I'm sorry...

I'm sorry to parents of daycare kids. I do not have a bubble in which to put your child in that they will not get hurt. They will fall and scratch their heads. They will get pushed by other children (Yes, your child pushes other children also.) Most likely your child will get bitten by another child at one time or another. You are lucky if your child is not the biter. If your child is the continuous biter, they will have that word spelled out around them by daycare workers labeling them as a B-I-T-E-R. It will be as if saying the word will make the child bite, I guess.

In a daycare setting, your child will learn things from other children that you may not want them to learn. They may not throw food at home, but they have thrown food at daycare. They may not push you, but they have pushed another child. In a daycare surrounding, your child may have eating issues. The plate of food may end up on their head. The fruit juice may be lathered all over your child as if they were applying sunscreen to themselves. Some food may be gathered in their clothing for later use. Some children have issues with chewing. Some chew the food and then slowing let it leak out between their teeth. Some put so much food in their mouth you might think they were hibernating for the winter. We have even had those that stop chewing and fall asleep at the table, mid-bite. Then you always have one that sucks the juice out of the fruit and continues to eat it while making sour faces.

This may all sound funny, but wait until you have up to 15 toddlers screaming at once. They definitely think it is funny. Once they are all quieted, then one pipes in and it starts all over again. Guess what? Your child probably led the charade.

Welcome to the eating place where:

Forks = pounding on the table
Cups = something to chew on, throw, or pound upside down on the table
Food = something to share, toss or drop
Plates = a hat, a toy to turn upside down and smoosh on the table, a small rug on the floor
Socks = something to clean the spaghetti-layered table off with
Shoes = a toy when one is bored and can't find any other way to irritate the teachers

I hope all non-daycare workers found this amusing. If you ever plan on working in a daycare, make sure you are prepared for battle against the small mighty ones.