Seeking Moms Who Have In-home Childcare for Advice/support

i know you're looking for advice from other providers but maybe you noticed with your kids, mine (18 mo son) calls all men "dada", it's embarrassing (especially when it's just my son and me at walmart and he's saying "hi dada!" to every guy that walks by!) but i just ignore it or laugh it off. my sitter is great and though i haven't noticed him calling her mama, she always makes a big to-do about "your mama is coming adan!" and he will run to me saying "mama! mama!" - it's the sweetest thing ever! anyway, i hope your moms can understand sometimes the little ones get confused...there might be more than one "mama" (for now, until they understand) but there's only ONE place for their mama in their heart, and they know that. it's not a replacement thing, it's just a learning/vocabulary thing, it doesn't mean anything. as a mom i would try to understand, it might hurt on an emotional level but on a logical level it's just one of those things. good luck and i hope they don't hold it against you - i wouldn't!

K.,
I am not an in home proveder however, my kiddos do go to one....my oldest has called my provider momma...he hears her children call her that and it does not bother me at all. I look at it like this..how is the child supposed to know that "momma" in not a name like Bob, Nick, or Emma? They know more than one child with the same name!!! I joke with my provider and call her "the other mother".

Because kids have a tendancy of doing the exact opposite of whatever we make a big deal of, it's best to just ignore it. When the moms hear it just remind them that sometimes mommy is just the person with the food and help they need, but that they know who their real mommy is. It's really no different than calling all Grandmotherly type people grandma. My mother is grandma to all the daycare kids and none of my mothers have posed any kind of concern about it to me.

Suzi

K.,
When my son goes to Mimi's (grandma) he calls her "mom" and when he comes home from Mimi's he calls me "Mimi". He also calls me "dad" and my husband "mom" sometimes. We just correct him each time he does it, but it is difficult for a child especially when they have a limited vocabulary and the concept of what a "mother" or "mom" is, is difficult to explain. If I was in your place, I would just assure the parents of your position and correct the child each time. In time, the child will understand your title and will understand that "mom" isn't a name. Good Luck

I have to agree with Wendy. I don't do care in my own home, but I do nanny for two girls who are nine and ten. While they don't call me mom all of the time (they are older), they do call me that on accident quite often. Sometimes they don't even realize it.

Hi K.,

I have been doing daycare now for 4 years and since the start of this all my daycare parents refer to me as Mrs. W.. Now my daycare kids on the other hand I have 1 almost 3 yr old and I have watched her since she was 6 months old and from the time she started talking she has called me mom or mama. But I know and her mother knows that she knows who her mother is. I am just the one that helps her get to the potty, feeds her breakfast, lunch and 2 snacks a day and kisses her boo boo's when mommy is at work.
I have another daycare mother who was jealous of me and thought that I was trying to take her place, I reassured her that he does know who his mother is and does love her. In all actuality I don't know ho you would rather have a child act. I would be concerned as a mother if my child didn't love their provider. With all my daycare kids I have a very special bond with them. I am the "mommy" during the daytime while their mothers are at work. For me I look at my daycare kids as my kids, they are my kids. I take care of them everyday, love on them, discipline them when they need it. I love all my daycare kids as if they were my own. It makes me feel sad when they have to leave, I often feel heartbroken like someone took my own child.

I think you should just reassure your daycare parents that they do know who their mother is. And the only reason they do call you mom is because they here your kids call you that. I have 4 children of my own, 2 of which are here with me everyday and they call me mom, it is only fitting that everyone else would call me the same. My husband doesn't leave until 8:30 am and when my kids are here they call him dad and so do the daycare kids.

On another note I remember being a kid and my friends would come over to stay the night and my mom would introduce herself as Kaye but you can call me "mom" just like everyone else does.

I don't know that I gave you any advice really but I remember when I first started doing this and the 1st child I watched called me mom. I felt so horrible like I had done something wrong. And in actuality it just means you are doing exactly right. We are they mommies, we are the #2 mommies in our daycare kids lives. Hope this helps, W.

K.,

I am also a stay at home mom who watches children during the day. The little 2 year old I watch does the same thing. I always correct her and she usually then calls me by my name. I now it doesn't help the little girl that I watch when my 2 year old son is always calling me mommy. I think its just something that they will just constantly be reminded of.
Anyway, I was reading your question and I have a question for you if you don't mind. What do you charge for a potty trained 2 year old? The 2 year old I watch is almost potty trained and I need some advice. Also, do you know what I should charge for a 5 year old who will be going to an all day preschool 2 of the 4 days I watch her? I will have her for 1-2 hrs in the morning, bring her to preschool, pick her up and then have her for another 1-2 hrs, possibly more. Any ideas?
Where are you K.? I'm in St. Peters in St. Charles county. If you ever have any more questions you can always ask me. I'm pretty new to this, but I'll do my best! I don't know anyone else who stays home and watches other children so its nice to hear that someone else has similar experiences.
Thanks for your help and good luck!
L. T