Provider's Spouse

[daycare]

wow I think this is not ok. Th husband gave up his personal life between his wifes operating hours when he agreed to have a DC ran from his home.

My husband would never even think about carring any emtpy bottle through my house with children in it. We need to be the example here and that is not setting an example.

My husband also has a man cave in the garage with full bar, but during my business hours it is closed. No drinking allowed.

even if a parent is late, business is still being conducted, NO DRINKING..

Thats like saying you don't mind the principal kicking back with a cold one at his desk as soon as school hours are over??? NO........

[lil angels]

Me and my husband do have some drinks on the weekends but I don't feel that it is ok in front of the kids at least dump it in a cup so that nobody will know the difference so long as it was only one and he wasn't getting drunk in front of the kids or parents.

[greenhouse]

That's hugely inappropriate.

Yes, it is his house, but his wife is running a daycare and there are still children present. To me, it's one of those things that you just accept when you run a daycare out of your home.

ditto this...

[Crystal]

You need to check your state regs. I imagine that it is illegal to have open containers around the children. Period. When the home is opened as a business it is expected to be treated as a (childcare) business. It is not a bar.

I would be livid!!!!!

[cillybean83]

I think he has a right to do anything he wants in his own home, as long as it's not illegal or unethical. However, he could have picked a better place to have his beer, not right out where the dc kids were playing.

I would do as a pp suggested and just talk to your provider and let her know that it made you uncomfortable, and go from there.

isnt drinking in front of daycare children unethical?

It's legal to have a gun in your home...doesn't mean you should have it out cleaning it while parents and kids are around! kwim?

[MommyMuffin]

My husband rarely drinks but if he came home from work and wanted a beer, I'd tell him to drink in garage or bedroom or office.

I do not think it is a big deal. But if he was sitting on the couch in the living room reading the kids a story and drinking a beer... that would not be ok in my book.

I know my DH would not get drunk and he would not let the kids have any but I am running a business and do not want to give an impression of being "trashy."

If I were you I would mention something to provider if it is bothering you that much.

[momofsix]

No alcohol open in the home during daycare hours, ever. Not appropriate at all.

[Unregistered]

unprofessional

Drinking in front of the daycare kids while it's open for business is unprofessional, period. At no point should a daycare condone the use of alcohol, drugs or cigarettes regardless of whether it's in home or center. If he wants to have a beer in a rec room downstairs or in their bedroom where children aren't allowed, then I could see an exception. And actually, I wonder if it's against licensing regs? I can't imagine alcohol consumption by anyone on premises during operating hours is allowed due to safety of children.

[squareone]

I am with the camp that says that this is totally unprofessional and inappropriate. Under no circumstances should anyone be allowed to drink around the daycare kids. He should have been in a completely separate area of the home or waited until the last child was gone. Shame on the DCP and her husband.

[Cat Herder]

For S&G's I checked my rules and regs.....alcohol is not even mentioned.

They do mention tobacco and physical disabilites.

[ammama]

My DH would never have a beer in front of the children, and I would be really angry if he did. I think it is unproffessional, and infringes on the rights of the parents to choose what they want their children exposed to. If he wanted a beer, I would tell him to take it out to his man-cave (garage), or down to the TV room, where the children are never allowed to go. This has never actually come up though, so I don't know if he would even try.

[Unregistered]

I think its unprofessional. But Im not a fan of beer either. You dont know how may beers hes had total! I would talk to her about it. Dont let it fester!
Debbie

[Unregistered]

Nuh uh

No way anyone should have an open alcoholic beverage while children are in care, even if it was a little after hours. It's one thing when it's your own kids--it's a completely different story when it's someone else's. I'd bring it up and see what the provider has to say, and be prepared to look for another daycare.

[Crystal]

I recall a provider from this forum getting a citation when her licensor dropped in for an unnanounced visit and the husband had left an UNOPENED beer outside, where children were not even playing at the time.

I'm pretty sure that licensing would have a HUGE fit if they arrived and actually found a spouse drinking in front of the children. He COULD and probably DID set it down, in which case (not likely of ocurse) a child COULD pick it up and sneak a drink.

[Unregistered]

I'm all for provider's being able to live their lives in their own homes. It's something parents have to realize when they choose home daycare. However, this goes too far. Regardless of how many he's had, whether he set it down or not etc. it is unprofessional. His wife is working in that room, with children. Take the beer elsewhere in the house where the children are not allowed.

This is one reason why certain areas of my house are completely off limits to dayhome children AND their parents. Not so people can drink, per se... but so we have somewhere we can live our lives without affecting the children I am paid to look after. Doors are kept closed, or a gate blocks the access to those areas.

OP, if you haven't done so already you need to speak to your provider.