DAYCARE DISASTER
🌷Evie started daycare this past Tuesday. I knew it was going to be difficult putting her in someone else’s care. What I wasn’t prepared for was watching the daycare monitor (without sound) that appeared to show a provider yelling at our four-month-old baby, getting frustrated, and walking away. On the first day.
Phil, being the protective dad that he is, confronted the daycare the very next day. Going in without Evie.
To the daycare’s credit, it admitted the video looked concerning and assured us they would review the video (with sound) and get back to us.
We were livid. Absolutely spinning. What excuse or justification could possibly be given? We were already stressed, being forced into finding a last-minute daycare after our preferred spot didn’t have room for us. And now this was our experience.
Evie stayed home the next two days after “the incident.” Thank goodness for my parents.
The daycare stated, that although not acceptable, the provider was not yelling but was rather using a “tough love” approach, saying “No, no, we’re not crying today.” The other provider in the room just sat on the floor during the “tough love”, clearing uncomfortable; even more concerning that she did not step in to help when there were crying babies. The daycare understood our concern and assured us they wanted us and Evie to be comfortable, and would be more than happy to move her rooms.
At the end of the week, we decided to give it a go. Our options were limited and frankly, we see a lot of benefits in daycare. I dropped Evie off in the new room. The room immediately felt different than the last. The caretakers didn’t appear overly stressed, and there was a warmth that I didn’t feel before. When I picked Evie up later that afternoon, she was happy and exhausted. The whole experience felt different. I’m sure they were trying to be overly accommodating, after what happened, by the caregivers actually seemed to want to be there (I mean, one was there for over a decade.)
For now, we’re sticking. We will see what the future holds. And in the meantime, you know damn well we will be checking in (via the video stream) on our little one.🌷
