with no income is to reduce expenses. This was all I was suggesting. It annoys me that you interpreted that as me suggesting that providers should treat state pay children different than private pay children.

Like many others before me have said, we run a childcare business and not a charity. I chose this line of work because I love taking care of children but this is also how I help support my family. If I don't get paid my bills don't get paid and my family doesn't eat.

I agree with nannyde in that this is really an issue between the State and the parent - NOT between the parent and the provider. Why are you trying to make the providers the bad guys? In what other profession can you reasonably expect a person to continue working if they knew there was a chance they would not get paid? None.

[Blackcat31]

Has anyone heard if we are going to get paid this month? My business is enrolled in the food program (to help with grocery bills and nutritious menu planning). I count on this money each month as my family lives paycheck to paycheck. Daycare providers do not get paid much in this area so this payment helps to supplement my low income. Plus, that payment helps when my families are on vacation and I have NO income from them. Hoping that our state gets the budget figured out and soon! This shutdown surely is causing problems for employees and recipients of state-funded programs. I am glad I don't have any state-pay families at the present time as I would not be able to pay my bills.

My food program check posted today. About a week early. I called the main office to see why and was told that the government sent a big sum of money out in anticipation for the shutdown to cover June reimbursements so they paid it out early to providers. No payment expectations for July however, until government gets its act together....:confused:

[PeanutsGalore]

Just thought I would update everyone on my particular case even though this thread has been hijacked into something it was never intended to be.

I still have this (non paying) family attending on a very minimal basis. Gma is helping out so kids are at daycare on a very limited basis. I am praying the state will back pay me for the time they are in care as this is the first two weeks I have done care and will not be getting paid due to the shut down.

I have bills to pay and do this for income ( I love kids but really nobody works for free) however b/c I am not getting calls/emails to fill the spaces these kids take up I am taking the approach to offer the care (very limited) and hope the state pays me back. The mother is very thankful and for that I am glad.

Otherwise it has been a very difficult time for myself and other providers in MN b/c we don't know if we will get paid, we don't know when IF they decide to back pay, and b/c so many other state employees have been laid off there really aren't people calling and switching daycares.

I am praying this good deed will turn into something good in the future, and until then I wait on MN to get its act together and settle the budget.

Jojo, the best lesson my father taught me in life is that what goes around comes around. You will be blessed for working with this family for as long as you're financially able to.

I'm thinking positive thoughts for all of you--providers AND parents who are being impacted by this. Whatever happens, I hope you all come out on the other side intact.

[Sugar Magnolia]

[QUOTE=squareone;126145

It annoys me that you interpreted that as me suggesting that providers should treat state pay children different than private pay children.
Why are you trying to make the providers the bad guys? [/QUOTE]

I'm so sorry this very rude and insulting "laurasophia" got to you too Squareone. He/she is the type who enjoys hurting others and seeks only to annoy and anger others. I actually feel slightly sorry for people like him/her, as they have likely have no friends and meaningful relationships with others, so they hop behind a computer and lash out for the sake of lashing. I hope he/she finds a better way to channel his/her loneliness and anger. Sad....

[GretasLittleFriends]

Has anyone heard if we are going to get paid this month? My business is enrolled in the food program (to help with grocery bills and nutritious menu planning). I count on this money each month as my family lives paycheck to paycheck. Daycare providers do not get paid much in this area so this payment helps to supplement my low income. Plus, that payment helps when my families are on vacation and I have NO income from them. Hoping that our state gets the budget figured out and soon! This shutdown surely is causing problems for employees and recipients of state-funded programs. I am glad I don't have any state-pay families at the present time as I would not be able to pay my bills.

My food program check posted today. About a week early. I called the main office to see why and was told that the government sent a big sum of money out in anticipation for the shutdown to cover June reimbursements so they paid it out early to providers. No payment expectations for July however, until government gets its act together....:confused:

Mine got posted today as well. I didn't hear anything about no payments for July though. I don't see how Minnesota can do that since it is a federally funded program... Hopefully the powers that be will approve of a budget soon.

[laurasophia]

Unreal!

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?

First and foremost, let me say that I would NEVER threaten ANYBODY, in person or online. But thanks anyway for the twisted interpretation of my posting and MY opinion in this supposedly free country!!!!

Secondly, it is Online Safety 101 to NEVER reveal your identity/personal information!! My request for your name, etc was a fascicious request and NEVER for ONE MINUTE thought you would put it out there. Now if ANYTHING happens to you, I will be suspect No1? Or it will be MY fault??? UNBELIEVABLE!!

Lastly, I'll give y'all one thing: you're all very like-minded. Closed-minded, but like-minded. Who is bullying who (to get off this PUBLIC forum)?! You don't like what I said? How I said it? Look at yourselves in the mirror and do some serious soul-searching on how and why you reacted to me and my opinions/thoughts the way you have. Some of you are THOUSANDS of miles away from MN and have NO idea what is going on with this situation and the impact on lives (like dominoes!)....so it is a little bitter taste in my mouth to read your comments from FL or CA or Timbuktoo or wherever. It is absolutely unnerving to me that people such as (some of) you on here are caring for children with no one to supervise you or monitor your behavior, and I wouldn't be surprised if most parents are unaware of how their providers REALLY think and feel about them and/or their children and/or payment/financial assistance status (btw...that's called discrimination in this country!!).

I stumbled on this "public" forum (which is more like a private support group for like-minded opinions) while checking the website set up for people interested in the status of the MN gov't shutdown because I personally have lost over half my monthly income for the foreseeable future. Thought their might be some good info on the forum. All I really found was rallying support amongst yourselves to deny/justify families already in somewhat of a crisis situation from accessing the daycare they need to maintain what hasn't been turned upside down in their lives: their childcare! I DO appreciate your opinions, as well as your individual situations. However, I completely disagree with some of the "philosophy" offered and, thinking I was still IN the good ol' US of A thought I could post MY opinion without being accused of threatening people!

Fear not. This is my last post. I have SOOOO much more to do with my day and life than sit on a computer, reading and posting to mindless forums that have NO tolerance for the opinions of others or "the other side." And to be accused of "making up stuff as I go along"?!?! I find that very childish. I was tempted to put my personal info out here just for you nannyde, but it's just NOT good practice and I encourage you to delete the personal info of yours that you posted on here. If not for your sake, then mine.

FL, Cali, Timbuktoo: since you seem to care so much, put your problems in perspective and pray for us up here in MN....hopefully food shelves will be allowed to disburse their goods soon, and homeless programs funded by state funds can move forward, and childcare payments will be approved (retro!?!!) so people can continue to go to work/school and HAVE CHILDCARE, and people can get their drivers' licenses and tabs for their cars, and 22,000+ families of state workers can get back to some normalcy and repair the personal damage done by arrogant politicians, and on and on and on!

Thanks again for the refresher in humanity. It has reminded me that great thinkers/philosophers were never part of the mainstream. Ciao!

Moderator: thank you for knowing and abiding by the US Constitution and the First Amendment. It is appreciated and respected.

[mom2many]

I just joined this forum and have to say that I was appalled to read the posts made by laurasophia and was glad to read some of the responses to her ignorant statements and comments!

Here in CA, I had several months last fall where I watched 3 dcks w/o pay until they got the budget passed. I was paid retroactively and received all of my pay for those months and fortunately got those checks right before my house taxes were due, so I could pay those on time w/o penalty! I would have had a tough time continuing care for these families, if I had been told by the State that I may not ever get that $. This business helps me provide an income for my family to live on and I depend on that $ to pay my bills! As much as I LOVE what I do, I cannot afford to do it for free!!!!