essexgirl1967
10-03-2009, 10:40 AM
Hi!
Been a childminder 11 years so used to parents trying to send ill children to me, but in last few weeks this seems to have got ridiculous.
I have a policy where if a child is too ill for school ( I only look after school aged kids) then they are too ill to come to me. Sickness & diarrhoea is specifically mentioned in policy as is high temperatures,etc.
About a month ago, one mindee had some spots on her tummy, I was told she was always itchy, but turned out to be chickenpox. Passed it on to several mindees and my DS. I carried on childminding when my DS had it as all other mindees already had it, but gave parents the option not to come, if they were worried about they child being exposed to the germs.
Another DS has recently had a burst ear drum and needs to avoid catarrh building up in it whilst its healing, all mindees parents know about this. Last week had 4 year old mindee dropped ( literally as dad knocked on door and ran down path as soon as I opened the door).
I ended up ringing the mum as he was absolutely boiling hot and very tearful, she said yes he was ill, but had given him calpol and it just needed time to work! I said he couldn't go to school ill and she insisted that he was fine, and practically ORDERED me to take him to school. I did but took him into office and explained that he wasn't well but that parents wanted him to go.
This week, I have a 5 year old mindee that sounds as if she has a chest infection, very tearful, nose and eyes streaming, cries when she has a coughing fit as chest hurts. Texted mum when I collected her yesterday from school to say she needed to go home, mum text back that she was on her way, but still collected at normal pick up time.
She's here again today, mum thinks she is just tired! but says even if she is ill she has to go to school as parents have had too much time off with her lately ( she is the mindee that started the chickenpox).
DH is home this week, and getting really stressed out watching her cough and splutter over everyone especially DS who is supposed to be avoiding getting a cold!
If I could think of any other job I could do to fit around my family I would as this is really getting to me now. It seems that with the credit crunch, parents are so fearful of taking time off in case they lose their jobs that they are sending very unwell kids to school /childminders whatever the situation.
Anyone else having this problem? x
Been a childminder 11 years so used to parents trying to send ill children to me, but in last few weeks this seems to have got ridiculous.
I have a policy where if a child is too ill for school ( I only look after school aged kids) then they are too ill to come to me. Sickness & diarrhoea is specifically mentioned in policy as is high temperatures,etc.
About a month ago, one mindee had some spots on her tummy, I was told she was always itchy, but turned out to be chickenpox. Passed it on to several mindees and my DS. I carried on childminding when my DS had it as all other mindees already had it, but gave parents the option not to come, if they were worried about they child being exposed to the germs.
Another DS has recently had a burst ear drum and needs to avoid catarrh building up in it whilst its healing, all mindees parents know about this. Last week had 4 year old mindee dropped ( literally as dad knocked on door and ran down path as soon as I opened the door).
I ended up ringing the mum as he was absolutely boiling hot and very tearful, she said yes he was ill, but had given him calpol and it just needed time to work! I said he couldn't go to school ill and she insisted that he was fine, and practically ORDERED me to take him to school. I did but took him into office and explained that he wasn't well but that parents wanted him to go.
This week, I have a 5 year old mindee that sounds as if she has a chest infection, very tearful, nose and eyes streaming, cries when she has a coughing fit as chest hurts. Texted mum when I collected her yesterday from school to say she needed to go home, mum text back that she was on her way, but still collected at normal pick up time.
She's here again today, mum thinks she is just tired! but says even if she is ill she has to go to school as parents have had too much time off with her lately ( she is the mindee that started the chickenpox).
DH is home this week, and getting really stressed out watching her cough and splutter over everyone especially DS who is supposed to be avoiding getting a cold!
If I could think of any other job I could do to fit around my family I would as this is really getting to me now. It seems that with the credit crunch, parents are so fearful of taking time off in case they lose their jobs that they are sending very unwell kids to school /childminders whatever the situation.
Anyone else having this problem? x