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Monday, November 30, 2009

Daycare terrors...

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I was lucky enough to stay home with my daughter for the first year of her life before having to go back to work. Then came the long and arduous process of finding her a daycare that was close, affordable, and most importantly, appropriately staffed with caring quality individuals. Of course I hated having to leave her in the care of strangers, but since we could not afford to live off of one income any longer, I bit the bullet and shopped around for months, and finally found one. Now, there were many things I did not like about the one we finally chose, but I told myself, and others told me, that I was just being an unreasonable first time parent. So I overlook some offenses, like the fact that everytime I come to pick my daughter up, her face is full of dry snot, even though I provide plenty of baby wipes. Or the fact that she's come home with some other child's diaper on, even though I provide plenty of Pampers Cruisers. When she comes home with a scratch on her cornea, I ask my husband about it, since he picked her up that day. When he inquired about it, the response he got was "I don't know, I think she rubbed her eye with a Cheese puff in her hand and accidentally scratched it." Sometimes when I come to get her, I stand at the door and watch the kids climb on tables or play in the trash can while the teacher is occupied. I mention these things, and I'm brushed off or given excuses or reassured that they will not happen again, even though they do in a month. And the the coup de grace that finally promted me to write this blog: they let my child put rocks in her mouth. Last week she had a whole mouthful when my husband picked her up, and he asked the teacher to keep a watch on the playground for my daughter putting things in her mouth, which she assured him she would do. So he goes to get her today and she has a rock the size of a jawbreaker in her mouth! Am I being completely unreasonable in expecting the teacher to stay on top of this? I mean, I know they can't watch every little thing every child does, but she can choke on a rock! So, opinions please, am I just a Mom-zilla?

Related: toddler mishaps, stay at home mom, mom-zilla, daycare

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Comments 1-4 of 4
  • Charlene Prince Birkeland, Shine staff's Avatar
    Posted by Charlene Prince Birkeland, Shine staff Tue May 19, 2009 9:59pm PDT

    Hi Superlativity,

    You do not sound like Momzilla. In fact, I'd be just as concerned as you. I really believe in trusting our instincts, especially when it comes to our kids. Given the examples you've cited, I'd start looking for another childcare center. They're not paying attention to the kids, and this means they are putting them in danger.

    Also? If you can, talk to other parents and see if they are noticing the same issues. And honestly, I'd considering reporting them to the local agency that monitors childcare services.

    Best of luck!

    cpb

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  • Nini Poo's Avatar
    Posted by Nini Poo Wed May 20, 2009 11:20am PDT

    wow, you're validating my concern about childcare centers. Are you able to leverage family or close friends instead? This place sounds horrible!!!

    You said: "I know they can't watch every little thing every child does, but she can choke on a rock!"

    I say: It's their job to watch every little thing every child does. That's why you are paying them. If they can't watch it all, then they need to beef up their staff.

    Start the search for a new place!!

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  • Superlativity's Avatar
    Posted by Superlativity Thu May 21, 2009 7:28am PDT

    Thanks so much for your input! I am currently looking for another childcare facility, but so far the only one I like is out of our budget, so my husband and I are trying to put together a list of everything that is not a necessity so we can cut some costs. In the meantime, we unfortunately do not know many people since we just moved to the area nine months ago, and all of our family lives ten hours away so that's not an option. I did speak to the director, and she said she would personally go to the playground and remove all the rocks herself, so hopefully the rock issue will no longer be a concern.

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  • BJG61's Avatar
    Posted by BJG61 Fri Jul 17, 2009 7:50pm PDT

    UNBELIEVABLE. This facility should be shut down and you should definately look for a different childcare facility.

    The care I and my wife received for our daughters was exceptional.

    There were day care providers around the children AT ALL TIMES. Not once did our daughters come home with wrong diapers. As they got older a provider would take them to the restroom as needed. NEVER, EVER leaving them alone.

    If anything and I mean anything happened to our daughters a note was given to us at the end of the day indicating how it happened and what they did to help the situation.

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