Whinging Parents

Whinging Parents

by: raramoo - 06-09-12 16:25

I have a parent that I thought had left due to a change in circumstances and no longer needing childcare. The parent has made contact and booked sessions for the child and has already complained about a very petty issue that has come to attention. I really want to state to the parent that if there is a return of the negativity that there was previously then I think it may be better if the services were sought elsewhere as I really cant be bothered with the constant dodging of snide petty remarks within nursery and within the parents circle of friends. In my own opinion if I were so unhappy with a provision I certainly wouldn't leave my child there never mind put them back there.

Should I just bite my tongue or would anybody else tackle the parent to lay a few ground rules before they return?

by: newsetting

We implemented a clause in our terms and conditions document along the lines of "We strive to have excellent parental partnerships. Should we feel that we can no longer work with a family, we reserve the right to terminate our contract giving four weeks notice.

This was in direct response to a parent who continually picked on staff (to the extent I considered it borderline bullying)and complained to OFSTED about us twice. My feeling is that if you consider us bad enough to report to ofsted, you shouldnt leave your son here.

by: me

have you asked her why she is so unhappy? not about the issues but about her?

by: whmon

I have gone both ways in the past. We had one parent who had 4 teenage girls and an 18 month old boy. Mum decided to go back to work and placed the boy with us. The girls, who treated him like a little doll, did not want Mum to go back to work and caused trouble every time they came to drop him off or collect him. They would tell Mum that he was 'inconsolable' whenever he was dropped off at nursery/sitting on his own when they picked him up etc. It was all lies. Mum and daughters were all drama queens. One day I asked the eldest teenager why they were doing this. Mum arrived furious! She asked me (in a threatening sort of way) 'should I withdraw him do you think', she was expecting me to say 'No, please don't'. What I actually said was 'Yes! - because I don't do drama'.

On another occasion, a parent who was totally in the wrong about something told me that I was 'beneath her, because I was a 'Childminder' - I'm actually a Nursery owner with a Level 8 qualification in another field (and this lady was a part-time school dinner lady!) From then on I made sure she was made to feel as if she was the most important person on Earth. My thinking was that 'I don't like you one little bit but I will smile at you and take your money, if we ever met socially I would not want to know you'.

by: raramoo

There are historic issues with me coming into the role I am in and her attitude towards me and the staff stem back to this, she is the kind of person that wouldn't be happy if i offered her a winning lottery ticket because it was coming from me! Another parent has commented that it seems she has it in for me. I am happy to take her money, and very confident that the provision is suffice enough for her to leave her child in our care, considering there are another 4 provisions within a mile radius that she could choose from, one being a matter of footsteps away from us.