Does your Child know?

I work at a Daycare and yes some days it gets tiring. My co-worker and I will look at each other and say, “Okay, we are done”, as our little cherubs are running around testing the power of their lungs. It can get a little crazy as one keeps pulling off their shoes and the other one is having a meltdown. A meltdown because someone sat in the chair that  he wanted to sit in. Yes, the chairs do look exactly alike, but apparently that doesn’t matter. Think with a toddler’s logic now. Hmmm… I know some adult’s that still think with a toddler’s logic, but that is a different post. 🙂

Then there is nap time which is supposed to be a time of peace. The peace does come, but only after having to get your class of 7 toddlers to calmly lay down and go to sleep. A much easier task some days than others! Little Johnny is crying for he wants his pacifier, but Mommy and Daddy don’t want him to have it  anymore. They are breaking him from it. Little Sarah wants her special blankie which was forgotten at home. At last they do settle down and your heart melts at how your precious, slumbering angels look when asleep.

I do enjoy my job. Being showered with hugs and sloppy kisses. Always knowing that you will be guaranteed laughs by something that is said or done. Kids are natural comedians!

My job is fun. I can finger paint, play with play dough  and read books as I cuddle with a little one on my lap and 1 by my side. Yes, all that is true, but there are days where my heart strings are tugged and I feel a little sad. Yesterday was one of them. It was because of what was witnessed happening between one of our 4 year old’s  and her Dad. We have infants to age 5 in our Daycare. It is neat to watch the toddler that I had in my class of  2 year old’s,  grow and move up to the preschool classroom. This was one of those . A little girl.

This little one was sent home the day before due to vomiting. The stomach bug has been going around and I always hold my breath when that happens, for I so don’t want it! Well she was brought back the next day. It wasn’t much later until she vomited again in front of her class. She was crying tears of embarrassment, but also sad tears. She told her teacher how Daddy would be upset that she was sick, because he didn’t like missing work. He was called and sure enough that was his response. He knew he had to come and get her though, for that is our policy. Yes, we know it can make it inconvenient, but we also know how quickly germs can spread!

As the little girl was leaving, her teacher said that she hopes she feels better. The little one was crying because of feeling so bad and her Dad’s response was that he hopes so to, because he has to work!

I am not trying to offend anyone with this post.  I know parents have to work. I know that it is not practical for everyone to stay at home with their little kids. This is not a battle about the working vs. stay at home parent!

The point of this post is to point out how our words can affect our children. That little girl was sick, something she could not help. She was 4 years old and she should not have had to worry about how her Dad would feel about picking her up! He may have had very real concerns about work, but right then and there that little girl needed a comforting hug. Right then and there she needed to know that she was loved, and not seen as an inconvenience  in his day.

I am a parent of 2 teenagers. I know I have said things before that I shouldn’t have as they were growing up. We do it, we aren’t perfect. We make mistakes. This isn’t about making mistakes, it is about developing a pattern which I have seen with more than 1 parent. I have heard things out of the children’s mouths before that break my heart, have seen pictures they have drawn that can speak louder than words.

Our Director often reminds us of how in a lot of cases we spend more time with these kids then their parents do. She says that not to make the parent feel bad, but to show us how much of an impact we can make on the children entrusted into our care. I take that seriously and I want to do my best. There is truth though in the statement that I can never make up for the parent. My love for the child cannot take the place of a parent’s love. This isn’t about making mistakes and feeling guilty about them.  It is only about making sure your child knows they are loved. That they are valuable and precious, and that you being entrusted with raising them is the MOST IMPORTANT JOB that you will ever have!