I'm not ready in the morning?

[Skysue]

Yesterday I had a parent speak with me about being ready in the morning. This woman was so anxious about this issue that I felt sorry for her. But, let me start from the beginning:

From about a month before Christmas to a month afterwards my year and a half year old wasn't sleeping. Every night this child was up from 12am to around 4am. By the end I was so exhausted that this lady woke me up with the doorbell on two separate occasions. Regardless of her waking me up I was still at the door by the second ring in less than 30 second. Anyways, All of my parents were aware of the issue and I talked to this client personally at the end of that week to apologize and let her know that I won't let that week happen again. to date, it hasn't.

Unfortunately I think she was unable to let it go and her anxiety began to build as yesterday she brought up her issue of me being ready in the morning. I wasn't really sure what she was talking about, because I am up and ready. She said that I don't look awake and that if my morning routine isn't done then I'm not ready and she truly believed that she was waking me up with the doorbell at least a few times a week. Then I began to clue into the fact that I had changed my shirt since the morning so I asked her if this is what she meant. She said that it was part of it and I explained that I had to change and I spilled pickle juice on myself but assured her that the rest of my clothing was indeed still the same. The rest I realized was that I just didn't look awake enough for her. Unfortunately I'm one of those people that look like a disaster in the morning no matter what make-up I put on, how I dress, or any water that is splashed on my face.

I was really taken back and a little insulted by this complaint as she has no issue with my programming or the way I treat the children or anything else to do with my actual business.

Does this seem a bit petty to anyone? Or should I be making some drastic changes to look presentable to her standards?

Petty isn't the word I'm sorry down right rude is the word I'm looking for. Ummmmmm I answer the door at 6:30am in my P.J's and the only thing brushed is my teeth. I like to have a cup of coffee before I get dressed and that is my busniess. WHTFudge! My 1st child is gos back to sleep until 8am, for my next arrival at 7:15 am I'm usually dressed but if I'm not it's never ever been an issue!

She should really loosen up and be more understanding of why you slept in!

[Skysue]

I see it from the parents perspective too. That is why I explained several times that I knew I shouldn't have slept in but with my child being up so often I was sleeping through all the alarms set. She said it was fine, she understood, no harm done. But clearly there was.
Some days I wear make-up, some days I wear sweats, some days I do my hair, some days I wear a really nice outfit, some days I don't feel like trying. I really think its my prerogative but it must be throwing her off.

too bad I guess.

Tomorrow morning you should answer the door in your best business attire with your hair perfect and make up perfect LOL it would seriously freek her out!

[dodge__driver11]

LOL@ Sue
)

[Skysue]

I suppose I'm super lucky as my early Mom used to run a daycare herself and she told me it's ok to be in my P.J's! LOL It really as allowed me to be relaxed more in the morning! Judy you and my hubby are the same he hates it when I answer the door in my P.J's! He says if you are running a business parents will respect you more if you are always presentable!

But in defence is it really a reason for terminating care? FunFlexCare how old is her little one?

Judy what time does your first child come at in the morning? If you say 6am good for you!

[playfelt]

My first family arrives just before 6:30 and I get up at 6:15 - dressed, hair done and downstairs, lights on etc. but not much more. They (two siblings) come in and watch tv till the next child arrives just after 7. I take that half hour to check emails, eat breakfast, empty dishwasher and set up kitchen for the rest of the day, read the newspaper etc. Am I much perkier for the 7 am child - of course.

[KingstonMom]

I think I am the middle of both worlds here. I thought I agreed with everyone until I read Judys post.

I wake up only 30 mins before first kid arrives, I dress, (yoga pants and fitted T), hair brushed and put in pony, teeth brushed, face washed (just a bit of mascara of course) get coffee, tidy up the entranceway and playroom, unload dishwasher etc and then they arrive. I get 3 at 7:30am.

I also have a 3 month old and a 21 month old so I am not getting the most sleep at night either. I started back to work after only being off 2 weeks and some days I was running on sparodic sleep intervals. I was always up, perky, and awake even though only just having 30 mins in the morning to 'wake up'. I think I am becoming a morning person!

I would be absolutely mortified if I had to wake up to the doorbell and answer the door in my pjs (or lack thereof somenights!!) I have 2 alarms set everyday to make sure this doesnt happen.

So in short, although I dont have a full breakfast (I eat with the kids at 8am), I dont get a chance to sit to watch a full morning news show, and I dont shower every morning (I shower after my kids get their baths in the evening). But I am very presentable and ready to work (or play).
I would like to think that the parents find me wide eyed and chipper in the morning. I am sure none of them have ever thought twice about me being 'groggy'.

If we want respect as a business woman, then we'd best show that we are treating it like a business as well.

Thsi lady sounds like a whackjob anyways, talking about you to her friends!? wtf!!! If this is the way you roll, tell her that if shes not comfortable, then go elsewhere! PJs or not, YOU are the boss!!

[mom-in-alberta]

Jeez I am really of two minds here....
On the one hand; I don't get up super early to get myself totally made up for the day. I open at 7:30 and I am usually up at about 7:00. I HATE mornings and would be much happier if the day started at around 10am, lol. I tend to get into comfy pants and top and brush my hair and teeth. That's about it, haha. Thank goodness, I have never been woken by the doorbell. Only once or twice, when I had a newborn, did I open the door in pajamas. I warned all the parents before she arrived, that this was a possibility! I don't usually get "dressed" for dayhome days. I am going to end up messy, and drooled/smeared on anyway. I usually get a little more ready to go out in the evening if I need to, or if I know I will be leaving as soon as the last kid is gone, I will use naptime to get showered and changed.
On the other hand; as a parent, if I felt like my provider was rolling out of bed to answer the door (I am not saying that's what you are doing!! Just that she feels that way) I would probably not love that. I know it only takes a few minutes to get dressed, but that wouldn't be my concern. I would be concerned that maybe my provider wasn't really "up" yet, mentally. Although if that was the only worry, it would not be a deal breaker!!
So I guess if it was me, I would just do a self evaluation; could I use some work being a little more alert in the morning? Would 10 extra minutes of "me" time before the doors open be helpful?
Of course, she could be just a crazy lady... hahaha. And I think you did the right thing in saying "hey, if you aren't comfortable, this doesn't work!". Time will tell what she is really concerned about, if more issues arise!

PS: Ginger, did you hear about the Tassimo recall??? Nooooooo!!! Now I have to get coffee elsewhere, lest my Tassimo disc explode and burn me!!
At least until I get the repair part.

[dodge__driver11]

Yes I did, mom in AB however mine is fine so I havent taken it back best thing ever

[Cadillac]

Okay, I am obviously the odd man out here. I get up an hour before the kids get here. I shower, have some coffee, check emails and all that before my first kid arrives.

I might get slammed here but I think it's really unfair of us to constantly complain that the dcparents do not treat us like professionals or view us as running a business when we are not professionally and properly presenting ourselves every morning. And, yes, that means having been up, dressed and ready for the day.

There is thread after thread about dcparents and double standards. Well, we have to not be setting a double standard either; we either want to be professional business women or we don't.

I agree with you. We have to be ready. I would expect my provider to have clothes on and hair brushed and be ready to start. My issue is that I am ready. Her issue is that she thinks I look sleepy still and thinks that she is waking me up when I've been up for an hour already.

What I think the others are trying to get across in their rants is that the two year olds don't care if I have make-up on or if I'm wearing jeans or sweats, they just want to be loved and played with and taught.

[Cadillac]

Tomorrow morning you should answer the door in your best business attire with your hair perfect and make up perfect LOL it would seriously freek her out!

But then I would have to do that EVERY morning. I really do think it throws her off that I dress differently everyday. I might wear an echo t shirt and baggy jeans one day, sweats the next, and one the thirds day I wear a suit jacket and decide its a make up day. But suit jacket or not, my eyes just don't lose their glaze over until my house is filled with giggling babies