Yay I do apologize for all of the parents who weren’t able to get your children into camp. This blog is not meant to stir up any ill feelings you had having to scramble for your little people. I feel your pain in that would have led me into pure anxiety. However I just want to do a dance that camp is over. Trust and believe it’s not just that the start of school is literally around the corner, it has everything to do with what camp has meant for the Storr household.
My son was in another daycare and with that daycare they have a built-in camp. He didn’t make it quite to his first full year. The issue is simple, he was having issues adjusting. He was having issues with some of the kids and that’s all I will say to protect the innocent. However as a parent it was hard having to find alternatives for him. I had to take him to counseling at some point which worked out since towards the end he was adjusting to life without his grandmother since her passing. With all that was going on, I personally have to admit, I didn’t remove him in enough time. Shocker I know. I battled taking him from the daycare because it was convenient for me to take him and his sibling to school and me to work. The agony of having to start the process of locating another new school made my head hurt. So I feel that my husband who took my lead and I just didn’t pull the trigger. That is the one thing to date I regret.
Let me remind you that the very first daycare he was in since he was a baby discharged him and his siblings because they had contracted hand, foot and mouth virus which is a super common virus usually contracted in daycare go figure. He never got over being in his mind thrown in the second daycare to be honest. I don’t even ride past that old daycare anymore to avoid the why did she let us go questions.
In the turn of events, since not being enrolled in either daycare, my son has bounced back. So in my mom heart, it has given me such a calm. I went from getting calls daily because of my son’s responses to what was happening to none. Not like a call but it wasn’t bad nope, to NONE. Let me tell you how happy that has made me feel within itself. He is back to enjoying going back to camp or as he calls it school since he starts kindergarten next week. He smiles when you pick him up. He is excited about all of the trips. But it’s now coming to an end today. It was great for him to have this positive experience before he starts school next week.
Let me say and make clear, I do not place blame at the previous daycare at all. The first one I simply do not have anything positive to say on their behalf. However the second one just wasn’t a good fit and if I be honest it wasn’t a good full fit for our family in the long run. The reason is simple the second my son after a few months hadn’t adjusted I should have pulled him. As a mom I should have set myself to the side on it and followed his cue. It would have saved time and energy but we all live and learn.
Camp has done both he and his oldest sibling super well. One its been a great peace not having to pay for field trips in addition to his tuition weekly. Lawd, trying to keep straight who goes where and spending money for all is a lot in itself. This camp provided all of that with the tuition and all the kids had the same things except if there was an allergy issue. Do you know how much of a mom win that is? A huge one. So they won me over right from the start. Was it more money? Absolutely. But like my husband and I say you get what you pay for. So we adjusted. the kids had a blast. Some of their trips I was kind of jelly over. They really had a good time and not one provider did I have an issue with. That is a blessing. Camps and daycare cost too much to deal with bad attitudes and bad vibes. I tell people all the time, the ones who keep our children so we can work have hard jobs. However this is something that you choose. If you get to a point as a daycare worker or teacher and you heart isn’t in it, its time to renew your mind or find a new career. This coming in and out snubbing parents, acting passive aggressive, or just altogether rude, will not cut in this field. This goes for administrators too. You have to either love what you do, take a break, or keep it moving. Nobody should have to come into your place of business and especially if they are paying for their kids to attend to deal with your nasty attitude either.
Here are a few things I want to highlight as we end camp and go into the school year:
- Know your money has power. Although in daycare kids come and go, never forget that you are still paying for a service. If you don’t like it, give notice and find somewhere else to go. It’s simple. You don’t have to argue. Know your own money power and do what you have to do.
- Along with money power know the background and this is really for other camps and daycare. A lot of camps have parents and families who run off of government assistance. I am not knocking it, but never treat others better than or worst because of it. Just because of a subsidy they have the same buying power. Keep in mind that to the ones who pay cash can sometimes keep your daycare afloat if the government furloughs. Government has and will furlough again and if that happens it’s sometimes the cash paying clients are the ones that take the sting off behind the scenes. How do I know this, my twin has been in the field since we were 18, we are now 36 I know a lot more than I let people believe.
- You can make a grievance with the daycare and if they don’t hear you, they are governed by laws that they have to uphold. In Pa there is a star system and anything done that doesn’t align to that system that the daycare is on can be reported and you don’t have to simply take what they give you. They can’t retaliate against you or withdraw your child. Always check with the department of welfare or the state to see if the daycare has had any violations. This is your duty as a parent and your right to do so.
- Find a daycare that has everything in writing especially for how they will handle instances of bullying or behavioral. If you do not you will be battling air. The reason is without these practices in writing daycare and camps can do as they please and you will only be able to complain or make static if they don’t abide by the laws. Most daycares will abide by the law but not by a moral and human standard if they don’t feel as if things weren’t an issue. Trust me.
- Never sign a non disclosure agreement if you leave. Don’t sign it. Get a copy if they ask you to and take it to an attorney. I can’t even think why they would have one but trust and believe I keep an attorney on stand by and I will sign Donald Duck before I sign my name to some trash like that. Daycares and camps run off a word of mouth for the most part. Sorry not sorry. We are talking about human lives. How the facility acts when things are less than stellar speaks about how they truly run. I for one think others need to be cautious and asking those who was there if you have the ability to do so is key.
- If you are ever in a position where you don’t get along with administration even if its one or more of the persons in charge, made the decision if you are willing to stay with all things the same. In other words, if the person (s) you do not get along can you deal with that for the sake of your child. Sometimes you can and other times you can’t. You should never feel like you are stuck. IF you do, your child will pick up on that resentment. If I am honest I know my kids have done so and looking at the situation I may or may not be sorry about that. I wrote about vibes and for me vibes matter. I have had bad vibes with a person and how that person continues to act may suggest if I should correct the issue or let it go and move on.
- Do not allow your child to do something that you didn’t sign for. For instance the Summer has been filled with drowning deaths. One event comes to mine with the daycare from the South who was supposed to hike but then took the kids swimming and the child drowned and died. This type of stuff infuriates me. Do not send home a permission slip, get permission from the parent to do that activity and change without notifying and getting permission from the parent. That was a free nugget for any daycare or camp. This is a huge lawsuit waiting to happen. Even more there is a family that is experiencing life without the life of a child who could still be here had they followed the laws and rules.
- Do not be afraid to find another camp, daycare or school. Listen as we go into the school year, my kids have the privilege to go to private school, with that we literally mean business when it comes to their education, and how much we spend and what we expect. We do over and beyond on all fundraisers, attend all meetings, engage all year without a parent teacher conference, attend all parties, come to all functions, and pay our fees during the year as asked I literally will put up with ZERO foolishness from administration. We mean zero. No one has to chase us to be involved with our kids lives and with that in mind I demand that the school hold up their end of the bargain at all times. There is no pat on the back for what we do and neither will it be for those who teach them. So we all have to be held accountable.
I want to shout out the second and last daycare/camp for the time they have had with my children. As we transition into the next phase of our children’s journey, there is no hard feelings whatsoever but its time to continue down the path of excellence. The kids have been super happy and that makes us super happy as parents. This blog was not a means to air out any grievances. This blog is to empower parents to never forget your power when dealing with daycare, daycare providers, camps, or schools. Just because for those who work, and having someone to keep our kids is a must, doesn’t mean you have to take junk just to get through. You were in control the minute you signed the contract and you are in control until you discontinue the relationship. I hope that this blog gets you engaged on what some providers will do, what you don’t have to tolerate, and why you need to be on the lookout for in the future. If you are fortunate to have someone who you trust keep your kids, do not let your guard down just because they are family or friends either. Be vigilant in what you need, what importantly your kids needs, and realize that business is business and the business of healthy, happy, and engaged kids is most important. Lastly trust your gut, and listen to your child. Do not do what I did and air on caution for yourself. Trust yourself. Goodbye to Summer Camp but come through 2017/2018 school year!!
