After two weeks of basically no sleep, I finally decided to move Brandt to a new daycare. The process was an emotional roller-coaster, but I think we are starting to settle in nicely.
The day after we left Little Steps, the owner called me. Still angry and sore with the treatment of my son, I waited until Friday to return her phone call. The conversation went in many directions. It started out where she was apologizing that this happened to Brandt, and that she understood my anger. She empathized and said she cared about the well-being of all the children enrolled, especially the little ones. She went on to explain that her aunt was the infant teacher and that her mom was the former one-year-old teacher, strategically placed to watched over the little ones. And, that is all fine and dandy. They are terrific teachers, but they weren't the ones taking care of my son. And, perhaps, someone in her family should have said something about all of the yelling happening in the one-year-old classroom. Just saying.
She went on to discuss the reoccurring rash, asking about the frequency of changes and the patern of rashes. She tried to reassure me that, should we return, she would have him changed every hour. The owner agreed that the statement made by the teacher that "Brandt's poop doesn't stink" was not acceptable, and she went on to say that this was not the standard and appropriate disciplinary action would be taken to prevent this from happening again.
Then came my biggest concern about Brandt getting dehydrated. I would send in 4 cups of fluids every day. Somedays, they would all come home empty, while other days 3 of the 4 would come back completely full. I mentioned to the owner that with Brandt having anemia and asthma, this was a huge concern of mine for his safety. If he is not getting enough fluids, he is more prone to falls and asthma attacks. This was a matter I had spoken with the director about several times and nothing was ever done to correct it. The owner insisted that he was probably drinking from the watercooler--which I doubt considering Brandt hates cold drinks and water.
The owner offered me many changes and accommodations, but since I had already enrolled Brandt with a private sitter, I decided to press forward with the move. I ended up eating two weeks of tuition with Little Steps--which makes me sure I will never return there again--but I feel it was well worth it.
Little Steps can make changes to their routines and personel, but they can't prevent all the germs. My kid ended up in the hospital for three days with pneumonia--that is something I can't look past. And he has pretty much been sick non-stop since he had been with them. And, they can't change their floor plan, which forced Brandt to walk through the dangerous obstacles of four-year-olds' classroom and the two-year-olds' classrooms. Not to mention, they have the infants and toddlers in the same room but separated by some toy cabinets and a flimsy baby gate. There were just so many health and safety concerns that cannot be corrected so easily.
So, it was worth giving the sitter a chance. The first couple of days with the sitter were a difficult adjustment for me. And, to be honest, I now attribute a bulk of this stress to be extremely fatigued. Still, I was so used to Brandt always coming home in fresh clothes and getting a daily report sheet with what he ate and when he slept. It was the little things that I had to just let go of--and,at first, I wasn't sure this was the right move. Still, I was determined to give it a fair shake and pressed forward the next week--this time, a little more rested--and I am so glad that I did. I started to notice a drastic change in Brandt's mood and energy. He is just so much happier and well-rested. Then, the diaper rash cleared--and this is the best his little booty has looked since the summer. And, though he hasn't been there long, this is the longest it has been that Brandt has not been sick since he was 8months old. The baby sitter texts me several times throughout the day with pictures and a daily recap. He still does crafts and learning, but he has the freedom to do things on his terms. It is just a better match for Brandt.
It was a big jump for us to leave Little Steps, but I think this was the best thing we could have done for Brandt. Things seem to be falling together quiet nicely, and I am very comfortable with where he is now!
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