Tuesday, July 10, 2007

How Do I Trust Again?

A woman in my congregation called me tonight to tell me that her daughter had a bad experience at the daycare/preschool that I have enrolled my kids (my son just for the summer.) She didn't say that anyone hurt her daughter, but that her daughter seemed unhappy there and they didn't monitor her diet closely enough. (The daughter has a milk allergy.) This woman is a little high strung and I tend to take things that she says with a grain of salt. However, after what we experienced in May with our last child care provider, I am extra sensitive to any complaint I hear about where my children are.

My children tell me that they like this place, but are unhappy that they have to go everyday. Yeah, they know how to push my guilt buttons.

I believe this woman when she says that they had a bad experience, but I don't want to over-react because every place has someone who didn't like them for whatever reason. However, I do not want to repeat the mistake of rationalizing things that I see and hear. The sad thing is that I didn't even know that I was rationalizing. This place has internet monitoring, and believe you me, I will be monitoring.

How are you vigilant without being overly suspicious? And how can I ever trust another child care provider again?

8 comments:

revhipchick said...

good luck sweetie! it's such a difficult call. i don't think there is a good answer for you. if you find it please let me know!

thinking of you!

Towanda said...

Honey, I'll keep praying for you. That's all I know to say. Just do the best you can, that's all you can do.

Hot Cup Lutheran said...

it must be sooo hard. Sissie Cup phoned today & asked if I would provide childcare 2 - half days a week for Sissie Cup Jr (just for about 6 weeks).... well I guess I could balance a baby & make calls or write a sermon or er something...

oy. prayers.

Iris said...

Thanks, you all.

Hot Cup, that would be one balancing act! Are you going to do it?

Cathy said...

So hard to know the right thing to do - praying for you!

Nina Reeder said...

Iris - you will be in my prayers. You have offered so many good thoughts for me and I truly appreciate it. Childcare is the most difficult call. How to trust that your kids are being well and truly cared for? Do dads worry the same way that moms do? Blessings to you ---

tngirl said...

Iris, I feel for you. I once worked in preschool and day care administration, and I can tell you it is so hard to make the right choice. I also had my son in home day care. I don't know how you will ever feel good again, after May. But, just keep a watch on things and ask questions EVERY day . . . to your kids and also to the providers. ASK LOTS OF QUESTIONS! I wish you peace . . .

Elaine (aka...Purple) said...

Thanks for the welcome!

Hope there is some peace around the child care issue.