To think other nursery parents need to grow up

[ibangthedrums]

Was having chat to DS1's nursery workers this morning. He has been going for ages and we get on well so they often "gossip" with me.

DS has a male worker in his pre school room which I think is fab but had not given it too much thought. He is great with the children - they all adore him.

In our chat, one of the other workers told me that most of the other parents don't like him working there. He is not allowed to change any nappies or even go into the toilet area. He is also not allowed to be in the room/garden area on his own with any children. People have even complained when he has covered the baby room!

I am furious that people can be so small minded and the nursery owner should stand up to the parents but I seem to be in the minority. AIBU?

That's pathetic. DD's keyworker at nursery is a man and he seems very good with the children, no different to any of the women. I don't talk to him too much as I do drop off and am always rushing but DH picks up so gets more time to chat. I'm not aware of any issues with him or him not being allowed to do anything, that's absurd!

Nope but some people are incredibly small minded.

Presumably these other parents think he is more likely to sexually abuse the children without having taken on board the recent case of the female nursery worker...

My DS had a male carer at nursery and he was great.

That's just very very sad.

That's terrible. How small minded of the other parents.

My DC loved their male worker at nursery. He used to put them on the back of his motorbike (obviously it was stationary). Sadly he left to join the Met.

I actually think that it's quite serious sex discrimination and, as the parent of a small boy, I wouldn't use a nursery that went along with it.

Outrageous. My dd had a male TA at her school. She adored him and got me to buy him beer at every opportunity. I can't remember him ever changing her, but he was certainly present when they undressed for swimming.
This wasn't in the paedo obsessed UK though.

guess it might have been the same worker jee as ours left to join the police. Ours was so good that they had to share him out across all the rooms so that both older and younger ones got a turn

defNBU. How very sad. And then people complain that boys don't have enough male role models and are 'feminised' at school (acc to the DM comments section anyway)

Where are you, witch - was it a work-based creche?

What a shame.

I really want to say something but I don't want to get any of the staff into trouble for gossiping. Not sure how I could bring it up as he has been there a while now.

I guess the owner doesn't want to lose busines and the worker is certainly not the type to want to cause a fuss.

YANBU when a male nursery member started at our nursery I was really pleased that my son was not just surrounded by women all day (there was also a high number of female children too!). He was great with the children including the babies. I wish there were more male teachers and nursery staff tbh.

Oh this is awful. My DS' nursery had a male worker for a while, and the nursery manager did ask if anyone had any 'problems' - I said (and I think put it in writing) that I thought it was a great idea, and that our regular playgroup was run by a bloke who was great with kids.
Sadly this particular nursery worker didn't work out but I heard he just wasn't much cop rather than it being a problem with dumbfuck bigoted parents.

There were a couple of men working at ds's nursery years ago. AFAIK nobody ever complained.

YANBU of course, I'm just a teensy bit surprised.

no yanbu.

staff are fuelling the suspicion with their words and utterly unprofessional.

never make a judgement on 3rd hand info from gossipy nursery staff i'd say. they could be projecting for all you know.

Oh yes, what hobbgoblin says.

yes jee near canterbury, nursry named after a long living tree

YANBU

My DD has a male keyworker (this is getting weird huh RB? ) and he is great.

I think one of his strengths is that as he is male as he doesn't seem to get involved in the office politics which usually arise in an all female workplace so gets on with everyone, is really well liked.

Good point hobbgoblin but the staff member said it was making life difficult (arranging cover etc) and she didn't agree with it.

I think I will keep an eye on it but it is hard to know what is going on every day I suppose.

I think the fact that nursery managers even ask if parents will have a problem with a male staff member is wrong.

When I worked in a holiday camp I had the pre-school room. They were desperate for staff to work there as everyone wanted the older children. But they wouldn't have males working there. Even as a callow 19yo I realised that was bullshit.

I hate shit like this. It reinforces that men are not to be trusted, that childcare is women's work and low paid, low status work is women's work.

Yes, witch, 'tis the same nursery.

I think the other nursery parents need to get a grip, and realise they are being HUGELY discriminatory.