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Conference moira::parenting

Title:Parenting
Notice:Previous PARENTING version at MOIRA::PARENTING_V3
Moderator:GEMEVN::FAIMANY
Created:Thu Apr 09 1992
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1292
Total number of notes:34837

919.0. "Can't stand other child at daycare" by AKOCOA::NELSON () Tue Mar 14 1995 14:36

    I did a dir/tit through the DAYCARE-related notes, but didn't find
    anything too helpful.  Mods, if this needs to be moved, by all means
    do so.
    
    My 3.5 year old daughter is in full-time daycare, and she just cannot
    stand the other little girl there (Meghan, who is about 2.5).  Some
    days Holly does OK, other days, she bursts into tears the minue Meghan
    arrives at the sitter's.  She doesn't really like to play with Meghan,
    doesn't want to share, etc., etc.  So of course, every evening (or
    morning, depending on which one of us is picking the kids up), I get
    this litany from my sitter about what a pain in the neck Holly was that
    day, etc.  BTW, there are only Holly and Meghan in the day care at this
    time.
    
    Moreover, Holly has been really awful the last few weeks.  SHe just got
    toilet-trained early last month (finally!).  But she won't do any of
    the typical 3.5-year-old stuff, such as picking up her own toys (well,
    she will if she feels like it and if you do most of the actual work!). 
    Sometimes when I ask her to do something, she'll burst into tears and
    run screaming into her bedroom, slamming the door after her.  She did
    this on Sunday, and when I tried to open her door to talk to her,
    needless to say she was right behind the doorknob and got bonked on the
    forehead.  She has a huge goose egg on her forehead now and it looks
    like I hit her with a two-by-four. (Like everyone else, I feel REALLY
    guilty when I have to explain these bumps and bruises to the sitter.)
    
    Anyway, I don't know what to do.  When I called the pediatrician to
    discuss this, the nurse left a message on my voice mail and said, "If
    you feel this is a problem, make an appointment with the mental health
    professional."                   
    
    I'm getting real stressed out and am starting to wonder about my
    ability and effectiveness as a parent.  I should also add that Holly is
    a bright kid, generally well-behaved and pleasant.  But her recent
    behavior toward this other little girl at day care has me concerned.
    
    
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
919.1I'd be a brat too!CLOUD9::WEIERPatty, DTN 381-0877Tue Mar 14 1995 15:5837
    
    If it was me, I'd change her daycare.  It SOUNDS to me like your
    daughter REALLY dislikes Meghan, and the sitter really LIKES Meghan,
    and is unable to work with the two girls so they get along, and is
    blaming Holly for it (Holly was terrible today!).  
    
    All kids aren't going to get along, and it also sounds like her misery
    at the daycare is causing her to act up in other places.  Don't you
    remember that lady that used to sit in the office near yours that you
    despised?!?  (someone, somewhere, I'm sure)  Now picture if you were
    'stuck' with her all day long and forced to play with her.  And if you
    DIDN'T, everyone blamed you!!  When it's clear to you that the other
    girl/woman is just a twit.
    
    If you decide to change, I'd be CAREFUL to explain to Holly that you're
    doing this because you believe that there may be a problem, and that
    you'll find a different place together, but that you don't expect the
    same kinds of problems in a different place.  Let her know that you're
    willing to help her, but you're NOT going to be walked over.  It's
    reasonable that she may not get along with a particular individual or
    two, but it's not reasonable if she never gets along with anyone.
    
    As for her tantrums at home .... she's in a place she claims she hates,
    all day (or at least w/ a person she dislikes), and as far as she can
    tell, this is what the rest of her life will be like.  I'd be upset
    too!  Maybe you can focus on the positive at home, or explain to her
    that Meghan's not around anymore (at home) and you expect her to treat
    you guys right .... or something like that.
    
    What 3.5 year olds pick up toys?!?!?!?  I'd like one of them!!  If I
    threaten to beat my kids with a stick, they'll think about it (well,
    it's not that bad...).  There is no "typical 3.5 year old", and if you
    have an image of one, your child is certain to be the opposite (that's
    in the genes!).  I'd try to work 'one problem at a time', at least
    until you can get the daycare situation straightened out.
    
    Good Luck!
919.2BIGQ::MARCHANDTue Mar 14 1995 16:5118
    
         I have to agree with .1.  Sounds to me like she's being forced
    to be "nice" to someone she doesn't care for and is resenting it. 
    So, she's doing the only thing she knows how, acting out her anger so's
    someone will listen and see that she has a problem.
    
        As for the day-care, I don't think I would be happy with them. 
    If they are blaming a 3.5 year old for they're inability to deal
    with the situation then they need mental health facilities not you!
    
        Plus, I wouldn't want my 3.5 year old to feel that no matter
    how much she dislikes a person she has to be "nice as pie". It's not
    a good lesson to learn. She does need to learn how to function
    in situations around people she doesn't care for, but she shouldn't be
    forced into "niceness".  I'm not sure if this paragraph came out
    the way I was thinking.
    
        Rosie
919.3daycare center?MPGS::HEALEYKaren Healey, VIIS Group, SHR3Wed Mar 15 1995 09:299
    
    Perhaps it is time to switch to a center where she will be with kids
    her own age (not 1 year younger) and have lots of other kids to choose
    as her friends?
    
    Personally, I plan to move Lauren to a center when she is 3 since I
    think that she will have outgrown a family day care by then.
    
    Karen
919.4Find some place FUN for HollyBRAT::JANEBSee it happen => Make it happenWed Mar 15 1995 16:426
    It does sound like time to change daycares!  
    
    Holly deserves to be with a caretaker who really LIKES her!
    
    If I were her age and in that situation, I'd act up too.   Come to
    think of it, that applies to the age I am as well!
919.5Maybe it's a phaseSTOWOA::SPERAFri Mar 17 1995 14:2721
    
    Why doesn't she like Meghan ? (Before you scream, let me explain that I
    have a nearly 4 year old who held her breath and passed out on me this
    morning as I left daycare and I still don't know why she did it !)
    
    Still, I think we have to find out what is causing the problem and
    whether there is another solution. I knwo drop off and pick up are
    rushed times but can your provider find some time to talk to you about
    what is going on. Maybe Meghhan is going through a phase that is
    pissing off Holly.
    
    Last night, I heard again about Marc...he calls her a baby, he sticks
    out his tongue, etc. I haven't a clue what to do so the advice I give
    is usually ridiculous...e.g. tell Marc he used to be a baby..
    
    I decided to turn it around and pretend I was Marc and pretend I was
    nice. We played for a while and she said she wanted Marc to stay over
    and she wanted to sahre her toys...
    
    Just an idea... a little role playing to help her find another
    solution. 
919.6Trust your feelingsAIAG::MANSEAUMon Mar 20 1995 13:2712
    
    We had the very same situation.  Worried and worried some more 
    about changing daycares.  After we finally did it we saw a BIG 
    difference in our daughter.  Some kids just like grown-ups just
    don't get along.  Spending all day in close quarters with someone
    you don't "click" with is stressful.   Who needs it.  
    
    Its hard to switch but once its done you'll be glad you did. 
    
       
    
    
919.7preschoolMAIL1::LOCOVAREWed Mar 22 1995 10:1013
    
    I went thru this too. My daughter was in a family care that she
    had been in since 6 mo's old but there was no one her age 
    and she needed more challenge... She was horrible at my sitters
    and at home.  We put her into a preschool and she is very 
    happy, she is kept busy, she is learning and she has more kids
    her age to play with. 
    
    Time for a change - try a preschool. Mine has extra hour baby
    sitting for working parents.
    
    Good luck!
    Suz
919.8CLOUD9::WEIERPatty, DTN 381-0877Thu Mar 23 1995 15:233
    How's Holly doing?  Any update??
    
    -Patty
919.9Thank you for askingAKOCOA::NELSONWed Mar 29 1995 16:2629
    Glad you asked!  Meghan's mother is considering moving her out of
    daycare.  I talked with my sitter at some length this morning, and
    said, well, if I'd known how awful it really was, we probably should
    have moved Holly.  And the sitter called me at work to reassure me that
    as far as she was concerned, she would mind my kids for as long as we
    needed her to.  SO that made me feel better -- not much better, but
    better.
    
    Holly is one of those kids who is very intense, has a temper, and is
    having a hard time learning to control it (hmmm....sounds like her
    Mom!).  She isn't berating Meghan all day.  BUT if Meghan tries to,
    say, touch her, Holly "goes ballistic" -- the sitter's words, not mine. 
    I think that Holly is as much sinned against as sinning.  She plays
    fine with other kids, she just can't stand Meghan.  IF there were more
    kids at the day care, it probably wouldn't be so bad, since they'd have
    a choice of whom to play with and wouldn't be running up against each
    other all day.
    
    I have to admit, this whole thing has given me another headful of gray
    hair.  To top it all off, my husband has injured his back and can't
    work (or even do housework), both of the kids have been sick over the
    last two weeks, and I'm trying to heal a muscle spasm in my right
    shoulder -- and I'm right-handed.
    
    I still wonder if I should have my daughter evaluated by a child 
    development specialist.
    
    
    
919.10Be creative w/ the housework...CLOUD9::WEIERPatty, DTN 381-0877Fri Mar 31 1995 11:2433
    
    Sorry to hear that things are going so badly for you right now ...!  I
    hope that everyone's feeling better soon, and you'll be able to get on
    with the "normal" rat race, without all these added complications (-:
    
    It wouldn't hurt to have Holly evaluated, but (imho) there's probably not
    a problem.  Kids need to learn how to deal with their own emotions, but
    they don't need to do it with someone who knows what buttons to push,
    "on them" all day long.  It's tough enough to figure out appropriate
    ways to deal with being royally pissed off.  Add to that someone who
    just enjoys pissing you off.  Sigh.
    
    What are the GOOD things about this daycare that you feel it's great
    for her to be there?  What would SHE lose if you moved her?  What would
    YOU lose?  What would she/you WIN if you moved her?  Even if it's more
    convenient, or maybe a little more costly to move her, you may find
    it's all worth it in the end, so that you can have back the daughter
    you're used to, instead of one who's tormenting you guys because she
    feels tormented all day.  It flows downhill, and when it comes to
    parents/kids, I think the parents can end up on the downhill side of it
    all, quite frequently! (-:  We give, give, give for our children, and
    don't take a moment to ourselves - and never think of this as the
    slightest bit odd or tipped in their favor.  I'd switch her just
    because I'd want my "real" kid back again.  It may relieve a lot of
    stress for the whole family.
    
    Well, good luck with everything!!  I hope it turns out well, and you're
    all feeling better quick!!
    
    -Patty
    
    p.s. you can fold laundry sitting down .... stack it on the couch next
    to hubby, and let him help out that way ... (-:
919.11An update? An update? LETHE::TERNULLOTue May 23 1995 09:517

	Any update on Holly?

	Hope you're all doing much better now.

	Karen T.