Top 10 Ways to Get On My Nerves. (9 complaints too long)

[BuggedMei]

After a rather crummy morning, I walk into work, plop my stuff down and I'm greeted by a strange yellow paper hanging over the changing table.

Its titled "Our parents top ten peeves about our center". My coworker explains BossLady complied all the complaints shes been getting and posted this up in all the rooms...and Mei is not a happy girl. 9/10 of this list really annoyed me. If our parents think so poorly of us, why do they keep sending their children to us?

1 - Untied Shoes

Your child is 2, and has shoe laces. Most of their peers have velcro. I have two eyes, I cannot possibly be able to see if your kid pulled their laces off at all times. Doubly so for when they are sitting down for a long time. I'm sorry, I really do try. I don't want the kids to trip, but for the love of my sanity, try investing in velcro.

2 - Runny Noses

9 children, two teachers. Sometimes it just happens and I don't see it.

3 - Coats on floor

....Mer? The children have cubbies that all their belongings stay in. I have no idea what you are talking about.

4 - Dirty faces/clothes.

You've sent your 2yr old to daycare with a white shirt and spaghetti for lunch. Try as I might, and I'll break out the art smocks to help me, your kid will be coming home with a stain. I'm sorry.

5 - Not greeting a parent right away

9 children, two teachers. Your horrible timing does not comfort three screaming 2yr olds. I will try to say hello as soon as possible.

6 - Words incorrectly spelled on bulletin boards or papers

I agree with this one, which is why I keep correcting the people who write "Have a great nite" on the daily whiteboard and filling in the Y and O for ever U I see.

7 - Dirty Bathrooms

It smells a little in there but its not "dirty". There kids, they have accidents, we try to keep the bathroom as clean as possible and trust me, you could eat off those toilets after we finish cleaning them EVERY NIGHT.

8 - Clutter

If its free play time, the kids free play. We encourage them to pick up toys they are done with, and I try to put away toys as they move on to other ones. Our classrooms are also very teeny but need to have most things at a level little hands can grab. It looks a little chaotic but its what it has to be.

9 - Crying Children

Children cry. They like to all cry at one time just for fun. We comfort them asap but sometimes a bad owie calls for a few minutes of tears. Also, long days and poor naps can mean cranky kiddies. It happens to us all. Teething kids are especially unhappy, what would you like me to do? Push the tooth back in?

10 - Outdated/faded artwork and decorations

We have an art project practically every day and we try to get them on the walls asap. I don't think anything has been up for more then a week other then the Birthday Bears and, well, I think thats kind of important.


If the top 10 wasn't enough to annoy me, BossLady posted this addition today after lunch.. "Our Parents Expectations"

- Happy Faces Everyday!
Please see 9, Crying Children.

-Positive Information About Our Children
I'll tell you if your kid slept well, ate well, and even if they went to the bathroom well. I'll tell you how they played well with others and helped me do my homework, if they did. Sometimes though, we just have bad listening days. Sometimes we just don't understand we don't punch our friends. These are things that are important and need to be addressed.

-Show understanding when we have an issue or complaint
After the above list? I'll show understanding after you do my job for a month and if you still complain, then, then I'll understand. Unless its a real complaint. "My kid has a grass stain and its all your fault" is not a real complaint.

-Let us know you will go to administration with our complaints.
You go to her anyway. I don't even get a word in edgewise when you throw a tantrum that your kid bumped their head/got messy/breathed. BossLady has a trampoline waiting in her office for when one of you asks her to jump.


Miss Mei needs a nap. /cranky

[lineswine]

6 - Words incorrectly spelled on bulletin boards or papers...

There kids, they have accidents,

That would be "They're" (pedantic,but you DID mention incorrect spelling etc.)

[XCashier]

Some parents have really unrealistic expectations. Taking care of one child is different than taking care of nine or more, all of whom come from different backgrounds and whose parents have different expectations.

And toddlers are toddlers. They're sloppy, clumsy, constantly leaking from one orifice or another and still discovering that they're not the center of the universe. Cut the teachers some slack!

[Mnemjian]

Ugh, that's terrible. And those same complaining parents probably turn around and complain some more about how there are hardly any good teachers these days. Maybe because so many of them can't stand to put up with this kind of ridiculousness??

You're doing a good thing, just ignore those stupid parents

[Kristev]

It's her boss who should ignore the parents. BuggedMei sounds like a good worker. I remember what it was like to work around little kids in a summer program.

[JoitheArtist]

My mom would smack those parents upside the head. She grew up on a farm, and then became an RN: she knows that kids can take a hell of a lot of minor damage and walk away from it. Runny nose? Here, have a Kleenex, kid. Dirty clothes? Toss 'em in the hamper at the end of the day. Crying? Get it out of your system, then hush.

You get the picture.

Hell, when I was 4, my mom would always MAKE me go play with whoever had chicken pox at the time in hopes that I'd catch it and be done with it.

Those parents are wimps.

[underemployeed]

-Positive Information About Our Children
I'll tell you if your kid slept well, ate well, and even if they went to the bathroom well. I'll tell you how they played well with others and helped me do my homework, if they did. Sometimes though, we just have bad listening days. Sometimes we just don't understand we don't punch our friends. These are things that are important and need to be addressed.

Well they would say their little angel would never do anything bad! He is so sweet.
Of course, RAISE YOUR OWN KIDS if you don't like how someone else is doing it for you, I really think that is a simple of a statement for the topic.

I didn't notice that you swear to much around the kids. Beat their kids. throw them in a cage with a water bottle. So why are they so annoyed?

[Food Lady]

Joi, your mom rocks.

[Caffienated_Caramel]

Bah! The parents are almost always worse than the kids!

[persephone]

First and foremost, *hug*. I'm sorry these people annoyed the crap out of you. Some parents, like all groups of "customers", you just can't make happy. I have two kids of my own, one on the way, and I have worked in nursery's, and I take care of three neighborhood children on a daily basis. I know how hard your job is. I know your job is harder than people realize. Some parents don't realize that their child isn't the only one there, isn't the only child around.

I'm sorry the parents of the kids you take care of are stupid. Would you like me to smack them upside the head?

Know that there are parents out there that understand and appreciate what you do! My guess is that list is from a small minority of parents. Most of the parents are probably very happy that someone is there to take care of and love their children when they have to be at work. I know many parents who would much rather keep their kids themselves, but cost of living requires that they work.

[vstorevigilante]

Hell, when I was 4, my mom would always MAKE me go play with whoever had chicken pox at the time in hopes that I'd catch it and be done with it.

The did that on South Park! And apparently it's like... trendy now to have chicken pox parties. But my mom did the same thing to my sister til she caught them, I got them when I was 8, and my mom essentially locked my then-4-year-old sister in a room with me for days When that didn't work, she too called around looking for infected kids for her to play with.

That being said, my brain hurts dealing with one or two toddlers at a time, and you and a coworker handle NINE? Ignore the damn parents, or your head may pop off.

[crashhelmet]

Why do I get the feeling that if you were to goto ANY of these complaining parents' homes, you'd find that they can't accomplish all of that with one child, let alone nine.

CH

[Snowbird]

Why do I get the feeling that if you were to goto ANY of these complaining parents' homes, you'd find that they can't accomplish all of that with one child, let alone nine.

CH

My sentiments exactly. Complaining that a child comes home with a stained garment? Seriously, are these people wrapping their kids in Saran Wrap before they eat or something? Little ones get messy, it's a fact of life, whether there's one or nine or nineteen! They're not parlor furniture that's covered in plastic and off limits 364 days a year.

These parents need to be made to come in and help just once. Unfortunately, while some would learn, the others would complain even more and hinder the processes of the day.

[BuggedMei]

That would be "They're" (pedantic,but you DID mention incorrect spelling etc.)

Shhh! It was 1am >_>;


Yes x.x most parents are sweet and kind but some are just raging idijots who need to realize their children are not the only ones I'm watching.

It happened yesterday, I had two kids outside with me, they were 1 and a half so we have our own fenced in play area for outside. One was playing nicely in the sandbox while the other was on a slide playset. I looked down at the one in the sandbox to make sure she wasn't eating it and the one of the slide slid off funky and started crying. I ran over, scooped him up, checked for injuries, then tried to calm him down.

The sandbox kids mother walks in just as I'm frantically checking for injuries and starts yelling "MY KID HAS A RUNNY NOSE". I'm sorry, I'll get a tissue right now, checking if this kid is hurt trumps your kids runny nose. She then goes on to rapid fire a hundred questions at me on why I wasn't paying attention to her kid and when she got there, ect ect.

I need to clone myself for this job..

[TelephoneAngel]

you know what else i have never understood?

At least in the uk, looking after the lederly and looking after small children is an entry-level job (although workers can get extra qualifications and therefore more pay), but in general they are paid minimum pay.

However, to me, looking after someone else should be a wellpaid job, with contented, not stressed, workers, meaning enough workers for the number of people to be looked after, the equipment they need, etc, so that it can be done properly.