This daycare manager changed one of the kid’s clothes because she didn’t want her to get paint and dirt all over her designer gear. The mom freaked when she found out, accusing the daycare manager of being a jerk.
Here’s how this situation kicked off.
“I’ve run a home daycare for ten years, ” the daycare manager shared. “A new client, Cindy, enrolled her daughter Breanne, aged 1 1/2 years old. Cindy always dresses Breanne in dresses, tights, dress shoes, etc. Often they’re designer.”
During Breanne’s induction, the daycare manager told Cindy that the kids get pretty dirty during playtime, especially if they’re painting or doing arts and crafts. Plus, they play outside when the weather permits, and all the kids love the sandbox.
“I said she could dress Breanne however she wanted, but she will get dirty,” continued the woman.
But Cindy didn’t seem to mind. Then this happened:
“On the third day, we were doing an activity with paint. Breanne was wearing a smock, but she still somehow managed to get it on her dress.”
Cindy freaked out when she saw paint on her baby’s expensive clothes. She’d clearly underestimated how messy the kids would get.
The daycare manager took a deep breath to contain her exasperation, then explained that this kind of stuff happened at daycare. Then she suggested dressing Breanne in more casual clothes.
Again, Cindy refused, telling the daycare manager that it was her responsibility to keep the kids clean.
The manager explained that Breanne’s expensive shoes were also creating a problem.
They would get dirty during outside playtime, said the daycare owner.
Cindy said it was fine but then freaked out again when she saw the dirt on her daughter’s shoes.
That put the daycare owner in a tough spot. She had to do something to keep the mom happy while also allowing Breanne to participate fully in the daycare activities.
So she came up with a great idea.
“I began changing Breanne into proper play clothes (long-sleeved t-shirt, leggings, etc., donated to the daycare),” confessed the woman.
“Then, towards the end of the day, I changed her back. I didn’t tell Cindy what I was doing but didn’t see the big deal because Breanne’s fancy clothes went home clean.”
Everything was going fine.
Then the daycare owner made a mistake. She shared a picture of the kids in a private group for the parents, forgetting about Breanne’s play clothes.
Fifteen minutes after posting, she got the call. Cindy was raging.
“She was furious that Breanne was wearing “those clothes” and asked why she wasn’t in her dresses,” shared the woman.
“She said I had no right to change her daughter’s outfit without her consent, and she can dress her however she wants.”
That’s not really the point, explained the woman. Then she informed Cindy that she would continue to do things this way until Breanne came to daycare in proper attire.
Cindy’s husband picked Breanne up and told the daycare manager he was on her side.
But the daycare manager’s own husband doesn’t see it that way. After telling him what happened, he told his wife she was in the wrong because it was someone else’s kid.
Now she’s unsure what to think, so she turned to Reddit for advice.
“This mom is crazy,” said one person. “Kids get dirty, have accidents, have diaper blowouts. As a former daycare worker, I applaud your ingenuity.”
“The kid is 18 months old. She doesn’t care what she’s wearing. Mom told you to figure it out, and you did,” said another supporter. “Mom sounds like a snob.”
What’s your opinion? And what else could the daycare manager have done?
