We had Jake at THE day care yesterday morning. The girl there in the morning is really good and it's obvious she cares about those babies. I felt so uneasy all morning so I spoke with my boss and left work at noon. When I got there, one of the girls, who we liked but was only in the baby room occasionally , stopped me outside. She said, "I just heard today is Jake's last day. I'm so sorry. I was wondering what would happen after you found him in the corner, facing the corner, screaming. He's my favorite one and he's such a good baby. And ya know, Miss Angie (the old lady I didn't like...kind of ironic her name is Angie), didn't have patience with him and would only let him eat 2 oz, but I would sit with him until he ate all 6 oz." My jaw dropped. That explains all the 2 oz feedings he got. They told me he wasn't wanting to eat and that his schedule was all messed up. WTF? I could kill that woman. She's lucky she wasn't there when I picked him up yesterday or there definitely would have been an ass kicking. I don't care how old that bitch is.
When I got inside, the Asst. Director was playing with Jake. Ha! Too late, idiot! I had asked her for a letter stating we wouldn't be charged for the next two weeks per their cancellation policy. She had asked me for a letter stating we were pulling him out. We exchanged letters and a look of confusion came across her face. I had attached, to my letter, one of the state regulations. Regulation 746.2401 states, "basic care for infants must include: (2) Individual attention given to each child including playing, talking, cuddling, and HOLDING; and (3) Holding and comforting a child who is upset." My intention was to let her know I am aware of how to find the regulations and file a complaint. I also am genuinely concerned about the other children in that facility who aren't getting the attention they need. I explained that was my biggest concern and she might share that regulation with her staff. She got defensive and stood up for her staff. RED FLAG. Funny thing, there was someone there picking up their child who heard every word I had to say.
All in all, things were fine. He did have someone else's socks on, but I'll take that over any of the other stuff. I got him home, changed his clothes to get the day care smell off and we played. I promised to never put him in that situation again, so this new day care better watch out. I've been in regulatory services and know how that stuff works. A complaint is just a phone call away. I may be their worst nightmare.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Day Care Insanity
Well, on to day care number 2. I had been having some concerns the past few weeks about Jake's current day care. The list below were my first concerns:
1. Woman telling me Jake is fussy EVERY day.
2. Woman telling me I need to give my child gas drops EVERY day.
3. Using teething tablets as a cure-all.
4. Woman complaining to me about other parents.
5. Woman telling me they have 11 babies at times when Director promises the ratio is 4:1.
6. Woman grabbing a child by his arm and dragging him across the floor.
These things I didn't share with anyone for a while. They kept eating at me though and I finally shared my concerns with Mike and began calling other day cares. Day care, as you know, is really expensive. One I found was $200 more a month and I just was trying to figure out how we could afford that.
Monday, I went to pick up Jake and was asked, "do you hold him a lot? He wants us to hold him." I was caught off guard by this question and began explaining that we don't hold him A LOT but that he is our only child. I regretted that as soon as I walked out. I should have replied by asking, "what are you implying? Are you trying to tell me I hold my child too much? Do you have a problem with that?" But, I can't think that fast. So, that was added to my list of concerns. I get Jake home to find that his clothes are on backwards. Also added to my list.
Tuesday, Jake had a doctor's appt. I had decided I was going to pick him up early and go check out this other day care. I usually pick him up around 4:30 but got there at 2:30. When I walked in the front door I could hear my child screaming bloody murder. When I walked into the baby room I found that my child was sitting in an exersaucer in the corner, facing the corner. Neither caretaker was tending to anyone. They were just sitting there, ignoring my child while he screamed his little head off. There was no sense of urgency even after I had walked in. One woman says to me, "he's been bad today and now he's mad!" Well, you stupid effing "c" word, would you like it if you were put in the corner and not able to see anything but the effing wall? She then says, "we can't hold him cause then the others want to be held." Uh, I pay you to take care of my child...and that means holding him. The other woman then says to me, "we had to tell Danielle's dad to stop holding her so much on the weekends." WHAT? Are you effing kidding me lady? You actually had the balls to tell a parent how to parent their child? I stood there in shock. When I got Jake his little face just lit up. It broke my heart. I wondered how long he had been sitting in the corner, being punished for being bad. Please tell me how a 4 month old baby is bad? And, please tell me what makes you think a 4 month old can be punished? Please tell me what in God's name are you effing doing to my child? Jake was not wearing the clothes he had gone to day care in, as he hadn't the past two weeks. When questioned about his clothes, they couldn't tell me why they were different.
I grabbed my child, his car seat and we were out the door. By the time I got to my car I was in tears. I couldn't believe I had found my child in the corner, isolated from everyone else, screaming bloody murder and being ignored. It was awful. I immediately felt guilty. I've been thanking God ever since though for not allowing Jake to remember. He's too young to remember what happened. Unfortunately, for the rest of my life, I will never forget that image.
Mike left work early and went to the day care. He told them everything. The Director, of course, was very apologetic and begged for a second chance. That ain't happening! There's no going back. I'm also going to file a complaint with the state. I'm not sure what will happen but it will at least make me feel better.
1. Woman telling me Jake is fussy EVERY day.
2. Woman telling me I need to give my child gas drops EVERY day.
3. Using teething tablets as a cure-all.
4. Woman complaining to me about other parents.
5. Woman telling me they have 11 babies at times when Director promises the ratio is 4:1.
6. Woman grabbing a child by his arm and dragging him across the floor.
These things I didn't share with anyone for a while. They kept eating at me though and I finally shared my concerns with Mike and began calling other day cares. Day care, as you know, is really expensive. One I found was $200 more a month and I just was trying to figure out how we could afford that.
Monday, I went to pick up Jake and was asked, "do you hold him a lot? He wants us to hold him." I was caught off guard by this question and began explaining that we don't hold him A LOT but that he is our only child. I regretted that as soon as I walked out. I should have replied by asking, "what are you implying? Are you trying to tell me I hold my child too much? Do you have a problem with that?" But, I can't think that fast. So, that was added to my list of concerns. I get Jake home to find that his clothes are on backwards. Also added to my list.
Tuesday, Jake had a doctor's appt. I had decided I was going to pick him up early and go check out this other day care. I usually pick him up around 4:30 but got there at 2:30. When I walked in the front door I could hear my child screaming bloody murder. When I walked into the baby room I found that my child was sitting in an exersaucer in the corner, facing the corner. Neither caretaker was tending to anyone. They were just sitting there, ignoring my child while he screamed his little head off. There was no sense of urgency even after I had walked in. One woman says to me, "he's been bad today and now he's mad!" Well, you stupid effing "c" word, would you like it if you were put in the corner and not able to see anything but the effing wall? She then says, "we can't hold him cause then the others want to be held." Uh, I pay you to take care of my child...and that means holding him. The other woman then says to me, "we had to tell Danielle's dad to stop holding her so much on the weekends." WHAT? Are you effing kidding me lady? You actually had the balls to tell a parent how to parent their child? I stood there in shock. When I got Jake his little face just lit up. It broke my heart. I wondered how long he had been sitting in the corner, being punished for being bad. Please tell me how a 4 month old baby is bad? And, please tell me what makes you think a 4 month old can be punished? Please tell me what in God's name are you effing doing to my child? Jake was not wearing the clothes he had gone to day care in, as he hadn't the past two weeks. When questioned about his clothes, they couldn't tell me why they were different.
I grabbed my child, his car seat and we were out the door. By the time I got to my car I was in tears. I couldn't believe I had found my child in the corner, isolated from everyone else, screaming bloody murder and being ignored. It was awful. I immediately felt guilty. I've been thanking God ever since though for not allowing Jake to remember. He's too young to remember what happened. Unfortunately, for the rest of my life, I will never forget that image.
Mike left work early and went to the day care. He told them everything. The Director, of course, was very apologetic and begged for a second chance. That ain't happening! There's no going back. I'm also going to file a complaint with the state. I'm not sure what will happen but it will at least make me feel better.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Yea Me!!!
As most of you know I've been in a year long teacher certification program. This past Saturday was my last day. I'm finally finished. All those extra classes I had to take at ACC and then this year long program. I've been in school for almost three years trying to get to this point and I FINALLY made it. Now all I need is a stinking job.
I've sent resume packets to 73 schools. I've called and emailed every elementary principal in Round Rock, Pflugerville and Georgetown. Some were kind enough to respond, but others not so much. I check daily on the district websites to see what positions are still open or what new ones have popped up. I immediately apply and call when something new pops up. However, I'm to the point now of just being pissed at some of the principals. I've always been told "the squeaky wheel gets the oil." I'm finding in this situation that is not the case. Throw me a bone, people! I've GOT to get a job before January or else I have to travel with my current job and I just really don't know how I'm going to be able to leave Jake for 4 days. Yikes. Although, this morning, after getting him ready for day care, his butt exploded...all over me, all over him and all over the chair. Maybe I could do without that for a few days! Ha!
I've sent resume packets to 73 schools. I've called and emailed every elementary principal in Round Rock, Pflugerville and Georgetown. Some were kind enough to respond, but others not so much. I check daily on the district websites to see what positions are still open or what new ones have popped up. I immediately apply and call when something new pops up. However, I'm to the point now of just being pissed at some of the principals. I've always been told "the squeaky wheel gets the oil." I'm finding in this situation that is not the case. Throw me a bone, people! I've GOT to get a job before January or else I have to travel with my current job and I just really don't know how I'm going to be able to leave Jake for 4 days. Yikes. Although, this morning, after getting him ready for day care, his butt exploded...all over me, all over him and all over the chair. Maybe I could do without that for a few days! Ha!
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
GQ (Gym Queer)
So, this morning I was at the gym minding my own business, listening to my MP3 player. I had already done my cardio...which is usually spent watching people. You have the women who come to work out with full make-up and just finished hair. Uh, you're going to sweat. It's obvious they come to the gym strictly to impress people. Then you have your meat heads, as I call them, who come wearing those stupid little tank tops. You know, the tanks that are really skinny and go down past the man boobs. Yuck. Those guys walk around like their shit don't stink. Hey, I say, if you've got it flaunt it...but maybe cover up a little. And then you have your old dudes that like to wear shorts from the 60s. Yea, the really short ones and they, for some reason, feel the need to tuck their shirts in. Gross! Well, this morning I found a new category. While I was listening to my music I could hear some guy really huffing and puffing and making all kinds of racket. He was using the Leg Extension machine. The weight was just so heavy for him that he kept letting the weights slam down. I turned to look, as I assumed it was some big, beefy man. Ha!! It was this little tiny, wimpy dude. He was really struggling. But after every set, he would look around to see who was watching him because he was so proud of himself. After he exited the machine, I couldn't help myself...I had to go over and see how much weight he was trying to lift. I actually laughed out loud. Thankfully he was no where in sight. The weight was set at 70 lbs. I can lift 70 lbs. What is wrong with people? I don't go to the gym to impress people. I go to the gym to impress myself. I'm impressed that I actually get up at the ass crack of dawn to go. I'm impressed that I don't fall over dead after only 30 minutes of cardio. I'm impressed that my leg muscles still work after what I put them through. I most certainly don't go to find men to gawk at. And I definitely don't pretend I'm some awesome athlete. So, my new category is Gym Queer. We'll see if I can find anyone else to join the lone tiny dude in the club.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Windows Vista...
...SUCKS HAIRY BALLS!!! So, I got a new laptop a year ago...guess that makes it an old laptop now. Anyway, I hadn't used it a whole lot until the baby came and we got wireless. As soon as Jake was born I downloaded my camera software onto the laptop with no problems. I got the camera for graduation in 2003. A month or so ago I worked several hours on a homework assignment. Went to install my printer software (for the printer that came with the camera) onto the laptop only to find out that the damn printer isn't compatible. How does that make any sense? Vista will accept the camera software but not he printer software? Then, today, I went to download my MP3 player software and stupid Vista won't accept it. There's this long drawn out process on the MP3 player website but I'm afraid I'll screw everything up. I HATE VISTA! F'ing Microsoft and their ploy to make people spend more money!
Friday, August 8, 2008
Thursday, August 7, 2008
What I've Learned
Since having a baby I've learned lots of stuff. I've learned that no one can ever really prepare you. It doesn't matter what people say, you're not going to fully understand it until you live it. Many people told me before Jake was born, "you just make it without sleep." Somehow I manage to function and still smile. I smile because I can't wait til the end of the day when I get to pick him from day care and see him smile back at me!
I wanted to start working out again to lose the rest of this damn weight. I was having a hard time occupying Jake long enough to get in a decent workout at home. I wanted to join the gym again but was feeling guilty about leaving the baby at day care longer. I kept trying to work out at home but it just wasn't working. I would find myself playing with Jake and not making time to work out. Then, someone (a pregnant woman who already has one baby) said to me, "you've GOT to make time for yourself!" And another someone, a father of two, said to me, "you've got to stop feeling guilty!" So, I joined the gym. While it is hard to go when I'm so tired, I have found that I feel so much better afterwards. I'm doing something for myself and I'm not going to feel guilty about it. I'm going in the mornings, so Jake isn't staying at day care any longer than he has to.
If there's only one thing I could tell new moms, it would be exactly what I was told..."you've GOT to make time for yourself!" Working out and feeling good about myself makes me happier and in turn, I think, helps make me a great mom!
I wanted to start working out again to lose the rest of this damn weight. I was having a hard time occupying Jake long enough to get in a decent workout at home. I wanted to join the gym again but was feeling guilty about leaving the baby at day care longer. I kept trying to work out at home but it just wasn't working. I would find myself playing with Jake and not making time to work out. Then, someone (a pregnant woman who already has one baby) said to me, "you've GOT to make time for yourself!" And another someone, a father of two, said to me, "you've got to stop feeling guilty!" So, I joined the gym. While it is hard to go when I'm so tired, I have found that I feel so much better afterwards. I'm doing something for myself and I'm not going to feel guilty about it. I'm going in the mornings, so Jake isn't staying at day care any longer than he has to.
If there's only one thing I could tell new moms, it would be exactly what I was told..."you've GOT to make time for yourself!" Working out and feeling good about myself makes me happier and in turn, I think, helps make me a great mom!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)