Good Morning everyone! I have only posted a couple of times here but come back often to read the posts. I have learned a lot. I am an in home daycare provider and one of my children is autistic. He is now 4 years old and I have watched him since he has been 3 months. I also watch his sister who is 2 and another little boy who is 18 months.
My dilema is this. Sometimes Marcus has meltdowns (not to often) and gets a little aggresive. I usually can handle this quite well but now the mother of the 18 month old is considering taking him somewhere else because she feels that Marcus is a bad influence on him. She feels that if her son had a few other kids here to play with then he wouldn't see all the negative things that she feels her son is picking up. This is so upsetting to me. Well, that isn't going to happen. I do understand that this is her first child and she is a little over protective but give me a break. I have tried to explain things to her and I think she does understand since she works as a physical therapist but I am just hurt.
If she wants to take her son that is fine with me because I don't know that you can make a person like that happy but to want me to give up Marcus I just don't understand. He has made so much progress through the years and I just love him to death. Does anyone have any words of advice? Thank-you and have a great day. &n bsp; &n bsp; &n bsp; &n bsp; Diane
Hi Diane, you sound like a great care provider. It's a little disappointing that a PT would be so judgemental. But, sometimes ppl make up or exagerate reasons to make changes and direct it to an area of weakness. I could be her friend's child is at a center and they have a spot and this "autism" reason is easier to deliver than justifying leaving for personal pleasure. Or a gazillion other not disclosed reasons.
Being an In-Home Daycare Provider myself (awaiting possible Autism diagnosis on one of my daycare children), I can sympathize with you!!! It just isn't an easy job to deal with people like this sometimes. I would tell her that if she feels like that would be the best thing for her family, then that is what she has to do. I definately would not give up Marcus. It sounds like you have been keeping Marcus alot longer than the other child anyway, so in this case, "rank" wins. Coming from personal experience, this mom seems like she would be a big problem and a complainer. Even though you may be attatched to the child, you're probably not going to miss the parent one bit!!!! So do yourself a favor and don't give it any more thought and definately don't worry yourself any more!!!! And if it's the same way as it is for me, you will have the open spot filled in no time.
Keep up the great service you are doing for Marcus and good luck with everything!!!!
What a great service you are providing to this ASD child and his family! When my own children were little it was very hard to find a child care provider that was a good fit. Maybe as time goes on this is a specialty service you can provide? As far as the other parent goes she is just thinking of her own situation; just let her move on.WOW 3 -- great thinking -- nothing I would have said but I KNEW as I rad it you may very well be right!
I know it is a tough situation, but I would just let her move on. You sound like a great provider, and I am sure someone else will take advantage of your open slot soon, if/ when it comes up!