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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask what you would think here?

92 replies

Stressful00 · 05/01/2023 22:09

Work in a baby room at a nursery.
Today we were one staff member down as they were off sick. We had 8 babies all day.
I noticed throughout the afternoon that my normally lovely and calm colleague seemed red faced and stressed. I told her so and she snapped at me saying she had been 'doing everything.' and felt like she had no support. . I was also in the room but working on a new art display which took up most of the morning and also some of the afternoon. I was in the room but not engaged with the kids as such because I was doing that. However, when I noticed she was stressed later on, I said I would take over the washing up so not like she had no support. I did also come back a few minutes late after lunch but was on an important call.
Aibu to ask what you would think here? Unfortunately displays and work like that needs to be done.

OP posts:
Lkydfju · 05/01/2023 22:10

I think she needed you to help and do the display another day when you weren’t a staff member down

Stompythedinosaur · 05/01/2023 22:11

Don't be ridiculous, the time to work on an art display is not when you are short staffed. How very unfair to leave one person to do all the vital work!

Etinoxaurus · 05/01/2023 22:12

Obviously reverse

PumpkinDart · 05/01/2023 22:13

The audacity to faff about on a display most of the day and tell your short staffed colleague she looks stressed. You are being very unreasonable.

Hiphopboppertybop99 · 05/01/2023 22:13

I think your colleague was pretty annoyed you were doing an art display when you were short staffed. Did that mean the staff / child ratio was compromised?

Thatiswild · 05/01/2023 22:13

Wow, so she was looking after 8 babies herself all day. You did some art and offered to help wash up? Think about how that would have been had the roles have been reversed. Yabvu.

RayRai · 05/01/2023 22:13

Smells like a reverse

Yeahrightthen · 05/01/2023 22:14

One woman looking after 8 babies?! I hope this is a joke…

Chaiandchocolate · 05/01/2023 22:14

How many staff are there usually in the baby room? Surely she wasn’t looking after 8 babies by herself while you pottered about putting artwork up on the walls?

bunnypenny · 05/01/2023 22:14

I noticed throughout the afternoon that my normally lovely and calm colleague seemed red faced and stressed. I told her so

you told your colleague she looked red faced and stressed? And you didn’t join the dots that that may be because the room was a person down and you were fannying about with an art display?

did you ask your colleague whether it was ok for you to continue with the art display that day?

AppleKatie · 05/01/2023 22:14

If it is a reverse get off mumsnet and start whistleblowing at your horrible nursery where 1 member of staff is left looking after 8!!?!? Babies!

Blondewithredlips · 05/01/2023 22:16

You left her with 8 babies to do an art display? Poor woman. You are selfish.

2chocolateoranges · 05/01/2023 22:16

If you were understaffed then the art wall should have been done another day. Priority while working in a nursery is the children, their care and their needs, not an art wall.

I wouldn’t have been happy either. She was left to look after all the babies out of ratio while you designed a wall. As a parent if I had witnessed one staff member doing all the work with the children I wouldn’t have been very happy.

Children first everytime.

girlmom21 · 05/01/2023 22:17

If this isn't a reverse you're a complete arse. If it is a reverse you're a complete arse for posting a reverse but also need to speak up.

Bywayofanupdate · 05/01/2023 22:17

If I was a parent of one of those babies I'd be pretty furious you had prioritised an art display over looking after the babies!

Original poster
Stressful00 · 05/01/2023 22:17

No it is not.
I should have added there was another colleague but she was in the kitchen preparing food for a lot of the time this morning also. The point is, there are a lot of jobs that need doing and not our fault we are short staffed. We were never out of ratio either.

OP posts:
Anisina · 05/01/2023 22:17

Reverses are shit and normally deleted.

Bagsundermyeyestoday · 05/01/2023 22:18

Lkydfju · 05/01/2023 22:10

I think she needed you to help and do the display another day when you weren’t a staff member down

This, although she should've just asked you rather than hoping you'd show the initiative

girlmom21 · 05/01/2023 22:18

Stressful00 · 05/01/2023 22:17

No it is not.
I should have added there was another colleague but she was in the kitchen preparing food for a lot of the time this morning also. The point is, there are a lot of jobs that need doing and not our fault we are short staffed. We were never out of ratio either.

So one woman wasn't looking after 8 babies?

Pumperthepumper · 05/01/2023 22:19

Definite reverse.

Anisina · 05/01/2023 22:19

Stressful00 · 05/01/2023 22:17

No it is not.
I should have added there was another colleague but she was in the kitchen preparing food for a lot of the time this morning also. The point is, there are a lot of jobs that need doing and not our fault we are short staffed. We were never out of ratio either.

Then you should have stopped faffing about with the art display and helped your colleague out.

BrutusMcDogface · 05/01/2023 22:19

Three members of staff for 8 babies still doesn’t sound right. I’ve just been reading about the poor little one-year-old who died at a nursery.

RandomCatGenerator · 05/01/2023 22:19

YABU. You were short staffed, the display could wait. You should have helped your poor colleague.

Cornelious · 05/01/2023 22:20

I hope it's a reverse. One staff member down and someone priorities an art display over looking after babies. Mind boggling

YouWithoutEnd · 05/01/2023 22:21

Doing a display when you’re a member of staff down is absolute insanity.