10/31/97

Good-buy, Freedom!

In response to Good-bye, Freedom!

A childcare provider warns us about the "parents from hell."

I admit there are plenty of "babysitters from hell," but as a former state licensed daycare owner, you would not believe the "parents from hell," who finally drove me to shut down my home-based childcare center.  Some brought me 2 diapers for an eight hour day.  Others brought ill children and then never picked them up when I called tham at work to inform them their child could not stay because he was vomiting. There was one who took soaking wet clothes out of my dryer (the child had soiled them), put them back on her daughter and took her home - IN JANUARY!  Also I should mention the mother who interviewed me for 15 minutes by phone, never checked one reference and wanted to leave her daughter with me that very afternoon.

I finally decided to quit when a father took his daughter home and almost yanked her arm out of the socket - then tried to blame me.  Thank God I had an assistant and one other parent who witnessed that she was fine when she left my home.  When I called the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to report him, he came to my home and threatened the life of my 6 month old son and myself.

Last but not least there were the four or five parents who stopped paying me.  When I told them I needed to be paid before their child could return - POOF - they disappeared and I never saw hide nor hair of them (or the money) again.

I gave a balanced, state-supervised meal program, taught crafts and nature studies, and took the kids to parks, zoos and museums for $2.50 per hour per child.  I wasn't out to make a killing - just to pay a few bills and spend time with and teach children.  I could go on forever, but you more than get the idea why I am an ---  Ex-sitter

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