Summer Daycare Program

Because of my surgery, it being summertime and David needing to be around playmates, etc., we put David in a part-time summer program.

It's really a great program where they continue to learn, go on field trips, etc. Pre-kindergarten.

Anyhow, he came home and said he cried for me. I was shocked and said, "You did?" Jeff said the teacher said he complained of a headache. Well, I was sick and it was right before my surgery and went to lie down after seeing he was OK.

While I was lying there I knew something had happened and David was making an excuse with the headache. He will make excuses to cry because he's growing up and doesn't want to be embarrassed about crying.

Anyhow, I took him outside and I asked what happened to make him cry for mom (again, knowing it wasn't a headache...he doesn't get them).

He said, "I didn't hear Miss Sara say to line up" and his chin quivered. I knew then that I needed to find out what happened.

Apparently David was resting in the shade in this little piece of equipment they have there and didn't hear the teacher say to line up. She took the class in without him and left him out there all alone! He said he stayed right there...hidden...crying for mom cause he thought all the other children's moms came and got them and he was all alone forever (it felt like a long time and so quiet).

I asked who found him and he said that the other teacher brought her class out and one of the kids there heard him crying and got the teacher and she screamed inside that Sara had left David outside.

I asked him how the headache came about and he said that Miss Sara told him he had a headache, then told his pappaw (my hubby) that...suggesting that to him so he wouldn't tell about the other!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh, boy! I was LIVID.

I immediately called the school and jumped in the administrator's front shirt pocket with her. She investigated and found out that it DID happen...just as David said but at the most, he was out there five minutes due to rotation, etc. Ask me if I cared that it was only five minutes...that's two hours to a scared child.

She apologized all over the place and I talked with David's regular teacher who almost cried about it, she was so upset. See Miss Sara is a "floater" in the afternoon. His regular teacher said it wouldn't have happened had she done head counts on the playground and immediately upon entering the room as mandated.

They didn't tell me, but we didn't see hide nor hair of Miss Sara for two weeks and I know she was suspended for a time, then David mentioned she was back and had sat with him for a long time teaching him to write his last name.

All seems well now, but I was just so livid. He's now checking on me anytime we're outside...instead of me checking on him. If I don't answer right away, he panics and says, "I thought you left me".

Just so angry that could happen and now he's showing it affected him.

I keep telling him that I'll never leave him. What happened at school was unfortunate, but mom will never do that. Don't know what else to say... UGH.

KD

Well, I can totally understand why you were livid, it's totally not on! I know when I worked in a school the safety of children was top priority.

Makes you think though, what if David had broken his leg or got abducted or something like that! Dread to think of it but that was really wrong of them. They should have let you know what had happened and then you could have helped David sooner!

I'm sure with your love and care Kimmydawn, and with no repetitions of this awful mistake, David will be fine.

Much love.

{{{{{{{{{Kimmy}}}}}}}}} When I read this, I was angry right with you. Any time a child feels left, it seems like a lifetime.

I'm so glad you called the school and talked to the teachers. Hopefully it will never happen again, but it will take time for him to get over this.

gentle

Mary Alice

you should be livid. and she should have been fired. i worked in daycare for several years. a large part of my day was spent doing head counts. even when we were all in the classroom i would count every few minutes to make sure. i also know that at the daycare i worked at a teacher would have been fired for that offense.

reassure him, and keep taking him out so he can see that you are infact there. poor little guy.

lost

Five minutes or five hours, doesn't matter! I can't imagine anyone working with children being so careless!