Cheap parents

[sandylynn]

Suzie_Homemaker....s eriously....it has not been stressing me out since December....you are reading waaay too much into this....yes...I was making a point....As I said if you read back...yes...I am paid for my job....the only point I was trying to make was....it's one thing for someone to receive a gift that they may not like or use..and ya ...regift it! But to actually give someone a tube of USED self suntanning cream! Seriously...I don't expect gifts from the parents....and neither do I expect them to unload THEIR GARBAGE on me EITHER! That's just wrong...It's an insult...honestly... would you give that gift to someone....anyone?

[sandylynn]

it seem to stress you a lot if you making post about christmas gift in march. Lol bit passive aggressive way to express it by posting strong view in hope one parent reads and feel bad.
Maybe 40 parent read and think what a big expectation to have?

If you have issue with your client so upsetting that you choose to be insulted, your need address direct with client. I think you don't because you deep down know it not reasonable expectation.

seriously? We need to shut this thread down real quick....I do apologize for starting it....

[3rdtimesacharm]

Sandylynn: omg that would irk me beyond words!!! I had one parent who had money issues, she still provided gifts (for my 3 kids, nothing for me). She got movies for each of them (with her husband's work discount as he works at a big box store.) And she got them each an outfit, which she told me she got off ebay. So it was probably $1-$2 per piece of clothing. So, she may have spent $20 in total but at least she went through the effort and time picking something for them personally! I appreciated it and was not annoyed by the dollar amount, but that she put thought into it.
Your family who gave u lotion!? Wow. That's just an insult as I would feel I am not worth a minute of her time to think of a gift that I would use/appreciate.

[Fun&care]

I also agree that counting money is a GOOD thing. It can avoid awkward situations for sure.

But I disagree that us providers are just lumped in with other service providers...I don't think we are in the same category at all. I get that some people aren't great at gift giving, I can't say I am great at it myself but even if money was an issue a cheap card with some nice words in it is pretty budget friendly and would mean more to me than any gift.

I don't even know what to think about a bottle of used self tanner...I mean why even bother at that point?

[5 Little Monkeys]

I get the fact that our service is pretty special and very personal but the fact of the matter is that some parents just view as a service provider. It's a bit different because we don't pay teachers but think about all the gifts a family would have to give for a school aged child. There are lots of professions that deal with children (drs, dentists, counsellers, swim teachers, dance teachers, coaches etc etc). Parents have to draw the line somewhere and sometimes we are the ones who get cut off the list unfortunately.

Trust me, I would definitely think a used bottle of anything was an odd gift and would much rather appreciate just a card with a thoughtful comment too! However, I'm trying to let things that I have no control over not stress me out

As a side note, even family members give crazy gifts. One year my husband got one pair of socks (out of a package) from one of my crazy aunts. We still giggle over who got the other pairs lol.

Thinking about service providers...I wonder if vets and animal daycare providers feel the same way? Some people view their pets as family and people in those industries would be very attached to your pet as well like we are to the dck's in our care.

[bright sparks]

I get the fact that our service is pretty special and very personal but the fact of the matter is that some parents just view as a service provider. It's a bit different because we don't pay teachers but think about all the gifts a family would have to give for a school aged child. There are lots of professions that deal with children (drs, dentists, counsellers, swim teachers, dance teachers, coaches etc etc). Parents have to draw the line somewhere and sometimes we are the ones who get cut off the list unfortunately.

Trust me, I would definitely think a used bottle of anything was an odd gift and would much rather appreciate just a card with a thoughtful comment too! However, I'm trying to let things that I have no control over not stress me out

As a side note, even family members give crazy gifts. One year my husband got one pair of socks (out of a package) from one of my crazy aunts. We still giggle over who got the other pairs lol.

Thinking about service providers...I wonder if vets and animal daycare providers feel the same way? Some people view their pets as family and people in those industries would be very attached to your pet as well like we are to the dck's in our care.

I'm trying to do that to, not get stressed over things I have no control over.

My father in law gave my husband tea towels for his 30th birthday...lol...he said that it was because when he came back from walking our dogs we never had any in the kitchen. We used to hide them because we were in the back garden one day and saw him through the window returning with the dogs and wiping the sweat from his face on one and then hanging it back up EWWWWW!! LOL

I've recieved a used candle once...barely as the wax seemed fine but it had been lit lol

Nought as queer as folk

[Emma H]

There are lots of professions that deal with children (drs, dentists, counsellers, swim teachers, dance teachers, coaches etc etc). Parents have to draw the line somewhere and sometimes we are the ones who get cut off the list unfortunately.

I don't even think we should be grouped with the above mentioned as those professions also deal with all kinds of other clients and ages. Their jobs are not specifically targeted at young children only. Not saying they don't deserve anything for their hard work lol and I am not saying that we are obligated to receive anything but if someone is to gift something at least gift it properly. I know a few days ago I posted a thread about baby shower gifts and not one of you mentioned you would re-gift your used baby clothes to someone. We as providers go above and beyond (sometimes even more than teachers) and I know we give so much so I think if someone does choose to gift us, it shouldn't be their used garbage.

[5 Little Monkeys]

I don't even think we should be grouped with the above mentioned as those professions also deal with all kinds of other clients and ages. Their jobs are not specifically targeted at young children only. Not saying they don't deserve anything for their hard work lol and I am not saying that we are obligated to receive anything but if someone is to gift something at least gift it properly. I know a few days ago I posted a thread about baby shower gifts and not one of you mentioned you would re-gift your used baby clothes to someone. We as providers go above and beyond (sometimes even more than teachers) and I know we give so much so I think if someone does choose to gift us, it shouldn't be their used garbage.

Sorry, I meant all of those professions as children only professionals....I understand why some think we're different but I also understand why some think a service provider is a service provider is a service provider.

[bright sparks]

I don't even think we should be grouped with the above mentioned as those professions also deal with all kinds of other clients and ages. Their jobs are not specifically targeted at young children only. Not saying they don't deserve anything for their hard work lol and I am not saying that we are obligated to receive anything but if someone is to gift something at least gift it properly. I know a few days ago I posted a thread about baby shower gifts and not one of you mentioned you would re-gift your used baby clothes to someone. We as providers go above and beyond (sometimes even more than teachers) and I know we give so much so I think if someone does choose to gift us, it shouldn't be their used garbage.

I don't see giving my children's old clothes as a baby shower gift. I hand their clothes down but would buy a new shower gift for anyone who invited me to the actual shower only.

[3rdtimesacharm]

MsBell: that is a riot!!! And gross!! Did she honestly you would feel sexy wearing something she wore intimately with your (ex) FIL??? Barf!! Thanks for the laugh!!