busydaycarelady
03-23-2012, 03:46 PM
Hello all!
I have a family, that has been an issue for many reasons, mainly their 7 year olds terrible behavior. This mother is one who has tried to "hide" her children's illnesses from me by pumping them full of Advil when they have fevers and has even tried to drop off a puking/diarrhea-ish kid in the a.m. which I refused. Anyhow, this seemed to be under control as she has been keeping her sick kids home lately. They missed Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday last week. On Thursday last week Mom says "They have a bad cold and the cough keeps them up so they are tired in the morning, but slept just great last night and are super happy, no coughing this morning, so I will bring them". Next thing I know the kids are knocking on my door(dad drove off before even seeing if they made it in the door). Kids are pale, dark circles under the eyes, coughing like mad, zero appetite and tell me they've not only been coughing, but puking, headaches, body aches. I call parents to come pick up kids, but they're "too busy. Plus, they were contagious a few days BEFORE they came down with it, so you've already been exposed". Emergency contacts don't pick up or call back to messages either. So, I'm not sure what to do with them. I put them to bed(they slept ALL day from 6:30am until 5:30pm) and tried to keep everyone else away from them. Dad comes at night and I say they should not have left them here or even brought them in the first place! I tell him not to bring them back until at least Monday.
But, the damage is done. My whole family has is and it is terrible. Horrific body aches that have lasted all week, severe headaches and congestion and cough, terrible fatigue too. Like getting out of bed is a serious chore that requires all of my will power, nevermind making breakfast for 4 kids. So, I made it through until today and told them yesterday afternoon that I NEED Friday off as now I have the stomach issues and am not able to rest while looking after all the kids. Mom flips on me and says, "Well, great. I was going to fly out of province for my best friends wedding Friday morning and now I can't. Just great." I say, sorry but I am very sick and not even able to provide quality care to my own child let alone 3 others, plus, can't their dad watch the kids? She says no, he has other plans......however, I know it's the kids weekend with him, so not sure how this is an issue. I pointed out(as gently as possible) that had her and her ex kept their puking, lethargic, super sick children home, I likely would not have gotten sick. Anyhow, I understand they frustration of taking time off work to look after sick kids and then having your day home provider be sick the next week, but at the same time, I like to think that I would have been considerate enough to keep my sick kids home. And, my doctor confirmed, that it is indeed influenza.
*sigh* Sorry for the rant. But I am fed up with everything about this family and will be delivering a letter of termination. Which I haven't had to do yet and I am a bit nervous about. But after dealing with all of their child's terrible behavior and their not being willing to try to correct it, this has just sealed my decision to get rid of them. Because it will not ever end.
I have a family, that has been an issue for many reasons, mainly their 7 year olds terrible behavior. This mother is one who has tried to "hide" her children's illnesses from me by pumping them full of Advil when they have fevers and has even tried to drop off a puking/diarrhea-ish kid in the a.m. which I refused. Anyhow, this seemed to be under control as she has been keeping her sick kids home lately. They missed Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday last week. On Thursday last week Mom says "They have a bad cold and the cough keeps them up so they are tired in the morning, but slept just great last night and are super happy, no coughing this morning, so I will bring them". Next thing I know the kids are knocking on my door(dad drove off before even seeing if they made it in the door). Kids are pale, dark circles under the eyes, coughing like mad, zero appetite and tell me they've not only been coughing, but puking, headaches, body aches. I call parents to come pick up kids, but they're "too busy. Plus, they were contagious a few days BEFORE they came down with it, so you've already been exposed". Emergency contacts don't pick up or call back to messages either. So, I'm not sure what to do with them. I put them to bed(they slept ALL day from 6:30am until 5:30pm) and tried to keep everyone else away from them. Dad comes at night and I say they should not have left them here or even brought them in the first place! I tell him not to bring them back until at least Monday.
But, the damage is done. My whole family has is and it is terrible. Horrific body aches that have lasted all week, severe headaches and congestion and cough, terrible fatigue too. Like getting out of bed is a serious chore that requires all of my will power, nevermind making breakfast for 4 kids. So, I made it through until today and told them yesterday afternoon that I NEED Friday off as now I have the stomach issues and am not able to rest while looking after all the kids. Mom flips on me and says, "Well, great. I was going to fly out of province for my best friends wedding Friday morning and now I can't. Just great." I say, sorry but I am very sick and not even able to provide quality care to my own child let alone 3 others, plus, can't their dad watch the kids? She says no, he has other plans......however, I know it's the kids weekend with him, so not sure how this is an issue. I pointed out(as gently as possible) that had her and her ex kept their puking, lethargic, super sick children home, I likely would not have gotten sick. Anyhow, I understand they frustration of taking time off work to look after sick kids and then having your day home provider be sick the next week, but at the same time, I like to think that I would have been considerate enough to keep my sick kids home. And, my doctor confirmed, that it is indeed influenza.
*sigh* Sorry for the rant. But I am fed up with everything about this family and will be delivering a letter of termination. Which I haven't had to do yet and I am a bit nervous about. But after dealing with all of their child's terrible behavior and their not being willing to try to correct it, this has just sealed my decision to get rid of them. Because it will not ever end.