I work in a childcare center, and our sick child policy is pretty clear-if we send a child home with a fever of 101.1 or higher, they must be picked up in an hour and can return to the center fever and med free within 24 hours. If I send a child home with a fever at 1030a, they have until 1130 to be picked up and can return to the center anytime after 1130 the next day, providing they are fever and medicine free. Most of our families are prompt in pick up and they do not bring their child back the next day. It's not fun leaving work to pick up a sick child, but it's part of being a parent.
I have a child transitioning into my classroom from our one year old room. and when K (his current teacher in the 1 room) brought him to our room, she said she called Mom, because he has a fever, but it wasn't high enough for him to go home. It was easy to tell by looking at him he wasn't feeling well, and our class went outside. When we came back in, I checked his temp to see if by chance the fever broke. It went down slightly, but spiked again. I took his temp again, and let a member of admin know I was calling Mom to pick him up. Mom has a tendency not to answer her phones, so I was surprised that I actually got in contact with her. She wanted me to take his temp again, considering at this time it was over 101, which meant he had to go home. They have been there for two weeks, and I understand they are still trying to familiarize themselves with our policy manual, yet she told me she was at work, and couldn't pick him up until 1230-130ish, which was clearly over the policy time. She sounded like she didn't want to be bothered with such trivial matters, and other teachers have gotten the same impression, as if she doesn't want to be bothered with sick children or a child's needs. Through a phone call to admin, and six calls to Mom and Mom's boyfriend, he was finally picked up. Mom's recation? " 'If he's sick that isn't my problem, because I have to work' ".
Other teachers who know the family have said they don't care for the Mom, as she seems to not care about her children: she ignores calls, doesn't return calls, drops off early as possible and picks up at 600p every night, ignores teachers notes on development and what her children (the 1 and 2 year old specifically) need; diapers. wipes, etc. She doesn't even bother to listen to teachers when they talk to her and won't make the time to chat with us. My co teacher's sister has the younger child, and my friends K and A have the 2 year old, who will be in my room full time next week.
This child seems very sweet, considering the fact that he cries literally all day, doesn't talk. and has no social skills. (Mom drives a school bus, and for the last year, he would ride the bus with her all day). I don't like having negative impressions or attitudes of children or families, and for me not to like a family or a parent is rare.
How do I deal with this parent? I'm thinking in all honesty they will leave soon due to being angry with the policies and the fact she has to be a mother, and can't be lazy. I think she wants to be coddled, and I cannot do that.
Thoughts?
