Now, I have to give the micro managers some credit. In my experience these parents usually end up to be great daycare parents. But, sometimes getting to be the title holder of 'great parent' takes some time and painstaking frustration by the provider. Micro managers care. There's no doubt about that. After all, why would a parent who doesn't care send three pairs of footwear just in case the weather changes a number of times throughout the day. I mean, call me crazy but there is rarely an occasion when I would need a pair of runners, rubber boots and sandals in a nine hour period of time. But hey, no one can say they didn't understand the part of the contract that states, "all children must come prepared for the day". God love 'em for their attempt at perfection.
These are also the parents who send daily notes with explicit instruction on things like how many times to cut the grapes she sent with her child. This of course takes into consideration that YOU provide all the food but mom just wanted to be sure her child ate something that day. And it's a good thing too. I can't even imagine the panic I would be in if the child did not eat all day and then at pick-up time I couldn't find her because she had simply wasted away to nothing. Poof - there she goes because she didn't eat snack today. Damn, I hate when that happens. Ah, hell that's why I pay for daycare insurance.
I remember my first micro managers. The whole family arrived on day one with a diaper bag that was so big when dad carried it in I thought for sure he was on his way to hockey practice.
Oh, but wait, that surely couldn't be mistaken for his bag. Nope, the custom made cutsie metal name tags hanging off the bag in three places ensure no one would forget who it belonged to. Then of course, there were the cutsie matching name tag stickers in her shoes, on her bottle, her soother and of course, sewn into her favourite blanket. If that weren't bad enough mom pulls out of one of the fourteen overstuffed pockets of the diaper bag the personalized message pad that detailed every single minute of the child's day. Wow, this lady was organized. Oh, and what a surprise - there's even a cutsie message pad of my very own to document the events of the day. Yippee! By the end of the drop-off encounter I pushed them out the door and was so exhausted that I couldn't even remember the child's name. Oh yeah....good thing she had all those name tags!
Micro managers aren't really that organized. What they lack is trust. And who can blame them. Dropping off your precious treasure in the care of a stranger has to be one of the scariest things a parent will ever do. These parents have met all of their child's needs for the past year and now they worry they will not be met when they close the door behind them. The key to dealing with micro managers is reassurance. Be one step ahead of them. Call them on day one (and two and three if necessary) and let them know everything is fine. Send off an email with reassuring words and even a picture - preferably not one of the child crying. That would certainly not be reassuring! Micro managers have trust issues. And, as a provider you have to work hard to gain that trust. But in the end, these parents will usually turn out to be the best you have. Just give them time and be patient.
Most daycare providers I know are also micro managers. Most of us aren't all that different in that respect. We too could not bear the thought of leaving our child in the care of strangers and thus decided to provide care rather than use it. So, next time you find yourself rolling your eyes when a parent asks you how many times you cut up grapes, sigh and give the right answer. And make sure you clean out your front hall closet so you have enough room to store that enormous freakin' diaper bag.
ok just wanta say i was once guilty of this ............wont let it happen again lol thanks i feel better now
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