What Do Parents NOT Know About You..

[thecrazyisout]

I am wondering what you think parents should know about you, but don't. Or those things you do for their children that they would never realize you do constantly for their child...

Mine is....I can't use all of the money they give me to invest fully into my business,I have a family to support. I had one family interviewing that said that if they used me they would expect their first month of tuition to go towards more outdoor play items....UMMMM I never invited them back for a second interview.

[thecrazyisout]

Also, I don't mean this to be a thread to complain...I really want it to be constructive and thoughtful if you could! I think you all have some of the best input, but some outside readers my think we are "crabby" and start posting that we are terrible providers blah blah blah...

gthanks

[juliebug]

lol at the more outdoor toys.

that when dcg goes to kinder i think i will cry more she is just so much apart of my family i'm not ready not to see her m-f everyday!

[Michelle]

that I give them baths and wash their clothes sometimes because I can't stand dirty stinky kids in my house. Not all the kids just some of them through the years.

[sharlan]

I can't think of anything. I try to be pretty open with my parents.

I am posting unregistered cause Im pretty sure I will hear all kinds of things about this!!

I am a closet smoker. My husband smokes too.

I DO NOT smoke when my DCK'S are here. I chew Nicorette gum. When I do light up it is outside, in my backyard so no one see's me and I dispose of my butts properly.

I also like to drink some wine on friday nights after all of the kids go home, to relax after a long week.

There I said it!

[Cat Herder]

Unfortunately not much.

Most know 4 generations of my family.

The only way I can keep a secret is by leaving the State.

[sharlan]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I am posting unregistered cause Im pretty sure I will hear all kinds of things about this!!

I am a closet smoker. My husband smokes too.

I DO NOT smoke when my DCK'S are here. I chew Nicorette gum. When I do light up it is outside, in my backyard so no one see's me and I dispose of my butts properly.

I also like to drink some wine on friday nights after all of the kids go home, to relax after a long week.

There I said it!

While I don't smoke or drink, what you do in your own home when the children aren't present, is no one else's business. I am sure that the parents can smell the cigarette smoke, though. I can smell it on my sister.

[DBug]

My dc parents start out not knowing which kids are actually mine -- the dc kids all call me "mommy", more so than my own kids . It took one dcd about a year to figure it out (I guess he didn't want to ask!). I tell them the ages of my kids during the interview, but I think alot of parents are pretty focused and they tend not to be thinking about the fact that I may actually have my own family . And most of them don't know my boys' (SA) or my husband's name.

But on an ongoing basis ... most of them don't know how I spend my weekends, and none of them know how good I am at faking a smile & a not-completely-exhausted-out-of-my-brain mood at pick-up time (my family sees through the clever acting on my part though ).

Most parents also probably don't know how much I appreciate the fact that they pay on time, and don't complain about full-rate stat holidays and absent days -- even though there are lots of lower priced daycares in town that don't charge for those things. They also probably don't know how much I appreciated the fact that all of them (okay, except for one) seemed genuinely concerned for my health and well-being when I took a sick day once, 2 years ago. I still remember how completely okay they all were with it when I had to call them all at 6 am to tell them I'd be closed.

Really, there's lots about me that the parents don't know, and that's okay because I'd rather my life not be an open book to them. I prefer to keep it all business (or at least, as much as possible!).

Originally Posted by sharlan

While I don't smoke or drink, what you do in your own home when the children aren't present, is no one else's business. I am sure that the parents can smell the cigarette smoke, though. I can smell it on my sister.

Actually in CA you can't smoke in your home even when the DCK's aren't there. Second hand smoke gets into everything and stays there for a very long time. But it sounds like the closet smokers does so outside which is fine. And they can definitely smell it on your clothes...I can smell it on my husband after taking just a few puffs off a friend's cig and that's after a few hours, there's just no hiding smoking cigarettes.

[rjskids]

Even though I mop my floors every morning I still can't seem to stay on top of the constant traffic thru my house...so my parents don't know that I take their children's socks off during the day cause I am so embarrassed if their socks are dirty at the end of the day!

They also don't know and will NEVER know how silly I can get when we play music! I love to dance and do things to make the kids laugh...the parents will never see that My husband doesn't even see it cause that side of me ONLY comes out when he's gone. My daughter and I have had lots of crazy dancing nights together

[sahm1225]

That although we do dance class/music time every day, I have absolutely no rhythm and hope the kids don't try and imitate what I teach them LOL!

That the reason I do daily sheets it's more for me - I have a bad memory and if I didn't write it down, I would never remember who ate what and who pooped!

That sometimes i sit down and start to color in the coloring books, because it just looks like fun... and then the kids will follow

That I'm a pretty good cook, but I couldn't fry an egg to save my life!

That if I won the lottery today, I would keep the daycare open, AFTER taking a month off vacation to take all the daycare kids on a special jet to disney world.

That I LOVE my DCPs. I have been truly blessed and the not-so-lovable ones have been weeded out. That I appreciate that I rarely have to ask for payment and that they don't blink an eye when I announce that I will be closed 2 weeks a year for vacation and act geniunely excited when I tell them what we have planned.

[sahm1225]

Oh, and that I am always hot.. so in the winter months, my house gets a high of 70 degrees at the most. The kids are all used to it and don't mind it at all, in fact when I raise it to OVER 70, they all start to get sweaty

[wdmmom]

Although I live in a expensive home and drive an expensive car, I'm still a cheap-o!

I save money anywhere and everywhere I can. I shop at Walmart, Aldi and Sam's for groceries. We butcher our own hogs once a year, I buy beef from a farmer because it's way cheaper than buying it in a store, I buy in bulk often, I don't buy name brand clothes, I don't shop at the mall. The items that are "new" to the daycare are seldomly new. I'm an insomniac, I'm OCD and I enjoy socially drinking during the weekends.

[Blackcat31]

I live in a town that I was born and raised in so I know waaaaay more about my daycare families than I care to know but most of them have no idea what I know.

I am one of those 'hear all but NEVER repeat anything' kind of gals so....

I knew a couple who came to my childcare many years back and I knew the mother was having an affair (she didn't have a clue that I knew) and I never let on that I knew anything. About 3 years later, she ended up leaving the husband and I knew that was coming too, but when things aren't my business.....I stay out of it.

Most times, I'd give anything to know nothing.

Originally Posted by sharlan

While I don't smoke or drink, what you do in your own home when the children aren't present, is no one else's business. I am sure that the parents can smell the cigarette smoke, though. I can smell it on my sister.

I get up early enough so i can have a smoke with my coffee, then I have a shower and for the rest of the day I chew my gum.
If they can smell it on me, no one has said anything.

[sharlan]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Actually in CA you can't smoke in your home even when the DCK's aren't there. Second hand smoke gets into everything and stays there for a very long time. But it sounds like the closet smokers does so outside which is fine. And they can definitely smell it on your clothes...I can smell it on my husband after taking just a few puffs off a friend's cig and that's after a few hours, there's just no hiding smoking cigarettes.

CA regs..............
(1) Health and Safety Code Section 1596.795(a) states:
The smoking of tobacco in a private residence that is licensed as a family child care home shall
be prohibited during the hours of operation as a family day care home and in those areas of the
family day care home where children are present. Nothing in this section shall prohibit a city or
county from enacting or enforcing an ordinance relating to smoking in a family day care home if
the ordinance is more stringent than this section.

[Meyou]

Most don't know I have a full back piece tattoo.

All don't know just how much their kids change the second they get here. My little well behaved crew are all horrid at home.

Most of them don't realize that by coincedence most of my DCK's look enough like me that they are always mistaken for mine. People are stunned when I tell them only one of the redheads belongs to me. It happens almost daily at the beach. lol

[MarinaVanessa]

Originally Posted by sharlan

CA regs..............
(1) Health and Safety Code Section 1596.795(a) states:
The smoking of tobacco in a private residence that is licensed as a family child care home shall
be prohibited during the hours of operation as a family day care home and in those areas of the
family day care home where children are present. Nothing in this section shall prohibit a city or
county from enacting or enforcing an ordinance relating to smoking in a family day care home if
the ordinance is more stringent than this section.

Thanks Sharlan. I was just about to post this but you saved me the trouble of having to find it

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I am posting unregistered cause Im pretty sure I will hear all kinds of things about this!!

I am a closet smoker. My husband smokes too.

I DO NOT smoke when my DCK'S are here. I chew Nicorette gum. When I do light up it is outside, in my backyard so no one see's me and I dispose of my butts properly.

I also like to drink some wine on friday nights after all of the kids go home, to relax after a long week.

There I said it!

Maybe it's just me, but I am so sick and tired of everyone policing everyone else's PERSONAL lives. What you do ALL DAY LONG is regulated by the state (well, it is for me as a licensed provider). Even a lot of what my own kids and husband can and can't do is "regulated" when dck are here. I, for darn sure, don't think it's anyone's business what you do or don't do on your PERSONAL time, as long as it's not illegal.

I don't remember signing a contract with ANYONE saying I was Mary Poppins, Mother Teresa, etc. We are all people with real lives, flaws, habits, etc. I even said the "F" word last night when I was out at the bar drinking a beer with friends....that's right ladies....on a Thursday night!!....Bring it!! I'm wearing my flame~proof pants

So if you want to have a cig with your morning coffee before dck get there and then pop a bottle and smoke some more after they are gone....more power to you sista! This job is HARD and you do what you gotta do to make YOU happy in your down time.

For those of you that don't agree with smoking, I'm fairly sure someone, somewhere could find something that YOU do that is unheathy. We all know it's not the healthiest thing to do, but then again neither is eating a whole package of cookies and chasing it with a diet coke, so.....

For the record, I don't smoke.

Sorry for the thread hijack.

[wdmmom]

Originally Posted by unregistered

maybe it's just me, but i am so sick and tired of everyone policing everyone else's personal lives. What you do all day long is regulated by the state (well, it is for me as a licensed provider). Even a lot of what my own kids and husband can and can't do is "regulated" when dck are here. I, for darn sure, don't think it's anyone's business what you do or don't do on your personal time, as long as it's not illegal.

I don't remember signing a contract with anyone saying i was mary poppins, mother teresa, etc. We are all people with real lives, flaws, habits, etc. I even said the "f" word last night when i was out at the bar drinking a beer with friends....that's right ladies....on a thursday night!!....bring it!! I'm wearing my flame~proof pants

so if you want to have a cig with your morning coffee before dck get there and then pop a bottle and smoke some more after they are gone....more power to you sista! This job is hard and you do what you gotta do to make you happy in your down time.

For those of you that don't agree with smoking, i'm fairly sure someone, somewhere could find something that you do that is unheathy. We all know it's not the healthiest thing to do, but then again neither is eating a whole package of cookies and chasing it with a diet coke, so.....

For the record, i don't smoke.

Sorry for the thread hijack.

amen sista! Well said!!!

[2ndFamilyDC]

Originally Posted by thecrazyisout

I am wondering what you think parents should know about you, but don't. Or those things you do for their children that they would never realize you do constantly for their child...

Mine is....I can't use all of the money they give me to invest fully into my business,I have a family to support. I had one family interviewing that said that if they used me they would expect their first month of tuition to go towards more outdoor play items....UMMMM I never invited them back for a second interview.

Don't you love that some familes think that the money you give them is your play money or that it can all go right back into your business. We all have bills to pay; but sometimes they forget that or it never really crossed their mind.

I think my DCF all know way to much about me.

I look forward to my weekends and am usually very busy and active on the weekends with my family. I think some do know this.

How hard I work for my $

I genuinely care about their child. Their kiddo's become a part of "our family" when they are here at care.

[Mom_of_two]

LOL- if our paycheck's all went into our business, we would all be doing this Purely because we love it. If our paychecks all went into the biz, that would mean I wouldn't need the paycheck for anything other than the biz. LOL! I like my job but if I didn't need to bring in income I wouldn't work! funny.

I agree with pp's, what we do on our time is our business. And like with any job if a family 'knows something' about us but is uncomfortable, they can look elsewhere!

I am pretty open, too.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Maybe it's just me, but I am so sick and tired of everyone policing everyone else's PERSONAL lives. What you do ALL DAY LONG is regulated by the state (well, it is for me as a licensed provider). Even a lot of what my own kids and husband can and can't do is "regulated" when dck are here. I, for darn sure, don't think it's anyone's business what you do or don't do on your PERSONAL time, as long as it's not illegal.

I don't remember signing a contract with ANYONE saying I was Mary Poppins, Mother Teresa, etc. We are all people with real lives, flaws, habits, etc. I even said the "F" word last night when I was out at the bar drinking a beer with friends....that's right ladies....on a Thursday night!!....Bring it!! I'm wearing my flame~proof pants

So if you want to have a cig with your morning coffee before dck get there and then pop a bottle and smoke some more after they are gone....more power to you sista! This job is HARD and you do what you gotta do to make YOU happy in your down time.

For those of you that don't agree with smoking, I'm fairly sure someone, somewhere could find something that YOU do that is unheathy. We all know it's not the healthiest thing to do, but then again neither is eating a whole package of cookies and chasing it with a diet coke, so.....

For the record, I don't smoke.

Sorry for the thread hijack.

LOL!!!
Im the smoking babysitter and I have to agree with you! I also swear like a trucker, but when the DCK's are here it just comes naturally to me to curb my tounge.

I also wear Iron Maiden and Metallica t-shirts on weekends, I have 17 piercings, 16 in my ears (small gold sleepers) and 1 in my nose that is removed when I have to "babysit"!

[Childminder]

That my DH was my brother-in-law for 25 years.

[momofsix]

My parents don't know that sometimes as soon as their kids get out the door I run to my dark room and try to get rid of a migraine I hate them but can usually finish out the day without anyone knowing I have one.
They don't know that some days I have an ice pack and a heating pad alternating on my back for most of the day (bad back arthritis and something else yet to be determined)
Wow, I sound like I'm getting so old! (
I guess I don't like people to think I'm a wimp
They don't know that my kids have learned a lot about both what TO do and what to NEVER do when they become parents based on what they see dcp's do
They have no idea sometimes the things I teach their kiddos. I've worked on things with kids and weeks later their parents come and tell me they taught little Suzie how to do that same thing I just let them take all the credit
They don't know that even though I love their kids, daycare is my JOB. I am ready for the end of the day when it comes! I truly believe that they think I would keep their precious children 24/7 if I could, juist because they're so cute and loveable! (they are, but still)
They don't know, because I fail to tell them enough, how thankful I am that they've entrusted me with their children

[Squirrel]

...that I'm pagan.
...that I'm not able to have children with my husband.
...that I never watch/read the news.
...all the plans of redoing the yard and house to meet our needs better.
...that I'm terrified of stray dogs especially when they bark.
...many many other things.

[MommyMuffin]

My daycare parents probably dont know that:
~ I am really struggling to make ends meet
~ I get really down sometimes because the kids dont seem attached to me (I must be one of the few providers who doesnt get hugs, I have to ask for them).
~ I am embarassed by my carpet but cant afford to get new stuff
~ the reason my basement is no longer being worked on for the daycare is because I ran out of money not because my husband is working so much he hasnt had time to do it.

[wdmmom]

Originally Posted by Childminder

That my DH was my brother-in-law for 25 years.

So you married your sisters ex husband or you married your ex husband's brother...which is it?!

[flightlessbird11]

~that I am a major insomniac. Most nights I may squeeze in 4 1/2-5 hrs. of sleep....maybe.

~that some days, I have a beer, or hard ale popped open immedately after their kids leave!GASP!

~that I used to work outside the home as a cosmetologist in a salon(12 years)

~THAT I HAVE A LIFE OUTSIDE OF DAYCARE, AND REALLY ENJOY MY TIME!!!
(this is a big one!) Sometimes I feel like they forget that I have 4 kids of my own, and that I close when I do, for a reason.

[MG&Lsmom]

My parents don't know:
~ how old I am. I have quite a numbers of years over them, but I look like I'm 20. I often get mistaken for the babysitter of my own kids.
~ that my husband works 4 jobs throughout the year to make ends meet.
~ that having 2 special needs children is exhausting.
~ that I'm lucky if I sleep 5 hours total a night due to my son's special needs.
~ that I plan to take a sick day in December to get a huge tattoo on my back!
~ that until my mid 20s I was a size 2, a competitive spring board diver and spent hours upon hours training.
~ that if our house is ever worth what we owe, we will sell our house and move across the state in a heartbeat.

[Childminder]

So you married your sisters ex husband or you married your ex husband's brother...which is it?!

ex husband's brother

That within half an hour of the kids leaving on friday my house turns into a party house! I get smashed every friday night and guess what...I smoke cigarettes too! lol (Not in the house tho)

[jojosmommy]

That it really annoys me when they come even 3 minutes early.
That I wash, dry, and put back on my entire families sheets every week- on "their" daycare time.
That I am obsessively anal about bill pay, tax pay and anything money related- not b/c there isnt enough of it but just b/c I like to control/manage it well.
That my son is my favorite both in and out of daycare and I make hourly exceptions/special things for him

[Kaddidle Care]

Originally Posted by rjskids

They also don't know and will NEVER know how silly I can get when we play music! I love to dance and do things to make the kids laugh...the parents will never see that My husband doesn't even see it cause that side of me ONLY comes out when he's gone. My daughter and I have had lots of crazy dancing nights together

I can relate - Parents never get to see my crazy goofy side. That's reserved for Music/Song time and the kids only! (They do probably wonder where "Head, Shoulder, Knees and Ouch!, Knees and Ouch!" comes from!) Not as flexible as I used to be.

I am not at all religious
I don't believe in God
I used to be an alcoholic

[laundrymom]

That I plan my menus and activities to the kids likes and interests. That I HATE character items. I could care less that Billy watches cars every afternoon, but I refuse to buy all the toys associated with the movie. That I think a big sheet of paper, some chalk crayons and markers are better than an IMAX trip. I think sometimes ice-cream for dinner is ok. That too many parents label their kids with things like ADD& OCD, & ADHD when no Dr has examined them simply because they don't want to be responsible for their I'll mannered non behaving child. I think the parents would be shocked to watch me parent my own children. I do not have a partnership with my kids. They know what's expected and do it. There is no bargaining with rules.

I think they would be surprised to see themselves from my point of view. Buying your child candy every night on the way home then being upset with me because they don't sleep until 10 pm is not a valid complaint.

That I believe 1/3 of the things they tell me. That I KNOW where the kids learned to correctly use swear words.

That I immediately replace them when they give notice. That when they leave, I don't spend days mopey after them. That I love them but move on when they go.

That I sometimes hide from them in stores.

[Blackcat31]

Originally Posted by laundrymom

That I plan my menus and activities to the kids likes and interests. That I HATE character items. I could care less that Billy watches cars every afternoon, but I refuse to buy all the toys associated with the movie. That I think a big sheet of paper, some chalk crayons and markers are better than an IMAX trip. I think sometimes ice-cream for dinner is ok. That too many parents label their kids with things like ADD& OCD, & ADHD when no Dr has examined them simply because they don't want to be responsible for their I'll mannered non behaving child. I think the parents would be shocked to watch me parent my own children. I do not have a partnership with my kids. They know what's expected and do it. There is no bargaining with rules.

I think they would be surprised to see themselves from my point of view. Buying your child candy every night on the way home then being upset with me because they don't sleep until 10 pm is not a valid complaint.

That I believe 1/3 of the things they tell me. That I KNOW where the kids learned to correctly use swear words.

That I immediately replace them when they give notice. That when they leave, I don't spend days mopey after them. That I love them but move on when they go.

That I sometimes hide from them in stores.

I love you laundrymom! that is all.

[laundrymom]

Originally Posted by Blackcat31

I love you laundrymom! that is all.

I'm glad because my son sure doesn't! Lol how dare I require him to put away the air compressor, welder, jacks, tools AND put his clothes IN THE LAUNDRY after he pretreats the stains????

I didn't spend the morning installing a system in his friends neon. Lol

[Michelle]

[quote=laundrymom;134950]That I plan my menus and activities to the kids likes and interests. That I HATE character items. I could care less that Billy watches cars every afternoon, but I refuse to buy all the toys associated with the movie. That I think a big sheet of paper, some chalk crayons and markers are better than an IMAX trip. I think sometimes ice-cream for dinner is ok. That too many parents label their kids with things like ADD& OCD, & ADHD when no Dr has examined them simply because they don't want to be responsible for their I'll mannered non behaving child. I think the parents would be shocked to watch me parent my own children. I do not have a partnership with my kids. They know what's expected and do it. There is no bargaining with rules.

I think they would be surprised to see themselves from my point of view. Buying your child candy every night on the way home then being upset with me because they don't sleep until 10 pm is not a valid complaint.

I love that!!!!
I hide from them in stores too, I don't want to start any dialog of conversation on my time..since I don't get that much!!
Totally agree with you about the child labeling too!!!
My daughter is so well behaved and it's from very hard work and years of experience. I don't take the easy way out.
Good parenting = good well behaved children!

[godiva83]

That I clock what time they drive past my house after their work day, and cringe knowing they are home when DCB is here all day

That I love these kids as if they are my own

That I am going thru some major medical issues ( not contagious ) but it has made it hard for me to find the strength and energy to continue- but each and everyday I do )

[Zoe]

You wouldn't know it to look at me...a typical Scandinavian blonde woman

-That I have a tattoo on my shoulder
-That I love going out for drinks with friends, and yes, get drunk sometimes
-That I watch shows like True Blood and Weeds during nap time (quietly...)
-That while I love the children, I have a low tolerance for "space cases"
-That my family is still barely making ends meet and I stress about it every day that I don't get a call for more kiddos.


That's all I can think of right now

[MsMe]

-I don't believe in God
-I HAVE to sit and have a cup of coffee before we do ANYTHING in the morning.
-while the tears i cried when I had to shut down for the first time ever (2days for surgery) were real I did not miss daycare at all while I was recovering for a week (daycare open)
-I do not keep a waiting list. I write down the name and numbers on a piece of scratch paper that gets thrown away when I clean off my desk every so often.

[cheeseheadmama]

They don't know that:
- I don't appreciate it when they brag about their new mega-screen TV, then short my check by $10
- I don't agree with the way they parent their children.
- the latest rate increase & contract revision is entirely because of the fact that they promised me I would have their kids full time this summer, then took 4 WEEKS of unpaid vacation, some with as little as 6 hours notice.
- when their children are here they behave MUCH better than at their own home.
- taking care of their children as ruined any chance their mom & I had of continuing the friendship we had previously.

[Meyou]

Originally Posted by Zoe

-That I watch shows like True Blood and Weeds during nap time (quietly...)

I do that too and it feels so bad!! I'm in a separate room with one earphone in for sound but I still feel like it should be late at night when I watch my bad shows. Californication is another one I hide for. lol

[Zoe]

Originally Posted by Meyou

I do that too and it feels so bad!! I'm in a separate room with one earphone in for sound but I still feel like it should be late at night when I watch my bad shows. Californication is another one I hide for. lol

I have my hand close to the remote in case my DD5 comes out of her room, more because I wouldn't want her to be scared. Not necessarily the language. I figure nap time is MY time and as long as they're supervised properly I have the right for some "bad" TV as my husband calls it.

[Ariana]

-That I let your DD sleep longer than an hour because I know she needs it.
-I wash her clothes when needed and brush her hair every day so she learns that someone cares about her
-I DON'T GIVE A RATS BEHIND ABOUT YOUR WORK DAY!! When you're droning on and on about your "work day" I'm totally zoned out and thinking about what I'm going to do that night. I'm here to give support to your kids, not to be a sounding board for you. We're not friends!!

[sharlan]

I hate Monday mornings or Tues after a 3 day weekend.

As much as I hate Mondays, I LOVE Friday afternoons.

I also do the bathing, nail clipping, washing of clothes without telling parents.

[kendallina]

That I read a lot of professional development magazines and books and truly truly LOVE working with children (well, they probably all know that part).

That I need a LARGE cup of coffee before their kids come to me in the morning.

That I have to speed clean in the morning before they get here, because I never clean after my own DD goes to bed at night...hehe

That I take the children's suggestions to heart-one day I asked the group what they wanted to do for 'kids choice week' and one girl suggested playing dress up, so I went right out to the thrift store and bought a bunch of dress up clothes.

That doing preschool with my own daughter enrolled in my class is probably the hardest part of the whole thing.

That on the weeks I don't update the blog are usually the BEST weeks curriculum-wise, but those weeks also take a lot of planning time, so I don't always get the updating done. They probably think that those are the weeks that we don't do much.

[E Daycare]

They don't know that when the day is over that's it for me. I close shop, dust my hands and don't think about them till they step in my door the next time. To me it's a business. I don't care what they do on the weekend, where they are going later, what their lives are outside my home. Drop the kid off with money and what I'll need for them and go.

They don't know my religious background or lack there of. To me it's irrelevant to child care. Don't tell me yours as you won't care about mine either.

Also, like most women, I'm good at faking it. It takes 5 seconds to smile and be on my day. I'm jolly old saint Nicholas for all they know.

[AfterSchoolMom]

...that I live in a fairly large, nice house in a nice neighborhood, but really, honestly can't afford for them to "just catch up with me on Monday". If they don't pay, we don't eat.

...that I only tolerate their SA children because it's what works best with my own kids' schedules. My own children come first in everything I do. If I didn't have them to worry about, I'd MUCH prefer to care for infants.