Nurseries exist for the convenience of the parents not the staff, right?

[docincognito]

Rant Rant Rant

WEEKS ago, I asked for the date and time of dd's nursery concert/ nativity, so i could organise my work around it. I was told Friday 16th December, 2pm. So, I cancelled my ticket for my work Christmas lunch (on the same day), and made sure my clinic booked for the morning wasn't too full so it wouldn't overrun. I've also reassured dd that I would be there, as an emergency at work prevented me making her summer concert, and she was very disappointed (as was I).

Last night when I picked her up, we received a newsletter which gives the time of the concert as 10.30 pm! Didn't worry too much at that pointm, as thought it was a mis-print for 1.30pm, but checked this morning, and the actual time is 10.30 am!

When I asked why it had been changed with such short notice, i was told that "X, one of the nursery nurses has an appointment in the afternoon, and she has to be present for the concert"

Well, I am now at my desk fuming , and wondering what I can do... I might be able to insist that they change the time of the concert (as I might be able to pull some strings and get the NN's appointment changed to a more favourable one), but then all the other parents will have even less notice of a time change than I had. I could just cancel the clinic- 20 special needs children, many of whom need ambulances/ taxis arranged, or I could reorganise the clinic eating into the annual leave that i had saved for Christmas shopping, and inconveniencing many nursing / physiotherapy staff into the bargain.

IN ADDITION I asked about the nativity- do we need to provide a costume? Dd will be an angel, apparently. NN on duty this morning said,"Oh yes we were going to send out a letter next week"- WTF??? She needs an angel outfit supplied, with less than a weeks notice when i work full time, and you just can't "pop" to the shops two weeks before Christmas- parking takes ages. She doesn't possess anything white- not tights or T-shirt , not even a nightie- It's a bloody impractical colour for a 3 year old.

Any helpful suggestions for either problem would be appreciated!

[throckenholt]

I would just resign myself to missing it - and tell DD - you are very sorry - but you were told the wrong time and you cannot rearrange time again.

And have a bl**dy good moan at the nursery about not sticking to original plans.

As for the angel suit - make one if you can - but if not just tell nursery you don't have the time at the moment - you would have needed more notice. I am sure they have some spares from previous years (angels are not uncommon in nativity plays )

Not easy being a parent is it ?

[acnebride]

I don't use a nursery but i don't think i woudl resign myself to this. I would go to the head of the nursery (on the phone) and have a working-woman-to-working-woman talk.

Question that comes to mind is why does this nursery nurse specifically have to be at the concert?

Is there any other cover they could arrange? Is she the only one who plays the piano, in which case could they sort out a tape backing? If they understand about the clinic, they may see it as more important than they clearly currently do.

Re angel costume - maybe start with a thread on here saying ANGEL COSTUME FOR 3 YEAR OLD? I'M DESPERATE!

[NannyL]

OMG

I think that is TOTALLU unacceptable, i too would be fuming! Not sure what you can say tho, other than have the head of nursary and tell her EXACTLY what you told us here!

What if that IRREPLACABLE nursary nurse gets ill, is in hospital etc? Would they cancel the whole play, i doubt it!

[SilentBite]

I would be livid too

But not much you can do tbh

[chipmonksRoastingOnAnOpenFire]

Docincognito, this has been a bugbear of mine for years! Both school and nursery think its OK to give 2 days notice for days-off, costume-making etc. We've had instructions to "make a musical instrument" for homework and then then teacher looking at what we had constructed with paper plates and beans after ds's bedtime and saying "Whats that supposed to be?"
for the angel costume, a man's white shirt worn back to front, tied with a tinsel "belt" and worn with a tinsel "crown". If you've time, cut out some "wings" from cardboard and staple on!
I would be tempted to re-arrange the clinic and resign yourself to late-night shopping for the next couple of weeks? At least you'd see dd in her play and would have less guilt over the summer one!

[Bozza]

Would definitely be cross and tell the nursery so. The only possible solution that would cause least inconvenience. Any chance of a morning and an afternoon performance?

[binkie]

How long's dd been there?
Is crap admin like this par for the course for the nursery?
Are you otherwise happy with it?

Because if this is a one-off I'd be furious but live with it; if it was yet another in a line of incidents it would be a last straw and if I had options I'd think about changing.

Angel outfit: old pillow case & tinsel.

[chipmonksRoastingOnAnOpenFire]

Oh and I would ring the nursery manager and rant on for ages! Surely you're not the only mum who's been inconvenienced for this at the nursery! I think the staff member there should have to re-arrange her appointment!

[sinclair]

Definitely ring and rant, you will know in your heart whether the guilt of canceling the clinic or the guilt of missing the play is easier to bear!

is there anyone else - a gran or a favourite 'auntie' that you could bribe heavily to attend in your stead?

I recently missed a special assembly as I simply couldn't get out of something else - I was lucky as DH could go instead, it's the first thing I have missed in 18 months at primary. My children know I work and realise that I'm not always therefore around - but they are older.

[Caligyulea]

That really is crap. Almost as bad as a school.

[renaldo]

that is truly crap - our school gives the natvity play dates in september and sticks to them

[Avalon]

doc - ring and rant, definitely.

Could they do two performances? - you can't be the only working parent who has relied on the original time.

Or could you attend the dress rehearsal if it's at a better time?

[motherinfurrierfestivehat]

DI, I have an angel outfit for a 3-5 year old I bought on sale for DD1 a while ago, from Sainsbury's. Big Sainsburys' should have more, or I could probably get it to you although to be honest I'd quite like to hang onto it/get it back, if at all possible.

[puddle]

I would be having a very cross word with the manager about this. IMO your nursery should be more organised - surely they deal with lots of working parents who have to juggle commitments to attend? I sympathise - this week and next are two of the busiest for me at work and have just been informed of last minute ballet performance for dd (her very first) with five days notice - this is in the middle of the afternoon. Already have two things for ds to fit in.

As for angel - pillowcase, borrow some wings if you don't have any, halo from hairband covered in tinsel with coathanger attached. Or
www.dressingupboxonline.com

[Enideepmidwinter]

angel outfit:
oversized (ladies) white tshirt with silver fabric star fabric glued onto front and neck and hem trimmed with silver tinsel. Halo from Clare's accessories and wings too.

[docincognito]

thanks

have just phoned nursery manager who was very apologetic. Apparently, the NN in charge of dd's room didn't tell anyone that she had confirmed the time with me, and then went off sick, so hasn't yet been able to explain herself. That doesn't help me, but at least i have the apology that wasn't forthcoming this morning.

Not really too worried about the angel costume, but still cross that they've given so little notice (and I had to rely on dd to tell me!)

I have managed to reorganise the clinic to a certain extent, so shoud be able to leave early to get to nursery, but neither I nor my secretary needed this right now

[motherinfurrierfestivehat]

I seriously would nip to Sainsbury's for the costume, as it means you don't have any faff.

[Anchovy]

The working mother's saviour - www.dressingupboxonline.com is what you need for nativity crises. I got DS's Angel wings from there (small feathered variety - they are seriously snazzy), and halo. They got to us in about 5 days so if you order now I'm sure you will be fine (plus ring to check maybe)- they also have a "key date" section on the order form. I think that if you get some ritzy wings, everything else gets overlooked. A plain white man's shirt or a large white T shirt would look fine I think.

[IOTAnnenbaum]

Angel outfits are £8 in Tescos.

Anyone seena crown anywhere?.. have bought sequins and briand -- looks like a DIY job for my little king

[IOTAnnenbaum]

briand? braid

[motherinfurrierfestivehat]

Thank heavens DD1 has to be a...builder.

A builder. WTF?

[throckenholt]

easy costume - just your scruffiest clothes you can find - preferably splattered in cement

[bosscatsroastingonanopenfire]

oh god this is my biggest nightmare. that i am given 2 days notice to come up with an outfit. I am TERRIBLE at making things. I have friends who can make a dragon from a plastic bag but I have to actually buy it from a shop. Much sympathy.

[tamum]

That's certainly erm, unusual

DI, that's really bad. I would be hopping mad. If you don't manage to get there could someone film it for you, and you sit down with dd and make a big thing of watching it with her?

[ParrupupumScum]

Doc- so glad you've managed to rejig things. Sounded awful. Good luck with tracking down an angel costume.

MI- a builder?! Is this in a nativity?