Dump On Me

Daycare is like a construction site. Beside my home is an open field where new homes are being built in a frenzy of banging hammers, ground shaking backhoes and smells of new wood and fresh concrete. When I look at that construction site I realize that perhaps the worlds of construction and daycare are not so different. Just think about it for a minute and soon you too will agree.

Construction projects always start with digging a hole. Just like the hole every daycare provider found in her pocket as she repeatedly doled out cash to set up her daycare. And, then, like the concrete foundation they start to pour every daycare provider gathers together all those things that form the foundation of her business - toys, crafts, first-aid training, a police check, advertisements and clients. The daycare provider carries on, improving the frame work of her business just as the house finds itself with lumbar walls. Eventually, both the daycare provider and the house fill in the cracks and a complete unit is presented to the world. And one day, when it is weathered and old and the roof starts to flop in the breeze the daycare provider will realize that like the old house, she too has character and memories.

What struck me most about construction in relation to daycare was the arrival of dump trucks. The trucks pull in to the lot, backing up, all warning bells dinging and then when perfectly positioned they dump the load of topsoil and leave in a great hurry. When I saw this occur it struck me how many daycare parents dump and run too.

How often does a parent off load their responsibilities on a daycare provider? How often do they come in, alarm bells going off, dump and run? The short answer is all the time. My personal favourite of these typical situations is breakfast. My policies state that all children must come prepared for the day. However, every day one particular child shows up with a plastic container of mini muffins to consume as his first meal. The excuse is always the same; the parent was too rushed. Interesting concept. The parent was too rushed to feed one child but sees nothing of the fact that I am responsible for five children and now must find the time in my rushed day to supervise a child while they eat their breakfast. Perhaps I fail to see the logic there.

Of course there are a thousand other responsibilities that parents back up to your doorstep and dump into your lap. Just the other day I was reading a forum post about a parent who couldn't be bothered to ensure a child finished a prescribed antibiotic. This parent claimed "it wasn't worth the battle" but the very next day asked the daycare provider to ensure the child received his daily dosage. Yes, let the dumping begin. Then there are always the parents who dumps on to the provider the responsibility of dressing the child as they arrive in their pajamas, today's clothes in a shopping bag. "Sure", you say, "no problem". Before long you wish the backhoe would just come along and run you over. Life would be easier that way.

Yes, daycare is like construction in so many ways. The only visible difference is with the man who holds the sign that reads, "stop" and "slow". My kids don't seem to understand that one. Maybe I just need to borrow the sign guy for the day. Or better yet, I'll trade him jobs. He can enjoy my dump truck and I'll try out his. I'm pretty sure by the end of the day I will be all smiles and he will be looking for that backhoe.

For concerns, advice or suggestions I welcome your email at judytrickett@yahoo.ca