How much tolerance will you take??

Chantel - posted on 12/15/2008

I also have a three strike rule and have had to use it a three times this year alone... all for agression. Once was a little girl who I cared for previously while her regular sitter had surgery... her mom suddenly pulled her out of her regular sitter because they had gotten into a fight over money. The little girl was very upset because of this and rebelled and became very agressive towards the other kids in my care and at the playground. After a black eye incident/ strike 3 she was done..

A few months later I found a sibling set a 22 month old boy who was mischevious and typical for his age... and a very angry little girl whos parents were going through a divorce...that was short lived as she came to daycare very mad at her parents one day and felt the need to push my daughter down a full flight of stairs and about an hour later did the same thing to another little boy in my care. They were done that day. I told the mom that I wasnt risking my child wellbeing and I honestly felt her daughter was a threat to the other kids. Fortunetly neither my daugher or the other little boy were seriously hurt. The next week I signed up with a new family ... an infant boy and a 5 year old boy. The first day I had just the infant and he was a darling!! So sweet and gentle ... his brother, the next day, had the biggest " tantrum " ive ever seen ... about 20 mins into the morning I reminded him that at daycare we have to share ... and I literally had a stool picked up and thrown at me... then two more at my walls and towards the other kids..... I called his parents and he was done right then and there.



SO .... Ive had my share of out of control kids... I consider myself a very tolerant persone.... but when it comes to protecting my own children... including from other kids... I dont waver or think twice.



Fortunetly I managed to fill my spots with some very great and non agressive children.

Sherri - posted on 11/21/2008

Good evening Jan.

I have been licensed since August 28, 2006 and have kicked out one family of 2 boys so far. I should have known better not to take them straight from the interview-I was 2 years yonger than their dad and he was one of the nughtest kids in high school- But they were the 2nd family that signed up with me and I was excieted to be full. The 4 1/2 year old was difficult from day one...he never wanted to join me for art time, music time, story time and sometimes he didn't even want to go outside. He didn't like half the food I served for meals and most days he told me "that's not snack food!" Mostly because it wasn't "junk food". He would throw toys, push the baby off of riding toys, jump on my couch, and say bad words every day. Plus he would not poop on the potty. I was pregnet at the time nd his 4 year ol poop smelled so bad! But I kept him because I thought "maybe he will adjust soon". The parents weren't very helpful either. They would drop the boys off at different times every day and pick them up late. Most days the mom would bring them in PJs, so I had to dress them at 8:00am when I had 4 other kids already in my care. The school bus driver was getting pissed at me too. The bus has to drive down 1/8 a mile just to come to my house and most mornings this boy wasn't here. (at that time he was the only one in the morning). Finally the last straw was when their 22 month old crawled up in the bouncy chair and smothered my 6 week old baby. So I told them with the additon of my baby that I just didn't have room for their 2 boys anymore. The mom asked me why I was kicking them out but yet keeping a family of 2 that started after them. I told her that it was becuse the boys schedule was so veried. And she replied "you knew that when we sign up!" So I had to remind her of the bad behavier her 2 boys displayed over the past 8 months and I said I could't take it anymore.

Melissa - posted on 11/21/2008

WOW, three strike rule, never thought of that, good for you. In this business we get taken advantage of so much. It is sad. Good to know that you are doing something to protect yourself and your family.

As far as my policies I just have it in my contract that I can terminate care for any reason I see fit as long as I give a 2 week notice. I have only had to do this twice. Both times were extremely hard. One was for a child that would never stop crying and another was for non payment. I think as long as you know you are doing a good job and you feel comfortable with your policies dont worry about it. RULES are needed. Parents will take even more advantage if you relax those rules. I know too many woman that have no such rules/policies and they run in to so much trouble. Good Luck and know that what we do for a living is Magical. We shape these young lives so much more than parents ever do. And no one can take that special bond away from us. These children are as smart and well behaved as they are because of the job we chose to do everyday! (even if the pay is less than great) :)