Quote Originally Posted by bright sparks View Post
It is an ongoing topic that comes up at every season change on here and it becomes evident quickly who the seasoned providers are. I have found that they are the ones who have learnt that this is a never ending battle which effects the children and never seems to be resolved fully. These particular providers posted last year that they do not stress over this anymore and have a box of 2nd hand stuff for spares. I got into an argument, even though I didn't argue she just had a bit of a rant at me, but a parent got very annoyed at me last spring because I repeatedly asked her for rainboots. She said she couldn't find any small enough but was continuously looking and asked me to get off her case as it made her feel like she was doing an inadequate job as a mother. It was never my intention to make her feel like this and I was always very nice about it. She was always picking at me whenever I made a request so obviously overly sensitive, that being said though, nobody deserves to be made to feel like they are inadequate as a mother and once I found out that she was constantly looking and felt that way, I felt pretty bad for her. It doesn't change the need for proper clothing, but there is a simple solution which is spend 10-15 bucks at the thrift store on spares or keep your kids old things and hey presto, no problems in this department and if parents bring their own set of spares, then all the better. Obviously this would work for a group of younger children but the idea of having a spare of everything for each age group Is ridiculous lol You'd need another closet and it' way beyond the role of a dcprovider too. It was the move I made after that incident and after last years posts and I am less stressed because I have done something about this situation which is proactive rather than bang my head against a brick wall with the parents who just don't get it.

Yes definitely a set of clothes for each age/size would be a large collection! I don't keep too many smaller sizes on hand because I can send a 2 year old home in size 3 or 4 clothing. Unless I've sent their child home in my spare clothes, most parents don't even know I have some on hand because I do want them to supply it as that is their job as a parent. It's just less of a headache for me to have a few articles of clothing for the odd time there needed.

Today for example, a dcb had rubber boots but they are a tad too big because they couldn't find a smaller pair. I put him in the spare pair I have because they are his size but won't even mention that to his parents.