Last week I brought my son to daycare for the first time in his life (he's 2.5). I need to go to work one day a week and someone I know referred me to her former nanny who just opened her own daycare. She's very young, but seems responsible and kind. In her contract, she specifies that children are not to bring their own meals and snacks, because it is unfair to the other kids. She also states in the contract that she will make accommodations for food allergies if necessary.
Well, my son has no allergies, but we do eat very healthy food at home. Meaning no processed foods, no canned foods except homemade (because of the effects of BPA, especially in small, immature bodies), and as much organic produce, meat, and dairy as we can afford. My largest expenditure every month is on food, because it's that important to me.
Well, I called her just before we were to come, and asked her what she was serving that day. She said hot dogs and some kind of canned vegetable plus a fruit and milk. She also would give the kids a choice of fruit for snacks. My neuroses got the better of me, and I asked her if she would mind me bringing our own milk, juice and fruits. She agreed, although reluctantly, and I couldn't help but feel that I had offended her. Meals are included in the price of the care, and I know she has made the effort to participate in the federal program that subsidizes meals at day cares.
Later, when I picked up DS, and asked him what he ate for lunch, he couldn't tell me, because he'd never had a hot dog or macaroni and cheese before! I think the day care provider must think were from some other planet that he's never had them before!
Anyway, I cringe at the idea of asking someone to bend the rules for us. And I am conflicted between sucking it up and letting him eat and drink these things once a week (after all, most everybody else does), or sticking to my convictions about food quality. What would you do?
BTW, this provider was also unfamiliar with the concepts of bed sharing or anything else related to attachment parenting, which I found out when I explained that DS might have trouble sleeping on a mat on the floor, because he sleeps with us at home. This was met with a rather perplexed expression, but she seemed to take it in stride. I just don't think it's my place to try to "educate" this young woman on the concepts of a natural diet. Although, I did bring her an issue of Mothering Magazine to give her a little bit more insight into our style of parenting.
Well, my son has no allergies, but we do eat very healthy food at home. Meaning no processed foods, no canned foods except homemade (because of the effects of BPA, especially in small, immature bodies), and as much organic produce, meat, and dairy as we can afford. My largest expenditure every month is on food, because it's that important to me.
Well, I called her just before we were to come, and asked her what she was serving that day. She said hot dogs and some kind of canned vegetable plus a fruit and milk. She also would give the kids a choice of fruit for snacks. My neuroses got the better of me, and I asked her if she would mind me bringing our own milk, juice and fruits. She agreed, although reluctantly, and I couldn't help but feel that I had offended her. Meals are included in the price of the care, and I know she has made the effort to participate in the federal program that subsidizes meals at day cares.
Later, when I picked up DS, and asked him what he ate for lunch, he couldn't tell me, because he'd never had a hot dog or macaroni and cheese before! I think the day care provider must think were from some other planet that he's never had them before!
Anyway, I cringe at the idea of asking someone to bend the rules for us. And I am conflicted between sucking it up and letting him eat and drink these things once a week (after all, most everybody else does), or sticking to my convictions about food quality. What would you do?
BTW, this provider was also unfamiliar with the concepts of bed sharing or anything else related to attachment parenting, which I found out when I explained that DS might have trouble sleeping on a mat on the floor, because he sleeps with us at home. This was met with a rather perplexed expression, but she seemed to take it in stride. I just don't think it's my place to try to "educate" this young woman on the concepts of a natural diet. Although, I did bring her an issue of Mothering Magazine to give her a little bit more insight into our style of parenting.
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