Double Standards

I'm getting used to taking flack. My email account is full of parents who, in so many words, love to hate me. That's okay. I like to remember that sticks and stones are the only thing that really hurt me. I tell it like it is and I won't apologize for it. But I do think there is a huge double standard that exists between my honest views as presented in this blog and the comments left by parents.

I believe every job has aspects that well......plain old suck. Everyone has a co-worker or boss that is rude, inconsiderate or hateful. We've all been there. The only difference is that having co-workers in close proximity to a desk or workspace offers a sounding board to vent frustrations with fellow employees. The water cooler is more than a place to wet your whistle; it's a therapeutic area where grievances are aired and high fives are distributed in abundance.

This is my water cooler.

I'm an Internet junkie. The information superhighway can find me driving along it at warp speed whenever I get the chance. And no doubt, the blog comments will fly in about that too - "what are the kids doing while you surf the Internet all day long"? I could address that but we'll leave that for another day so parents everywhere can space out their negative comments. Being an forum surfer means that I frequently lurk different types of sites - blogs, writing forums, daycare forums and of course, the creme de la creme of my material - parenting forums.

It's funny that most of the comments I receive come from parents who accuse me of being vengeful, harsh and, my favourite, a child-hater. What is ironic about the sentiment of most parents toward me is that a lot of the fodder for this blogs comes from parents on parenting sites.

I encourage any provider or parent alike to visit a few popular parenting sites and read just what they think of their daycare provider. It's astounding. They post a blatant disregard and even hatefulness toward the very person that cares for their precious child. They complain about having to pay the provider when their child is out sick. They complain that their provider takes too much time off when she asks for a mere two weeks vacation a year. They claim daycare is too expensive and the provider charges too much. They complain about having to pay late fees when their provider has worked a ten hour day and they show up half an hour late. They complain, complain, complain.

Don't believe me?

www.dcurbanmom.com
www.todaysparent.com
www.canadianparents.com

Those are just a few of the many, many parenting forums out there that regularly contain threads berating their daycare provider.

It seems there is a double standard in the world of daycare. Only parents are allowed to point out the perceived deficiencies of the home daycare provider. Providers, on the other hand are not allowed, under any circumstances, to complain or tell the truth. Providers are supposed to roll over, take what is doled out to them all the while sitting there on their eleventh working hour waiting for some parent to get off their bitchfest post on a forum to come pick up their child on their day off. Nope, no complaining allowed.

I don't sugar coat. It's impossible to make some things sugary sweet regardless of how much sugar you toss into the bowl. Besides, why should I? It seems there is no sugar coating in the secret competition of how much I hate my daycare provider.

Sure, there are great parents out there who would never think to do this. I know, I have many of them. And to those few great parents who take the time to read this blog I commend you. You are diamonds in a coal mine. And, just as there are providers who will willingly sit there waiting on a parent who does not have the consideration to show up on time, pay on time, or demonstrate an ounce of respect there are providers like ME who refuse to work with such parents and will take my own time and resources to post blogs about them.

The blogs I compose are rarely personal. Instead they reflect a situation I know another provider is facing or I have read on a forum on that Internet superhighway.

It is my intent to make the world of daycare transparent. No secrets, no hidden animosity. Everything is out in the open. Every one knows where they stand.

I DO tell my parents how I feel about their lack of judgement regarding the policy or contract. I am open and honest and never hide my true feelings. I have great business relationships with every parent of every child in my care.

Parents who have children in daycare: Every daycare parent knows where they stand with me because I make it a point to tell them. Do you offer your daycare provider the same courtesy? Or do you hide behind usernames on forums hoping you can silently harbour your resentment but smile at your provider while you are in the same room?

If so, I ask you to question who is really the bitter one?










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