Occupational Hazards

There are occupational hazard in any job. When you accept your position in any given career you also accept those responsibilities and pitfalls that accompany that position. Unfortunately, however, many people make the assumption that home daycare providers, babysitters to most, bear no risk. Nothing could be further from the truth.

The role of home daycare provider is one of patience, tolerance and business savvy. We wear many hats and fulfill more roles in the course of one day than many people do in a lifetime. We are chief cook and bottle washer, health and safety officer, live entertainment, garbage collector and business manager all in one. We endure airborne snot, smeared poop, food remnants, ear piercing screams and rude parents. But the biggest risk, if we are not careful, is that to both our health and our hearts.

Today I have the luxury of working while sick. Of course, every one of those ten snot filled nostrils that lay asleep right now in my daycare room are to thank for my present predicament. It is nearly impossible not to fall victim to their disease process when sneezed upon multiple times a day. Add to this the fact that every thing in my playroom, if put under a microscope, would prove to have spit particulate of some sort. Daycare children are ticking time bombs of infection. Anyone and everyone in their path will be stricken with the illness of the week and those kids will bat not an eye at their prey as they fall down, kleenex in hand into a pile of exhaustion on the playroom floor. Nope, kids don't care. Is it any wonder that when a child arrives at my door, clear snot dripping from their nose I feel less sorry for them than I do resentful of their presence? I know, undeniably that the snot they possess today will be my acquired state tomorrow. But alas, parents don't care. Off they go on their merry way to a work place where people actually wipe their noses instead of letting it drip into their mouths and hand sanitizer is in endless supply. In short, they don't have to wipe their kids nose and they don't care that I do.

Parents don't care in other regards either. Parents really don't care if my name is Judy or Sally or Jane. They simply want my warm body to open the door and take their snot ridden child for the day so that they might skip off to their kid-free, snot-free work environments where they will chat with co-workers over coffee about the sky-high price of daycare and their designer jeans.

Oh, I know what you are all thinking. Undoubtedly there will be someone who reads this blog who vehemently disagrees with my opinion. Well, let me say something to those people; actions speak louder than words. I've seen it all and I can say with complete unadulterated honesty that parents think of themselves. They don't think of their kids and they certainly don't think of their daycare provider. No, what's good for the parent is good for the parent.

I had the great (mis) fortune of caring for a family of two children over the course of five years. I was silly enough to assume I was a special part of their life. Our daughters forged strong, dependent friendships. They shared birthday parties, outings and little girl secrets. I welcomed those children into my home, my heart and my family. I was stupid and made the assumption that my family was a special part of their family. This was mistake number one; never make assumptions about anything. But the truth can become painfully evident quickly and when it does it slaps you upside the head like a character in a long ago silent movie. Before you know it you wonder what the hell just happened. You stand there stupefied and confused. And so it is with daycare families. When push came to shove it was money and my desire to be fair to me that prompted their decision to leave after five years of dedicated service and forged friendships. Oh sure, there were promises to keep in touch and allow the girls to remain friends. You know, all those things you say while standing eye to eye. But in the end words are just words. They mean nothing in an of themselves.

If I were standing at a podium addressing a room full of green, glassy-eyed, excited newbies to daycare I would offer them this important advice; think of you first. Everyone else comes second. And, I would mean every word. Do not fall prey to the preconceived notion that parents actually care about you or your family; they don't. Parents care for themselves and their children - so should you. Always do what is best for you. If you don't then two things are sure to happen. First, you will be hurt and angry and second, you will become resentful. Always better to be guarded and save yourself the heartache. Daycare is a business. Good business people do not get emotionally involved; neither should you. Open your doors, accept your cheques, do your best work and at the end of the day close your door and go on with your life. That is all that is required.

I am often cited as being too harsh, too selfish. I beg to differ. I am a business woman first and foremost. Yes, I am in the business of caring for children. I do care for them - and well, I might add. But my relationship with both them and their parents end there. I make no claims and offer no grand illusions of anything more. I am good at what I do and that, in and of itself should be enough of anyone to ask of me. There is no shame in preparing yourself for the occupational hazards of home daycare. Just as I drink my wheat grass juice and green tea and take my multivitamin every morning to prevent illness so do I put on my business hat to avoid financial difficulty and emotional heartache. It is loss prevention, plain and simple. And every good company under the sun has a loss prevention department. It's yet another hat you must wear.








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