Verbiage Needed

[TwinMama]

I have a Mom requesting me to do things all the time. She wanted me to fill out a piece of paper of everything her child was fed. How many ounces, how many poops, etc. Yet she forgot to pay me last week and couldn't remember to fill out her check. Go figure.

Now she's requesting that she be able to at least bring in almond or coconut milk after I told her she couldn't bring in outside food. She feels that the multigrain cheerios that I serve is too processed. She's not opposed to the fresh blueberries and everything else I serve though. Oh, but apparently he won't choose fruits and vegetables now at home after eating the cheerios. 🙄

Anyhow I'm making her either fill out the WECA form and pay me $20 more a week or not let her bring it in at all.

Anyone have any suggestions?? She literally has not had experience with other daycares and doesn't even know how good she has it. Her kid is the only kid in the world. She doesn't realize that I have 7 different scenarios walking through my door every day.

[e.j.]

I have a Mom requesting me to do things all the time. She wanted me to fill out a piece of paper of everything her child was fed. How many ounces, how many poops, etc. Yet she forgot to pay me last week and couldn't remember to fill out her check. Go figure.

Now she's requesting that she be able to at least bring in almond or coconut milk after I told her she couldn't bring in outside food. She feels that the multigrain cheerios that I serve is too processed. She's not opposed to the fresh blueberries and everything else I serve though. 🙄

Anyhow I'm making her either fill out the WECA form and pay me $20 more a week or not let her bring it in at all.

Anyone have any suggestions?? She literally has not had experience with other daycares and doesn't even know how good she has it. Her kid is the only kid in the world. She doesn't realize that I have 7 different scenarios walking through my door every day.

If I didn't care if she stayed or not, I'd just be upfront and explain that unless there is a health concern that makes it necessary, I don't feel I can honor her request given how many kids I care for each day. I'd explain that I provide a daily "My Day" report for each child that lists the food I serve, diaper changes (time of change and whether it was pee or poop) and nap times. I can let her know if her child ate well or not but I just don't have time to measure everything out and list how much he ate in terms of ounces. If I felt like humoring her, I might offer to provide a notebook that we would BOTH fill out each day/night and pass back and forth at drop off and pick up since as his care provider, it would be important for me to know what's going on at home, as well. When I first opened my daycare, I used to use the notebook and found that the parents were always the first ones to tire of it and it didn't take long before they started "forgetting" it at home.

As far as the milk is concerned, if I were still on the food program, I'd explain that almond milk or coconut milk can't be subbed for cow's milk - if that's still the case. (I left the program a few years ago.) I'd explain that I need a note from her doctor before I could serve it in place of cow's milk. If she insisted on me giving it to him, I would also make her provide the milk each day as I don't have the room to store extra cartons of whatever it is she wants me to feed her kid. I've also found that most parents who ask me to serve something like that suddenly realize it's not that important to them once they are the ones who have to provide it.

If she's as picky as she sounds, another option might be to tell her she will need to provide all food/meals from home. That way, she can have full control as to what her child eats and she can do the weighing and measuring herself. Whatever she sends in the morning minus whatever food is returned at the end of the day equals what and how much he ate that day. Takes all the pressure off of you! (I've also found that once offered this option, parents will almost always back down because they don't want to do the extra work, either!)

[Sahm121]

Can you clarify for ounces, ounces for milk/bottles or ounces of food? How old is the dck?

[Blackcat31]

Honestly, she just needs a nanny.
Experienced with other care or not, you might want to explain to her your program and role in simple terms.

You are GROUP care:

Group care means the provider chooses the menu as well as the daily schedule etc for ALL age groups.
Clients (parents) choose a provider/program that best meets their needs.
Neither party employs the other.
Clients follow the rules set by the provider.
Provider pays their own taxes and fees associated with the job

A nanny is employed by the parent and provides a service in the parents home.
Parents supply daily need’s items and household related costs
Parents set daily schedule and guideline and/or rules
The nanny agrees to follow those rules
Parent pays the taxes and fees associated with the job

This mom can “buy” the services you are offering or she can find/buy individualized care
Individual care comes at a higher cost just as all things premium do.

This is not rocket science.

I would not entertain any long/private/repeated or aggressive discussion about this topic with her nor would I allow this patent to continue thinking she can negotiate the policies she agreed to upon enrollment. (I’m assuming she was given the standard tour/program description meeting and then chose to sign a contract)

You do not need to explain why you have certain rules and you are certainly not required to waive or alter them to make a parent happy.

Please just tell this parent you do things X way and she has only two choices; follow the rules or leave.
Save yourself any more stress and/or aggravation over this drama.

Even if you charge a ton, she is not paying you near enough to dictate or ask for any type of special.

Do the math

[Blackcat31]

PS: I love plain Cheerios!
They’re WIC approved and are a very healthy option

[Cat Herder]

Cheerios are awesome and the kids love them.

[TwinMama]

PS: I love plain Cheerios!
They’re WIC approved and are a very healthy option

I offer these too! Still...she's not happy with the pesticides in them. They aren't her zero sugar substitute.

[Cat Herder]

I'd let her go. DCM needs to be served a lot of NO, before this kid gets to school or they will have no friends, be dreaded by teachers and ostracized by their peers, in general.

We all knew that kid.... Now we can help prevent it. Advocate. Humble that PITA mom, now.

[TwinMama]

I'd let her go. DCM needs to be served a lot of NO, before this kid gets to school or they will have no friends, be dreaded by teachers and ostracized by their peers, in general.

We all knew that kid.... Now we can help prevent it. Advocate. Humble that PITA mom, now.

Hahahaha!!!!!!! I LOLd.