PJs

[GirlMomma]

Does anyone have a policy on DCK coming dressed and ready for the day? Is this something I have to have in place now…?

I have a DCM in the hospital so grandma is taking care of DCK. Yesterday, grandma arrived in the middle of nap time and woke up every child but the grandchild she was picking up. 🤦🏻♀️ She told me she would likely keep DCK home for a couple of days so she could be available to mom.

I get a text message from her early this morning saying DCK would be coming today and asked what time normal drop off is and if DCK comes dressed or in PJs. I told her drop off time and yes, DCK comes dresses and ready to go. Then she asked me if she could bring DCK in PJs because she’s out of practice and has DCK’s clothes with her. I said ok, not agreeing that I’d get the child dressed.

1) I am obviously annoyed because I wasn’t expecting DCK.
2) I don’t feel as though I should be held responsible for getting kids ready in the morning, regardless of the circumstances.
3) This family and this DCK is my biggest PITA family.


I want to get a handle on this because DCM is going to be on maternity leave around December and I would assume that this grandma is taking care of the kids while DCM is taking care of the baby. I don’t want bad habits started and I feel like this grandma is already trying to run my program.

*DCM is doing okay and was in the hospital to monitor something minor from my understanding

[GirlMomma]

Update: DCK came with a FULL diaper and a half eaten pop tart, screaming bloody murder.

[Cat Herder]

You could be proactive and let Gma know that there will be no more naptime pickups and that you expect her to change, dress and feed DCK before drop-off tomorrow and going forward.

[Valerie928]

I absolutely HATE when a toddler comes to my door eating food. I make the child hand the food to the parent before entering. Parents know I don't allow this but parents can't control their kids and a lot of times use food to bribe.
Tell grandma the kiddo needs to be dressed to attend.
I hate annoying dc families.😒

[GirlMomma]

I usually don’t mind the food but it was the way he was acting. Which I understand, he’s completely thrown off his regular routine.

[Rockgirl]

Geez….why did she even ask if she comes dressed, if she was still planning to bring her in pjs? She is unable to dress one child, but sure, you have time with a group of children. 🙄

I actually do have it addressed in my written policies, that they must come dressed and ready for the day.

[GirlMomma]

Exactly. I think she expected me to do it with bells on.

[GirlMomma]

It was almost like she picked him up out of bed and put him in the car to come here. His teeth hadn’t been brushed or anything, something his mom is really good about doing.

I plan on talking to her at pick up and letting her know that DCK needs to be dresses before arrival so I don’t end up dressing 8 kids plus my own children every day.

Ugh I’m just frustrated at it all. DCK normally isn’t here tomorrow and I’m pretty sure he’s coming since mom is staying another night in the hospital and grandma has to work. If the child wasn’t well behaved, I don’t think I’d mind… but again, he’s my biggest PITA

I’ll also add that she told me she would be here by 3:00. It’s now 3:38 and she hasn’t arrived. When do I text her??? Do people not understand that we expect communication when things change????

[e.j.]

It was almost like she picked him up out of bed and put him in the car to come here. His teeth hadn’t been brushed or anything, something his mom is really good about doing.

Sounds as though that's exactly what she did!

She's out of practice??? I would have been tempted to ask her, "How much practice do you really need to change a kid's clothes?" Good grief! If she is going to be the one dropping off and picking up when dcm has her baby, I would definitely start explaining how things are done in your day care.

[GirlMomma]

Yep, that’s what she said. We discussed it today at pick up so let’s hope it won’t happen again. I feel bad because I know not a normal thing for her to have to go but I hope she understood the position she put me in.

[ItsAllSonShineAndRainbows]

Oooh, I would definitely nip this in the bud now! Tell grandma if she can't abide by the contract mom signed, you can't take the kid until mom is back in charge. No nap pick ups. Be on time or pay late fees. Dressed and changed and on time. And I would definitely not let her come on an unscheduled day just out of the blue.

[GirlMomma]

If nap time picks are arranged in advance I usually don’t mind because I have a totally different system for that so no one is disturbed, if that makes sense.

Changing a kid that is fresh out bed realllly irks me!

[ItsAllSonShineAndRainbows]

I very rarely allowed nap pickups, but if it was needed I would have that kid nap, or wait in a different area, so I understand!

[Cat Herder]

I forgot to ask. How old is this grandma? 40's? 50's? 60's? 70's? 80's? 90's?

Being southern, I assumed she was on the younger scale and my answer was based on that.

I tend to do more the older they get on that scale. I will even just let the kid stay here while DCM is in the hospital to keep the kid out of the car with the 70-90 year old's. Some parents can't see the aging process and assume they are still functional way beyond their abilities.

[GirlMomma]

Grandma is probably mid 50’s. She is fully capable of taking care of the child and really sweet! I think the “out of practice” comment was because DCK has an older sibling at home she probably had to fight with before school.

I don’t mind helping anyone out, especially under the circumstances. But, I know she didn’t make any attempt in getting the child ready to come here (this is my chatty DCM so I know where they live, I know exactly what time the older sibling gets on the bus, their morning routines, etc) so when grandma text me about it and said “Um he fell back asleep on me” I already knew the older sibling was on the bus and she was bringing me a kid in pj’s. I didn’t expect the full diaper, but that reallllllllly ticked me off. Unless a parent or grandparent is willing to sit in their overnight diaper for a 20 minute car ride, don’t expect your child to do that.

[Cat Herder]

Oh, I fully understand. I deal with grandma's a lot. It has been a while since I had one of "those". I nip it in the bud, fast.

[GirlMomma]

Yes! The “you-get-paid-so-you-will-do-whatever-I-need-you-to-do” grandma 🙃