be an awesome babysitter

how much I am really teaching N about self control if I simply make him leave the room when he starts becoming really aggressive and handsy…bothering people. 2 weeks ago

I am waiting until I make changes to do anything fun.

This can be dangerous…waiting around and such.

I need to make sure I stay present with them.

Still, it’s going to be so fun and efficient when I’m able to make a few improvements. 3 weeks ago

I was offended by the kids’ very presence today. I think a series of things irritated me today and I just couldn’t get to a good place. I even stopped myself several times to attempt to break it all down and get in the moment but I just couldn’t.

I just got through the day and took care of the basics, barely.

One family tells me they may be pulling the kids out after February. I’d sort of hate to lose them. Two kids is a good portion of my income and I do care about the boys but it’d be a bit of a relief, to be honest.

Both boys are such a challenge. All day every day, no joke. I struggle to deal with it. They are teaching the other kids negative behaviors and basically just very disruptive. I want to help them but I can’t have them being destructive and violent and the other kids taking those behaviors home.

Furthermore, the dad refuses to pay me on time, ever. It’s all very stressful. 3 weeks ago

to work and plan things out.

What works, what doesn’t, etc.

Reflections for this week: The setup was pretty good but could be a little more engaging.

Painting pine cones was a flop. Maybe some glue cups and shake glitter are called for for the full effect instead of glitter glue with tiny paintbrushes. :) I think I’ll give it a try. Make it really messy and beautiful and throw a tablecloth on, they’ll go for it and I will hang them from the ceiling. Lydia still wants to do the bird feeders her grandma told her about pb and birdseed, etc.

Soapy water in the sensory tub..not too much was great, everyone dug it and the babies couldn’t get into too terribly much trouble. It’s sitting on the ground which works well enough but I may want to eventually find a low table. L took it upon herself to add squirt bottles remembering having played “beauty”. I’ll try to round up some small containers next week, squirting and not…maybe add some color? Water is always good, no need to try too hard when it’s working.

Table toys: need a better place for the table, it gets in the way…I’ll dig in the closet and find something, no worries there. they love marbles but they always end up in the vents.

art/playdough table: works pretty well, gets a bit crowded. I don’t fuss too much if someone takes their business to the other table. I need a better art shelf or to use the one I have more effectively. Baskets, ways to organize paper and materials and somewhere to put finished work. (pull out pocket chart again?

Workshop: hmm, maybe I can put the sensory tub in the workshop and the table toys can be where the tub is. so…sensory tub with soapy water and squirt bottles , towels. (bath time type theme??) could put the baby dolls in there, I suppose but their bodies are cloth.

Blocks, clear the area, add more blocks, period. they’ve been into it but need more space. I want to get another set of unit blocks but will add the smaller table ones and plank blocks to the existing set for now.

...sorry for all this but it really helps to sort it out each week and I am finally getting what emergent curriculum means the minute I decide emphatically I am not and will never be a preschool “teacher”. :) 4 weeks ago

(and I use that term lovingly, I assure you) and I had a great day. Normally when I try to redirect him he will start throwing and screaming. He entertains himself by looking for people to upset. Today after redirecting him, I led him to the workshop and gave him a beanbag type ball. I told him cheerfully, to throw it and we played pass for a long time. He laughed and smiled with me….huge success. When he started to get upset and throw I will say, “where’s your ball?” He doesn’t speak much at all yet but he’s really comprehensive and quite clever.

I was looking all over for the chalk today and he showed me where he had hidden it in the roll of the magazine the big kids were using for cutting. I showed him where it went and laughed and told him “good job!” and gave him lots of kisses.

It was really great to see him happy and playing well. 1 month ago

rage baby and his brother..in fact all three siblings from this family have pretty severe behavior/emotional problems of different types.

I deal with it pretty well and consistently given that that it is one battle after another all. day. long.

I know the consistency and stern lovingness is benefiting them but oh man, it wears me out. 1 month ago

school agers are here on break…I’m tired, hungover and sore from last nights rather emotional festivities. I’ve taken a hands off approach and they are working out things just fine. When they tattle I say, “tell them not me” lots of disputes and negotiations. I’m proud of what I’ve taught them so far and my “stop talking so much” goal is proving effective.

Kids are flipping through the art book laughing at the “lady showing her butt”, also noticing some of the other pieces and commenting on the images. Some are curled up for a moment on a pile of blankets. One boy tries to get a reaction by saying “liar, liar pants of fire” while glancing at me. I call his bluff and chime in “hanging from a telephone wire” which leads into tons of rhyming variations, “liar liar, vampire on fire” etc.

Loaded them up with oranges for lunch. Hopefully they are all somewhat healthy for christmas day. 1 month ago

they are all ill and cranky and whiney. I’m trying to be understanding.

I don’t have the heart to send them home though they’d probably be more comfy. I just let them rest here. 1 month ago

Meeting with a family with a 12 week old tomorrow.

Oh mercy, me. How sweet. :)

My world is getting ready to change. 1 month ago

using the whole nest/time out situation and it’s pretty effective. My own 2 year old is the most stubborn child here, I’d say.

They will throw a fit at first feeling as if they are in “trouble” and have to rebel. I simply say (depending on the age) something like “no hit, go play” and send them into the workshop…um, nest. Within moments they are playing.

I don’t know. This seems far better than using a corner or traditional time out type stuff.

I’ve not been successful in not thinking about the business though. Granted my brain has been too tired to get too much good thinking done but I am still constantly working on it.

What I really need to do is start implementing stuff little by little as I can. I’m very guilty of the “someday…” attitude. I need to really be aware of things I can do now so these great ideas don’t stay trapped on paper/in theory. 2 months ago

Well, for being sleepy as heck at least I got their environment in order. I can’t say I connected with them much today but they played well and had a lot of fun. I didn’t stress too much on their rained in hyper-ness so that’s good. 2 months ago

if it’s the holiday or just plain old burn out but I was sure all weekend that I need to get the heck out of this job.

So much so that I was actually dreading my work week…couldn’t muster an ounce of excitement.

It took everything in me to scrub the kitchen to prepare. Still, the playrooms are a mess.

I have plans for some rearranging tomorrow and most likely it will be raining and the kids will be very out of sorts after a long weekend.

I am up far too late and was looking at my daycare facebook. Only then, did I start to feel some tenderness for the little stinkers and actually get in work mode.

Tomorrow should be very interesting. 2 months ago

Ugh…days like this and everything is falling apart and I’ve no one but myself to blame.

Granted I have extra kiddos, school agers. I’d reeeeaaaallly love to stop keeping the school agers but they are siblings and I’m afraid of alienating the current families. I will think about it more and decide by summer.

The cubbies are a pain. I keep stuff in my mudroom because it makes more sense for space but it makes it inefficient in terms of drop off and pick up. I bring stuff up in advance at pick up time and shoes have to be carried or tracked from the front to the back to be put away. Annoying. 2 months ago

I suppose it’s opportune that I am not feeling it this week that I can commit to letting go a bit and seeing what may occur to me.

I’ve been in such overdrive for so long.

Yesterday, a former client of mine who now just comes for occasional care dove into his diaper during naptime and smeared it all over himself and his pack n play.

One might say that this falls under occupational hazards and I would partially agree. It is the attitude I received from the father that was unappreciative and oh so typical that drove me to the brink of not giving a (pardon the pun) crap.

I’m not bitter but I’m certainly not working on business stuff today. I’m just here…and that is a good thing because I was having a really hard time letting go…and I feel that is something I need to do to reflect. 2 months ago

they are siblings of one of my full timers. The entire family smells so offensively like pee and dog smell that I am cowering in the kitchen at the moment.

Bless their hearts, it isn’t their fault but I can’t handle it. 2 months ago

in letting go. I’ve been working on my contract because I do want to reach the deadline that I’ve set for myself.

Spent last week being a bit depressive. Friday I pulled all the toys off the shelf to sort and sanitize.

Terrible pick up with N on Thursday, really awkward. I’m going back to hands off at pick up. I’ll just walk away and allow parents to deal with it I think.

Next week is a short week..I do work Friday. I have extra school agers for break. I’ll try again to be awesome. 2 months ago

is cracking me up. It’s like breaking up with someone and you can’t stop thinking about the good times.

Everything they do is so precious today.

Another daycare lady gave me the advice, “let the wheel steer you for awhile”. 3 months ago

if a new project is the way to go.

I wonder if just allowing my mind to be quiet would be more effective. :) 3 months ago

leaving daycare behind is making me very sad. I’m panicking at the thought of leaving behind my little community of colleagues, of letting go of my “cause”.

Still, I think this is a good exercise to pursue for a short time.

I should find interest in some other things to distract/assist. 3 months ago

perhaps a week or two, I will focus on being an awesome babysitter.

I will not over think or plan the perfect preschool. I will not worry about improving the business or creating an amazing curriculum. I will not worry about being a professional or respectable. I will not worry about designing the perfect play/class room. I will not bemoan not getting paid well for my efforts and knowledge.

I will have fun, baby sit and take my money. 3 months ago