am i overreacting?

[lilmissbehaved]

My daughter (2) was sent home sick from daycare yesterday early afternoon. They called me and said she had a 101.3 fever. When I got there to pick her up they took her temp and it was 99.0.

She was tugging at her ear, so i took her right away to the doc. She has an ear infection... They put her on an antibotic and gave me eardrops and a return to school note.

So today, I wake up and she's 130% better. I take her to daycare and I arrive at the same time as her new "teacher" in the 2 year old room.. She's only been in that room a week now.

We're working to the door and the teacher was staring at me like i have 9 heads. She tells me I can't bring her in today because there policy is fever free for 24 hours.. I'm well aware of this policy... I figured because there is NO WAY she had a 101.3 fever one minute and 10 minutes later it was 99.. and totally normal at the docs were they giving her an accurate temp check.. plus i had a doctors note.

The teacher proceded to basically tell me to go home.. all this is in the parking lot. She never acknowledged the fact that I had a note.. Never said hello to my daughter.. Never asked me how she was feeling.. She was seriously what I consider to be very rude..

I'm ANNOYED.. In 2 years that my daughter has been there I have NEVER complained about anything. I'm not a complainer, but 3 hours later I'm still stewing over this. I am not a parent who sends her kids to school sick... I had a very busy day today at work.. and now instead i'm home with a toddler who feels FINE... Am i being a jerk?? I feel like now i got off on the wrong foot with her new teacher.. and i really didn't like she completely ignored that Jaime existed. If she does that in front of me how would she treat her when I'm not there... I really feel like complaining.. but I did know there policy.. I just figured a docs note would be OK

Anway, thanks for listening to me rant

 

[kirstenb1]

It sounds like she wasn't very tactful or caring.

But, every daycare I know has a 24 hr fever-free policy. So I think you should have kept your daughter home today. Maybe the teacher hates confrontation, and was aggravated at having to be the bad guy, and tell you to take her home.

 

[hegsag]

I understand the whole 24 hours rule so you don't get others sick; HOWEVER, I didn't think ear infections were contagious?! If you had a doctor's note stating that she could be there today I would have stuck my ground!!

 

[okeydokey]

We always go by the 24 hour too. I would have kept her home.

 

[dislaney]

I probably would have kept my child home but that is just me. The 24 hour rule is there and I'm sure she had to enforce it.

 

[RadioFanatic]

I would talk to the supervisor. At my school, although we have the 24 hour policy, they have accepted a doctor's note to let him back. I really hate being at their mercy, so I feel for you!

 

[Toad_Passenger]

It stinks when this happens, as it has happened with my DD before. Unfortunately, though, they cannot pick and choose when to apply the rule, otherwise a lot of parents may suddenly have a "busy" day at work when they should be home taking care of their sick child.

It's okay to be steamed for awhile, but understand that the school needs to stick to their policy, otherwise the precedent will be set.

 

[NHdisneylover]

DS was home with tonsilitis today. He was pale and said he felt horrible this morning (but no sore throat). Just before we left for school (dropped DD off) he had a 100.9 fever. 20 minutes later (when we got back home) he only had a 99.5 temp and was getting his color back. I took him in anyway at 9:45 but the fever was gone by then and he looked good and felt better. Said he still felt "tired" and "really thirtsy" but otherwise fine (note: he was drinking plenty). The throar infection was so bad he did not have his mouth all the way open and the doctor gasped Point being? A fever can change that quickly even before treatment.

As for the rest. I do think you can make a case that since you have a doctor's note they need to let her in. I think the best thing to do in that case would be to call first and explain it to the director. I can see where the teacher wanted to keep you and your potentially (as far as she knew) DD in the parking lot away from the other children. Does the school policy read that you must keep children home until they have been fever free for 24 hours or does it have a clause for if a doctor clears the child Without the claus I think I have to go with the idea that you have been aware of this policy for two years and should follow it.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Fever free for 24hrs means fever free. Not only do I think you are overreacting, I agree with the teacher. Sorry....

 

[AKL_Megs]

Fever free for 24hrs means fever free. Not only do I think you are overreacting, I agree with the teacher. Sorry....

I agree. Just because she has been THERE for only, what did you say, a week, I am sure she has been "in the business" for a while. I am sure she is TIRED of being the bad guy, and TIRED of people who choose not to follow the rules, or believe that their situation is the exception.

So your doctor gave you a note. It means nothing, because the SCHOOL doesn't allow your child back for 24-hours.

You should have kept her at home, and under close watch, for those 24-hours.

 

[bookgirl]

I have to go with the school on this one.

Your doctor does not set policy at the daycare and if you knew the policy and tried to get her back in on purpose using the doctors note because you had a busy day then it's in very bad form.


Fever Free means Fever free for 24 hours. You picked her up in the afternoon with a fever and that's when thier clock started, doesn't matter what her fever was later. She should not have been back at school and the teacher was right to ask you to keep her out today.

 

[Erin1700]

Doctors note or not, you need to keep her home for 24 hours.

 

[KAMLEM]

A rule is a rule, that means for everyone not everyone EXCEPT you. If the teacher lets one kid back early then everyone else will feel entitled. Just because the ear infection itself is not contagious, it could have been caused by a bacteria that IS contagious.

 

[funkychunkymonkey]

Our daycare has the 24 hr rule too BUT if you can prove its not contagious (such as an ear infection) they can come back as soon as they are seen by a doctor. Weve had this situation come up twice this week and both children were back the next day.

 

[*pixie*dust*]

Fever free for 24hrs means fever free. Not only do I think you are overreacting, I agree with the teacher. Sorry....

I agree.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Well, everybody has a right to their feelings!!!
So, on that front, no, you are not over-reacting.
And, it is entirely possible that the woman you spoke with was very rude about how she handled it.

However, after seeing sick kids, including my son's desk-mate, stay in school with STREP!!!! And then I was the one home with a very, very, sick, child, doctors visits, co-pays, prescriptions... I do have to defend the daycare's 24 hour policy.

I am very happy if your daughter is well and happy today!!!
However, remember, these daycares know by experience, that 50/50 they end up having to try to contact the parents of a very sick child later in the day in this kind of situation.

Sometimes it is a hard lesson to learn the first time for new parents... but, when you have toddler, they take precedence over ANYTHING that might be going on at work.

 

[daisyduck123]

Fever free for 24hrs means fever free. Not only do I think you are overreacting, I agree with the teacher. Sorry....

1st grade public school teacher chiming in here

We have the same policy & I totally agree with it. I can understand her not acknowledging your DD....sure she could've said, "Hello" but she had other things on her mind at the moment.

 

[LuvLDM]

I agree w/ the majority, I would have kept her home.
I'm glad she is feeling better.

 

[Wishing on a star]

I can understand her not acknowledging your DD....sure she could've said, "Hello" but she had other things on her mind at the moment.

Nope, I have to disagree with this...
My child would not be left with anyone who had other things on her mind to the point that she didn't acknowledge the children that she cares for everyday.... She is being PAID to care for and interact with these children...

I totally understand enforcement of the 24 hour policy.

But, I think what we are seeing here is a problem with this 'teacher's' attitude.
I have experienced way too many teachers with this attitude.

The correct action here is NOT to ambush the parent in the parking lot.
I am sure that there is a Director there at the day-care.
This teacher should have smiled and said hello, and that she hoped the child was feeling better...
And, then addressed the policy enforcement inside with the Director.

 

[3prettyprincesses]

As a former preschool teacher, I'm going to have to side with the teacher. Sorry! We had so many parents who'd send their child into school with a fever and then we'd turn around and call them to pick their sick child up. There was a very strict 24 hour policy on both fever and vomiting. For obvious reasons. Children that little touch everything and germs pass around like crazy. When I was teaching I was constantly wiping down tables and doorknobs. I even cracked my window in the middle of winter just to get some fresh air flow going!

I understand what you're saying, that your DD only had an ear infection which isn't contagious. But if the school makes allowances like that, they'd have to deal with every parent pleading their case that their child isn't sick. So I understand that policy. You really can't imagine the genius parents at my old preschool who'd bring their child in sick. The poor little one would look like death and still the parent dropped them off. When I'd ask how they were feeling, they'd say they vomited that morning. So we'd go off to the nurse where she'd take the temp. which was elevated. I distinctly remember arguing one time with a parent on the phone because she refused to come and get her vomiting child with a 101 fever. It was awful. She said she'd be there regular time (always at 6pm) to get her. Her poor daughter looked terrible and I felt awful for her.

So, yes, you can be peeved but just try to understand why they have that policy in place. Hope your DD gets better quickly!