To wonder … do nursery workers judge you if you don’t work

[Beyondthedale]

And just have your toddler attend a couple of days a week for a break?

No. Many parents use nurseries as a way of letting their children socialise with other children and adults, not just childcare because of working. Having a break is a legitimate reason too! Your child is in a place where they are learning and having fun and making friends.

Years ago when it was quite normal for mum’s not to work, little ones went to play school for a couple of hours once or twice a week. To give mum a break and to teach children to be with other children, in preparation for school.

No, honestly i do not think our nursery staff know what i do for work.

I don't know as judged but they were very quick to call me if DC 'wouldn't settle'.

Don't feel guilty all children get free hours at 3 and some at 2. What's better? Only child at home with an exhausted mother or at nursery for a few hours where they learn how to get along with others.

Nursery workers are not clones - some may judge but I doubt it’s most.

How would they know?!

True. I always feel guilty using childcare if I don’t ‘need’ it (except I do!)

I doubt they know? I've never been asked my occupation whilst DC was at nursery. You're paying them for a service they provide, what does it matter?

Course not.

As a former Nursery Nurse ,I have never judged anyone on their working status! The children come to play with their friends,do some gentle reading/looking at books ,playing with toys and so on.Most staff are far too busy to worry about things like that!

No, not in my experience

No - generally we don’t really think about what the parents do that much! A lot of the parents at my nursery I don’t actually know what they do. Many of them come in casual clothes but they might work from home/work nights etc. There are so many kids you can’t keep track of what all their parents do!

Why would they judge you?

There is no way they could know. You could be self employed working from home for all they know.

I've been on both sides (when staying at nursery while my children settled in their first few days).
It wasn't a pleasant experience and a real eye opener but I'm not saying all nurseries are the same.
The staff were friendly when the parents dropped their children off - all smiles.
The minute they left they would gossip like mums in the playground - judging the way the parents were dressed, how they spoke (if they dropped their H for example), what area they lived in, whether they might be pregnant and so on.

They also had no confidentiality and would get parents to sign incident forms in front of other parents while giving a full account of what the child had done (instead of taking them to one side and being discreet).

No I don’t think so, but I’m quite pissed off with mine at the moment. I work condensed full time hours in 3.5 days and they know I finish at 1pm on a Wednesday as in the early weeks I’d arrive early to pick DS up. I now leave him until later because we pay for the full day and it’s my only time in the week to run errands etc.

i have had so many calls on a Wednesday lunchtime to say DS is unwell and needs picking up!

I doubt they’d even know.

Well they won't know unless you tell them!

I’m not sure how they’d know what you’re doing. Or why it would matter.

Not at all you need down time and start preparing for life when child goes to school full time and you can start working again. Enjoy the peace 😀

My nursery know what days I am going into the office because I look presentable - at working from home days I drop her off looking like a bin bag. They really don't care. I pay them (alot) of money for a service they provide.

But also - I still drop DD at nursery when when I have a day off work, because I want and need the break! Makes no difference to them and they would never know anyway?

Of course not. Early Years education is about so much more than childcare...

Wednesday used to be busiest day when my dd was at nursery as lots of mums work 3 days. Couldn’t take any extras. I’d wonder if they are at capacity and need to drop a few children if a staff member is ill etc if it’s always a Wednesday.

They wouldn’t necessarily know? Nursery is so beneficial for their socialising and getting used to being away from you, in prep for school. It’s not just childcare!