Taking Care with your Children

We have a news story here today about a little toddler clinging to life after being taken to the hospital from her dayhome. There are no reports yet as to what happened or who (if anyone) is responsible, or if it was just a terrible accident.

Let me tell you what I think. I have a former sister in law who runs a dayhome. When I heard this story on the news, I watched closely for the area it happened in, because I instantly thought it might be her. (it wasn't.) She is an awful person- I have seen her be abusive with my nephew, and I have seen her be abusive with the children in her care. She is a heavy smoker, and locks the kids in the basement while she goes out to the garage to smoke. Those children are in danger----I wouldn't let this woman look after a pet fish, let alone a child. She is mean as a junkyard dog. Her new boyfriend has dragged her young son up a flight of stairs because he wasn't listening...and she not only allowed it, she was the instigator.

She is also manipulative and a liar. She struggles to keep kids in her dayhome....the reason being is because she only takes young children- as soon as they get old enough to tell their parents what is going on there, they usually get pulled out of her dayhome. She has had social services called on her five different times in the last two years. Are any of the parents whose children she looks after made aware of this? No. Unless there are physical marks on the children- it is almost impossible to prove anything. So NOTHING is done. All the children in her care are accidents waiting to happen. I have suggested to her that exactly this could happen- she is outside having a cigarette, and a child falls down the stairs, or gets into something...by the time she returns, it's too late.

Is that what happened in this case? I have no idea. What I do know is that if you are planning on leaving your child with someone- research, research, research. Ask them if they have ever been investigated. Ask to see their child welfare check papers, and their police security check. Drop in unannounced during the day. LISTEN to what your child is saying. And keep checking. Don't assume that the first couple of weeks are indicative of what is happening on a day to day basis.

Protect them. They need you to be willing to ask hard questions and demand answers. To be their champions and to move heaven and earth to make sure they are safe. If someone dared to hurt my babies, I would do whatever it took. The person caring for your child will never love them and cuddle them the way you do, and that shouldn't be your expectation. You should however, be confident that your child is safe, and well-cared for, and having a good, healthy experience during their time away from you. If you are not 110% sure that is the case...then listen to what your intuition is telling you.

Protect your babies.