Potty training vent

[Fun&care]

I am just annoyed with one of my families right now and feel like I need to vent-to an audience that understands There are two issues 1) naps and 2) potty training.

1) she is turning 3 shortly and seems to be outgrowing her nap since according to her parents she is taking a long time to fall asleep at night. So I agree to cut about a bit of time out of her nap, giving up my break so she is sleeping 12:30-2 instead of 12:30-2:45 like the rest. About a week later dad walks in, says she had a terrible sleep the night before and to not nap her. To which I replied, everyone needs to nap here so that I can get some cleaning done and because they do need to rest. But because I am nice, I offer to cut back her nap even more so that she is now sleeping 12:30-1:30, which is the absolute minimum at my daycare. All kids sleep that for at least one hour right up until they go to school and this is in my contract also. At pick up I suggest to mom that if they wanted they could bring a backpack with toys and books from home and it would be only for naptime so she can read/play quietly on her cot. I thought it was a pretty fantastic idea but for whatever reason mom didn't seem that impressed. A week later mom calls and says she has an appointment and will be picking her up at 1:30 so no need to nap her. Ummmm yes she can still nap but I will have her ready when you get here.

Honestly, I wonder if these parents ever even bothered reading my handbook. They have been with me for two years and I've never had any issues before but I am so offended that they just up and expect me to do everything their way and give up my break entirely just to make their lives easier. I don't take kindly to their walking in and saying "no nap today". Excuse me? How about asking? Last time I checked I am the one running this daycare. I was especially offended that mom didn't even take to my suggestion...I mean come on, something's got to give!

2) potty training...in my contract it states potty training is done at home. I can encourage a child who is in pull-ups while in daycare but really the bulk of the work is to be done at home and to be able to come here in underwear they need to have been dry for at least two weeks at home first. They have been potty training at home for like 6 months. Honesty, dcg has always been the type of kid who is clumsy, kind of all over the place and just a tad behind developmentally so I knew she wouldn't be that kid who was potty trained at 18 months. So dad walks in this morning asking if she can go in underwear next week as they think she is not potty trained yet because the fact she is wearing pull-ups here makes her regress. Yet when I asked last week if she was pooping in the potty at home the answer was no. This kid has constipation issues and 2-3 days this week I had to change a poopy pull-up about 5-6 times a day because all that comes out is pebbles.

I just feel like I am being held responsible for all their problems at home. The sleep issues and the potty training. I am just so sick of this type of bullshit. I hate that I am expected to do absolutely everything for these ppl. Oh and I forgot...dcg has been coming to daycare with ridiculously small mittens that are made for like 12 month olds (she wears size 5). I can't get her hands in them and when/if I do, her hand feels curled up inside like it is crushed and she can't move them.I asked for new ones and nothing yet. This week too dad and dcg walked in, she had her nails painted the night before and dad said "yeah good thing because she was excited to show you, it made my morning easier cuz usually she really doesn't want to come". Great. Thanks for that.

On top of all this I just called it quits with another kid I've had for about a year who to this day didn't seem to be transitioning well.....

My dog is not doing well and we will likely have to put her down in the coming weeks/months...

Ugh I've just about had it. I've also seriously been considering quitting or looking for a job...I'm just so so so sick of daycare BS. I feel under appreciated and overworked and just plain exhausted. My youngest will be in school next sept so I am trying to hold out but I am finding it very hard lately. Maybe I just really need a vacation...I don't know.

[torontokids]

You need a vacation. These kind sof problems always seem so much bigger when we're overworked.

Re: the naps. Just smile and nod. I would continue to put her down for her nap and you could always let her have her books etc if she wakes up but she needs to stay in her cot. I have all kids nap. Maybe they need a centre if they don't want her napping.

Re: potty- I ahve the same rule re: pull-ups but I ahve been flexible about this on a case by case basis. e.g. I had one DCG train over the summer break. Had zero accidents at home during the training period and wore underwear the whole time. I opted to let her wear underwear and was clear we could try it but if she had a lot of accidents, back in pull-ups. It was fine.

I let another girl in underwear at DC who was not trained to go poo on the potty. She wore a diaper at nap time and would poo then or at night usually. She went to kindergarten in Sept still not having pooped in the potty but would hold it (there were issues with constipation as well). She just started on her own a month into school. She was fully trained with her pee though and had no poop accidents in her underwear

[5 Little Monkeys]

TGIF! Sometimes it just helps to vent

Hope you enjoy the weekend and maybe next week will be better?? Here's to hoping!

[Fun&care]

Thanks Torontokids and 5LM....I think I do need a vacation. In the end the issue is not necessarily the potty training or the sleep issues that bother me because I know in the end it will be my way or the highway What bothers me is their comments/attitude in general lately that if they say "jump" I should say "how high". I feel as though they don't trust my judgment/opinions/suggestions even though I have been doing this for a while. They are first time parents and think they know it all and it's really been grating my nerves lately.

Btw, thanks for reading and to anyone who makes it all the way to the bottom....I think this was my longest post ever!

[5 Little Monkeys]

First time parents can be difficult. I know it's likely hard to hear suggestions from me because I have no children of my own but I've been doing child care for almost 8 years plus practically raised my own siblings among many years of babysitting. I've taken college course, seminars, workshops etc. (and yes, I know this is all different than being a parent 24/7, but you know what I mean) However, I've had a few who think they know best because they are a parent and I'm not....it's usually those children who are my "handful"s because they truly don't have a clue on how to parent!!

[mattsmom]

I totally feel your pain. I have been having issues with parents and them potty training their daughter. They're being totally lazy and expecting me to do the majority of the work.
Stupid me, I didn't have anything about potty training in my contract, but I do now!

It does feel like a thankless job a lot of the time and it seems like the parents think they can just come in and run the show. Just be sure to stick to your guns and remind them that you have certain rules and you are not swaying from any of them.