Difficult parents

[disbrina]

Ya i don't want to put blame back on the parent. There has been a number of issues that have been building with this parent. Over the last year.

3 times I have had to pull out my contract and be firm with them. It is the fight that i don't want. The father ( who drops him off and picks him up cause mom doesn't drive) gets defensive when i try to mention his day or his development. He has in the past snapped at me and then apologized via facebook.

It is hard for me to see a child that I care about suffering from silly mistakes. Like not bringing the proper gear and seeing his hands red raw cause it was minus 38- and the dad didn't put mits on him. Or His feet are freezing cause mom and dad don't bring boots after it snows and they know i have to take kids to school. or seeing a rash that the poor kid has had for months probably due to the diaper being to small.

I have have had to write letters to parents that i have not had a problem with so the parents i do have problems with don't think i am trying to single them out. When do you draw the line and terminate? I have only had to terminate 1 parent before. And well, they weren't family. If it were my family i would have thrown them out by now. But they are my husbands cousin. Hence why i am trying to find some strategies to improve my communication.

[playfelt]

Not bringing mittens or not having shoes for the child or dressing a toddler in pants so long they trip over them are the responsibilty of the parent to fix not mine as the caregiver and certainly not the child who is not old enough to pick out their clothes. What I mean by turning it back on the parent is trying to make the parent see that the parent's action or inaction is causing the child to suffer. Give suggestions on things that need to be changed and give the parent what the consequences will be - child without shoes will not be allowed to run and jump or will need to be in their bare feet rather than sock feet even if it winter temperatures for safety. It is my responsibiltiy to see that the child plays safely so if they don't have shoes then I have to ask them to sit out or cancel the activity for the entire group such as would happen if a child didn't bring a proper snowsuit, boots, etc.

[mamaof4]

Ya i don't want to put blame back on the parent. There has been a number of issues that have been building with this parent. Over the last year.

3 times I have had to pull out my contract and be firm with them. It is the fight that i don't want. The father ( who drops him off and picks him up cause mom doesn't drive) gets defensive when i try to mention his day or his development. He has in the past snapped at me and then apologized via facebook.

It is hard for me to see a child that I care about suffering from silly mistakes. Like not bringing the proper gear and seeing his hands red raw cause it was minus 38- and the dad didn't put mits on him. Or His feet are freezing cause mom and dad don't bring boots after it snows and they know i have to take kids to school. or seeing a rash that the poor kid has had for months probably due to the diaper being to small.

I have have had to write letters to parents that i have not had a problem with so the parents i do have problems with don't think i am trying to single them out. When do you draw the line and terminate? I have only had to terminate 1 parent before. And well, they weren't family. If it were my family i would have thrown them out by now. But they are my husbands cousin. Hence why i am trying to find some strategies to improve my communication.

this just makes me sad--- for the child and for you. Can you ask for an extra pair or mittens or boots to be kept at your home- just 'in case'?? At my child's school they have extras and have the parents send in extra clothes for the 'just in case' moments.