Am I being an ass?

[Judy Trickett]

I was feeling somewhat concerned because I read a lot of posts about how much providers "care for", "love", "are best friends with", "just like family" with their daycare children and parents because I don't feel this way. I like my families. I like the parents. I like the children. But this is my job and families have left of their own accord and some with a little nudge from me but I am not upset in the least. I was beginning to think there was something wrong with me. Judy's post nailed it. It's my business...... that's all. I like the kids and when someone leaves I like the next one that fills the space. A balance has been restored in my world again ..... Thanks Judy !

You don't have to love any client in any business to do a great job and have a strong work ethic and deliver exceptional service. Do you think your dentist 'loves' you? Or even the surgeon who operates on you? Do you think the doctor or midwife who delivered your baby LOVED you or your child? The answer is NO. But they all provided a positive experience and were kind, polite and compassionate. And at the end of the service they were paid and life went on.

You should NOT be made to feel bad as a dcprovider for not "loving" the kids in your care. One of the biggest reasons I started to speak out and blog was because I realized there is this double-standard of societal expectations when it comes to daycare providers. We are expected to work longer hours, for less pay and FAR more responsibility and liability than almost any other segment of the population and then on top of that we are expected to literally give of our heart. And society thinks that if we do not literally LOVE every child in our care then we are not fit to provide care. I object to this notion and see it as a double-standard that is not applied to ANY other profession.

Never feel bad!