I’d like to thank Rose for commenting on my previous post and drawing my attention to the controversy over the blog I linked to. The post I read seemed perfectly innocent, but it seems Mary has made another one about Kristy Schwade and her baby Kaleb who was shaken by a home daycare provider.

Mary appeared to be showing a lack of sympathy for Kristy Schwade due to a previous arrest for domestic violence.

Now, I don’t know the full details of the arrest, but certainly I would fully support Kristy and Kaleb at this time.

You can see the full controvery here: LOCAL STORIES: baby Kaleb in Tampa and here: I am Mary

I’d be interested to hear your comments about this. It’s easy to leave them on this blog post.

Talk soon,
Mary Nightingale

P.S. Thousands of future or current home daycare providers just like you have already signed up to my ‘how to start a home daycare’ newsletter. It’s getting a bit overwhelming and I may cap signups soon, but for the time being you can still join. Don’t worry, it’s free. All you have to do is enter your name and e-mail below:

Sometimes you may get a family apply to your daycare where you think the child is suffering abuse.

This can be unpleasant and very difficult to handle. It is essential that you report it though.

I’ve just been reading a forum post about a daycare provider who reported abuse.

Here’s an excerpt:

“I had another interview last week with this family. The woman seemed to be very nice on the phone and I was excited to meet her. But several red flags popped up after meeting her.

1) Dad laid on the floor during the interview.

2) Dad would not talk to me. I asked him if everything was okay, if he had any questions or concerns. He told me “No, this is a woman thing.”

3) Mom told me that she checks her poo poo area every day. Is she putting me on notice or what?

4) Mom and dad were freaking out over every time she bumped her head on my coffee table. Mom placed her on the floor in front of my coffee table, every time the girl leaned forward, she softly bumped her head. Dad let her stand on my couch, she kept softly bumping her head on my wall.

3) Mom addressed the fact that she doesn’t want her to have any marks on her. I explained that she is 9 months and almost walking and she has to expect some small bumps from pulling herself up onto things, falling down, or simply falling when she learns to walk. Mom said “No, these marks can be prevented.” I told her “I can’t be her backpack.” Meaning I can’t and will not follow her around 9 hours a day, even if she was the only child I was caring for. You have to give children room to play, interact and grow.”

You can read the whole thing here: Turned a family in after interviewing them

This lady did exactly the right thing.

Talk soon,
Mary