Originally Posted by Jo123ABC:
I am trying to get the things that really drive me crazy under control and most of this has to do with parents. I've been doing daycare for just over a year and like it but lately I feel taken advantage of and disrespected. I seriously think that parents think of me as their kid's/their butler. I want to avoid tension with parents but am making myself irritable in the process.
I have a parent that got off work early yesterday and hung out for 35 minutes during snack. It's so hard for me to say "please leave". I feel like parents should not be touching or messing with other people's kids but she got right down with 3 babies and let them hang all over her. This same parent occasionally shows up late... After close and wants to discuss everything about her 16 mo. Olld. Keeping her from leaving my home for an additional 15-20 min. She also hints at me giving her son different foods than the other kids... And spoon feeding him. "I think he'd eat more if his food was pured and fed to him." Well, no. Because he needs to learn how to feed himself. This mom also brings her kid when he's sick. A few weeks ago she brought him saying his diarrhea was from teething and milk intolerance. I stupidly went with it not knowing how bad it was. Then he had two blowouts so I told her. She showed up at my house with Pedialyte, Gatorade, and other "sick" stuff telling me to put him on a clear liquid diet. I told her he needed to go home and she tried to argue it! No. Just no. This one also argued with me on Monday because she didn't believe he really needed more diapers. Why would I lie about him needing more diapers!
Next, I have a parent who wants her 11 mo. Old to not get a 3rd breast milk feeding per day because she pumps 2xsper day and only wants to do it once. BUT she doesn't want to do formula. What the heck do you want me to feed her then? Grrr. I'm on the food program so I told her what they require so hopefully that helps. So the food program says 2-4 oz. Bm for snack. She chose to do 2 oz. At snack which is at 3:15pm and then was 20 min late at pickup so 11 mo. Old was screaming angry for milk... Again late pickup really irritated me and no one bothered to tell me they were going to be late.
I have 5 families and only 1 has never paid late or picked up late/dropped off early.
I have one parent that has texted me telling me to have their kid ready (coat and shoes on) because they were in a hurry. (They were picking up early) Ugh, no I'm changing diapers and WORKING. I'm not your personal attendant. They also brought his Halloween costume on Halloween and told me to send them pics of him when I dress him in it. None of the other kids brought costumes so I wasn't going to put 1 kid in it and make them all cry for theirs! This one is 5 and super babied at home.
Moral of the story parents drive me crazy.
Oh boy you have your hands full. For the first issue, I would have the kids involved in something that she cannot be a part of or have them in their highchairs so she can't be hanging on them or them on her. Then say, "sorry dcm, I"m right in the middle of (insert whatever", I'll see ya tomorrow! I would flat out tell her that I'm not pureeing his food. I would not be shy about that. I mean, unless he has zero teeth lol. Is he your last one to go home at the end of the day? Have your coat and shoes on and tell her, sorry I have errands, gotta go! Do it a couple of times and she'll get the hint. Or send out a mass email, text etc and say, don't mean to be rude, but I have to cut conversations short at pickup time as I have quite a bit to get done. That way you're not just targeting her if you don't want to.
The second situation. Let me get this straight, she wants you to only feed 4 ounces of breast milk the entire day for an 11 month old? No cereal, fruits, veges? Over 5 months here, we're required to serve those things in addition to breast milk. Why is she only feeding breastmilk?
Lastly, the one that wants you to get child ready quickly. I'm assuming it's a text. If you are too busy, then when they come, just say Oh I'm sorry I was doing this or that, I didn't see your text. I do have one mom that does that occassionally. I know that she's barely able to get out of work to get dcb to swim class, so if I'm able, I have him ready and waiting. She always thanks me, so if I can, I do it. But if you're too busy, then just tell them you are just too dang busy. They'll get over it.