Providers & Alcohol

[E Daycare]

Man, its almost like some people dont think that providers are actual people. We arent specially molded to come out and only think about kids and coloring and play dough. We dont fold our hands into our laps when the doors close and sing songs while a angels plays the harp.

Im maid of honor in a wedding in a few weeks. One of my jobs is to plan a crazy bachelorette party. Its on a Saturday night, Ill be plenty ready to deal with kids come Monday. Not once did I think "Oh noes I watch other peoples children, I should just stay at home putting out new puzzles all weekend because if I go out and drink I must be some lush".

Now if I do end up going out and becoming a lush for the night and then show up at the dck homes all belligerent THEN maybe there will be a issue. Then again, with some days I have with other peoples children, these dcp could use a dose of lushed up dcp.

My life is not my work. I do it to pass the time and help my kid socialize. Im able to stay home and help with bills. Once my doors close, all the clothes come off, the rain falls from the ceiling and I ooga booga it down.

So on behalf of all the pregos here, I raise a glass and say OOGA BOOGA!

[QualiTcare]

when childcare providers start getting paid more than mcdonald's employee's then MAYBE parents can have a say in if they drink or not!

when i was teaching, i ran into children (with their parents) while i was eating dinner and having a drink and it was no big deal. i wasn't into a "party scene" at that point - but if i was, it shouldn't matter!

to be honest, if parents had known what i have done in my past, they'd probably drop over dead.

[marniewon]

to be honest, if parents had known what i have done in my past, they'd probably drop over dead.

I think many of us can say that!! I know I can.

Since the OP was unregistered, and we haven't heard a word from him/her, I'm thinking this is just a troll. Maybe just trying to stir things up. I hope he/she is having fun with this, especially since we are all pretty much in agreement that what we do on our own time is none of their business!!

[melskids]

remember when we all thought teachers lived at school...


i went to catholic school, and the priest smoked right in front of us (outside, of course). he called it holy smoke. and we all knew it wasnt plain 7up in his flask.

[Unregistered]

Unless...

Unless a provider is getting her drink on during daycare hours and in front of the kids, then I would say that the parents need to mind their own business. Heck, even if the provider drinks a beer or 2 each and every night after all of the kids leave, it's still not the parents business unless it happens while the provider is on the clock.

[DCMomOf3]

We dont fold our hands into our laps when the doors close and sing songs while a angels plays the harp.

What? We don't??

[dEHmom]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

I love this thread!

I fold my hands in my lap after dck's leave!

And I still believe teachers live at the school....don't they?

[Unregistered]

This is hilarious! I'm laughing so hard I peeded in my pants!!!!!!
My dear hubby will have a nice, cold glass of wine poured & sitting on the cupboard for me almost everyday after my last child has left. After a day of screaming, poopy and hyper kids,you deserve a glass of something. It is no one's business what you do after their child has left your home. I can't believe someone really asked this question! What business is it of anyone to tell you how to live your life on your own time,so what if you go out with friends and have a good time and have a few drinks! That is your personal life! Now if the provider was drinking during the day while your child was there, that is another story, but not anyone's concern after they have left. I still can't believe that this was even brought up!

[Unregistered]

I personally don't drink and feel uncomfortable around people who drink. This is due to some bad memories of adults drinking around me as a child and not liking who they turned into when they drank. Anyway a whole nother story but here is two stories of professionals and how it may make you think wow! My husband and I were having an early dinner out one evening (5:00 or so) during the week. We were in the restaurant but could see into the bar part and low and behold there sits the principal of my childs school. OK you say but its after school hours, no problem. Well child was still at childcare and needing picked up, does the childcare release the child to the parent or not-shes been drinking and will be driving. Also she was known to leave work early alot and this makes me think what was she doing when she left early. Most principles don't get to leave early. She is no longer at the school and actually moved out of state.

Second story-daycare provider calls parents and says "I can't work today-I'm not feeling well with this hangover I have." She drank on Sunday and couldn't work on Monday. One of her parents is in the childcare division offices. Clients did leave from this including the childcare division parent. DCP was is well known in our area but not well respected now.

"Remember your behavior in public, it can bring you down quick." We are no different than the Congressman, Pastor, Actor/Actress, etc. that make headlines when they screw up. We may not make the headlines but our name can become well known in our communities if we do something that seems inappropriate.

Also for the providers that may drink with daycare parents after hours at your house, do you allow those parents to also drive with those children after they have been drinking? Do the children see you drinking? Probably wouldn't look good if someone was hurt and then people found out that everyone had been drinking at a childcare providers home. Even after hours might not be good for business.

[cheerfuldom]

We don't drink or have alcohol in the house ever. Thats just our personal conviction. However, it is not the parents rights to dictate what you do over the weekend and off daycare hours UNLESS it is directly affecting the service you provide (such as hangovers Monday morning). I do think there is something to be said in keeping up appearances though. I personally think it is very unprofessional to hang out with DC parents and drink and that sort of thing. As a parent myself, I would have a problem with it although others may not. I wouldn't advise discussing the party you went, your favorite mix and that sort of thing which can lead to parents feeling uncomfortable with what you do in your free time. No they don't have the right to say what you can and can't do but you actions do affect the way a person thinks about you.

[texascare]

I can't believe this questin is up for discussion. Do our daycare parents go out and drink and meet their friends? Do our kids teachers, does my Orthopedic sugeon? Just because we are in the daycare profession does not mean we have to live like a nun! Seriously. This is just even crazy to bring up. I wonder what else we shouldn't be doing?::

[dEHmom]

I wonder what else we shouldn't be doing?::

we shouldn't be swearing EVER
we shouldn't be having S.E.X
we shouldn't get pregnant because then it might raise some questions
we shouldn't pick our noses
we shouldn't wear bikinis

should I keep going?

[MsMe]

Twice in the six years I have done daycare I have seen a DCP while out at a bar. Both times I have been terribley embarassed (and they were as well). I was not out having a wild and crazy time just a few drinks with friends. They made it VERY clear that it did not in anyway change their opinion of me (I was very upset they saw mw drinking) they also both made the comment that they hoped I didn't think poorly of them for leaving their kids while they went out (I don't have kids)

We are all human.....

[Unregistered]

What I find so,so sad is that these children are away from their parents all week, then the parents feel they need a break in the evenings and go out. When do these children ever spend time with the parents. I guess if it was only once or twice a month it wouldn't be to bad but some parents do it every weekend. I feel so bad if I do something outside of the house because even though I'm home for and with my child its not just them. They are having to share my time with everyone else.

[marniewon]

What I find so,so sad is that these children are away from their parents all week, then the parents feel they need a break in the evenings and go out. When do these children ever spend time with the parents. I guess if it was only once or twice a month it wouldn't be to bad but some parents do it every weekend. I feel so bad if I do something outside of the house because even though I'm home for and with my child its not just them. They are having to share my time with everyone else.

When I was a young mom, my dh worked at a bar near our house. Many weekend nights I would meet him after his shift and we'd stay and listen to the band, do karaoke, etc. Every time this happened, my kids were in bed and sleeping long before the sitter came and I left. I don't see how that could, in any way, take time away from them.

In keeping with the theme of this thread, most people who spend time at bars don't go until later in the evening. Children should be in bed by the time most people going to bars would leave.

When I got re-married 9 years ago, during our pre-marital counseling, our pastor told us something that made a lot of sense. (We were combining families, each had 3 children, so it was a little different than two single, childless people coming together). Anyway, he told us to "put God first, each other second, and the family will fall into place". I tried my best to do that, and things were always well with our family when we did. All this to say, parents need "adult/alone" time to keep their marriage strong, and if that means getting a sitter for one night a month (or even one night a week!) then that's what they should do. Who are we to judge what goes on in their homes - we aren't there, we don't know.