Monday, June 22, 2009

Bittersweet

Today is the last day for the four year old I have in care. Her mom is a teacher and, as has been the case for the past three years, does not require summer time care. However, unlike previous years when she has always returned in September, this year she will spend her days with a new provider in the fall. This child will attend half day JK and the home of her new babysitter in the afternoon. Yes, I did call her a babysitter.

Perhaps I am a bit jaded. No, I'm a lot jaded. I am the casualty of a $20 a day provider in my neighbourhood. So, instead of staying in my care at a rate of $40 a day that included transportation to and from school, no fees for school holidays and the same excellent care I have provided them for three years I have lost out to a babysitter. This babysitter will charge half my rates, have the child in care for the same number of hours, will have her ten year old walk the child to and from school and will unlikely be serving a whole-foods, organic menu. Yes, I am a victim of the discount warehouse of the neighbourhood babysitter.

I think what bothers me most about the situation is not that I am losing a great kid - possibly the best child I have ever had in care - but that it does demonstrate on some level that I really wasn't appreciated. To me, there is no argument to be make otherwise when I am dumped due to money. But, hey, I guess you get what you pay for. I'm quite certain that the ten year old who will be escorting her to and from school won't stop to notice that her top button is open and her hood is flying in the wind on those cold, minus 20 winter days. I'm also quite certain that the ten year old will not be relayed messages by the teacher on the daily happenings in her classroom. Nor do I suspect that she will appreciate tromping through the knee high snow on her way to school instead of the warmth of a nice warm ride in the middle of January. And, finally, I'm thinking that for the $20 a day they pay in fees there will be no residual monies to celebrate special days like birthdays, Christmas and Easter. I just don't see it happening. I'm also sure her babysitter won't take her to Wal-mart along with her own kids and happily buy her a toy too so she won't feel left out. And forget about Muffin Day.

I'll admit that I'll miss her humour. I often laughed about how I should really videotape the stories she relays to me about her "hard poop" or her "nose boogers". But, then again, what would I do with those tapes? It's apparent our relationship is superficial at best. I don't foresee a wedding invitation any time in the future.

But, her leaving will also ensure that I am no longer sitting here watching the clock tick by every Friday when I know her mom was off at 11:30am and will enjoy an afternoon nap before she shows up at one minute to closing to pick up her child. It will also mean that as of this week I am no longer a full-time home daycare provider but now enjoy the luxury of being closed each and every Friday. Yes, today is a bittersweet day.

The oven just beeped. It's now up to temperature. I guess I had better go and get started on those special cupcakes I am making to celebrate her stay with us. I had better make them extra special. They might be the last ones she ever has in her daycare years. I know for certain that I am her last "daycare provider". So, I'll make today count. She deserves it.




For concerns, advice or suggestions I welcome your email at judytrickett@yahoo.ca
Posted by at 8:17 AM
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6 comments:

  1. I got thinking this morning about kids and special days. I used to go all out when a daycare kid celebrated his/her birthday. Maybe I'm getting lazy or something but I have a boy turning 7 this week and I have no plans to make special cupcakes for him. He is also ending his time here with me soon. His parents have purchased land and are building a very fancy house on a hill and their kids will change schools this fall. I have watched this little man for about five years now and his older brother and younger sister. Many birthdays have come and gone for this family. They have outlived their welcome in my home, they are often rude and disrepectful during their early morning stay in my care. I always look forward to 8 when they go marching out my door off to school. Gone are the days of cuddling with the youngest one of this family. Her cuteness no longer appeals to me. Funny how once a favorite family, this family has simply become the one I count the days until they are done. And it's not because of the parents either. I truly do appreciate their mother, she always pays me every second thursday, the day she gets paid from her boss. This family always brings in a wonderful gift at Christmas. Perhaps this family is so comfortable in my home after having been a part of it for so long they pay me the disrespect they pay to their own parents. Anyway, there will be no cupcakes baked here this week. My excuse? OOOOh it's simply way to hot to start the oven up today! And I'm thinking there may not be a birthday gift for this boy either. Normally I have something on hand in my 'magic closet' but it is surprisingly empty at the moment. I'm also thinking that when their time is done at the end of the summer months and they go off to another home and another school for the 'farm kids' I may not have a parting gift for them either. I'm undecided about that one. This family has been with me for years and I know I have an abundance of photos of the three kids that I could do up a little memory album for their parents like I have done in the past with my 'favorites' who have left my care in the past. I haven't done a lot of scrapbooking since March. And Judy I did do a count the other day which totalled over 120 kids who have come and gone over the years of my doing childcare. Some were one day back up kids but a great percentage were kids I spent day in and day out with for two or three years running.
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  2. JungleJen:

    "Funny how once a favorite family, this family has simply become the one I count the days until they are done. And it's not because of the parents either. I truly do appreciate their mother, she always pays me every second thursday, the day she gets paid from her boss. This family always brings in a wonderful gift at Christmas. Perhaps this family is so comfortable in my home after having been a part of it for so long they pay me the disrespect they pay to their own parents."

    I SOOOOOO hear you there! I too have a family whose parents are super fantastic and you couldn't ask for more respectful adults. But yeah, their kids are ready to move in IMO. Yep, I'm there too!
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  3. Boy, do I hear you. Unfortunately for the kids it does come down to money. I, like you, want only the best care given to any of my daycare children. I know exactly where you're coming from when that care comes right down to the top button. I live in an area where the woman across the street babysits between 8 and 13 children a day, for a mere $20 per child. I charge only $5.00 more per day per child and only keep maximum 5. Everything here is about the kids. Everything there is about her money obviously. She is making out like a bandit because parents won't put out $5.00 more per day for quality care. I guess the difference between our daycare kids and parents is that they respect me, my family, and my property. Kudos the them. I know it's not the same for her. It might take me longer to fill an anvailable space but I get quality parents. I too have a teacher and hope this doesn't happen to me down the road.
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  4. Yep everybodies looking for "affordable" care. Also know as cheap. Seriously, I just don't get it. It's the same at interviews. I get grilled on my menu, my curriculum, referances, training and ultamately get passed up for the lady down the street who charges 5$ less per day. i do agree though. It may take longer to fill my spots, but I have quality famillies who want the best for their children and appreciate what I do.
    Besides I get a kick out of it everytime a family call me a few months down the road to see if I still have a space because things aren't working out with the lady down the street :0)
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  5. Judy I have just got my notice too from my teacher mom. In our final interveiw I agreed Not to charge her for xmas and march break but would only require two weeks pay for the two months she would be off. She emailed me her time she is done and they would see me after labour day. I returned her email with the reminder of payment, she has now emailed me she has found "a close family friend" to care for dcb in Sept
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  6. Sounds like a very bittersweet day. I hope you can enjoy the time with the child herself.

    The almighty $ wins again. Of if life could revovle around quality only, there'd be no Wal-Mart's around! ;-)

    LMM
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