Comments | yumikid: "Reading Someone Else's Nightmare"

yumikid

"Reading Someone Else's Nightmare" - Spirit of the West

Jan 07, 2011 16:01

While reading the news online, I made the mistake of clicking on this article.

For the last few minutes, I've been repeating the following mantra: "I will make the right choice. I will find the right person. Everything will be fine. This will not be my child."

It doesn't change the fact that it's somebody's child.

Comments 4

ribbons_in_sky January 8 2011, 19:26:56 UTC

Hi Yumi,

I thought of you and anyone else I know who will be looking for daycare when I read this article. There was a case like this in the news when I was looking for daycare too.

It's horrible, it's tragic, it's preventable... but it's also rare. There are tragedies that happen to one or two kids but there are millions of kids in wonderful, caring, exceptional, home daycares.

What makes us all feel helpless is the fact that everyone now says "there were no signs". I feel mean saying this but maybe there was? I don't mean to judge, honestly...

And your gut will tell you a lot. This event may curb you away from someone who seems over their head... personally, professionally... or you'll inquire about the provider's support system.

I almost threw in the towel on my search for a dcp I liked until I found the one we have today. We have a great relationship and I feel very comfortable leaving my child with her. It will work out!

Have you tried that nurses association available... I forget the name. That is how we found ours...

idioglossia January 9 2011, 01:32:34 UTC

Echoing what ribbons_in_sky said - in Winniped, after I was born, my mother found herself a babysitter for me and the babysitter taught my Mom EVERYTHING about raising me. She explained me, what I was doing, what I was signalling, how to potty train me... the works.

She was great, and was a random find. I remember her and her husband, who was a bus driver.

My parents remember the couple as being AMAZING. The husband was so strong he could balance a sitting child on each palm and hold them out at shoulder height, arms fully extended. :D

idioglossia January 9 2011, 01:30:09 UTC

I have nightmares about this. Then again, I have trust issues.

vandyke_brown January 11 2011, 19:17:51 UTC

I come from a unique perspective:

1) I grew up in a day care center, which my mom bought when I was three. I watched the staff with kids as young as 18 months. I have an inordinate amount of respect for people with their E.C.E. qualifications. I’m not saying it’s a guarantee of safety, but to go through a program and be certified as an ECE requires time and money and commitment. If a caregiver has their own ‘in their basement daycare’ are they trained for care of children, do they have up to date CPR training for babies? Has their house been inspected by the regional Municipality? Or are they simply a victim of the economy and are taking in other people’s children to make some extra cash? You will put your own value on certification, but it’s valuable for me. 2) When Patrick was a baby, and I was going back to school, I had three sitters for him to cover the hours I was in class. I found these ladies through the BECAMPS babysitter referral service. I asked for, and followed up on, references given. I asked for proof of ( ... )