Mom Wants To Pull Daughter Out Of Daycare After They Made Her Miss Recess Because Of Her Shoes
Her shoes were deemed a safety hazard.
Yarenci Hdz on Unsplash A mother was left angry with her daughter's daycare after feeling like they treated her little girl unfairly.
Posting to the subreddit "r/AITA — a forum where users try to figure out if they were wrong or not in an argument that has been bothering them — the woman shared details about how she feels her daughter's daycare is treating her child poorly.
In her Reddit post, she explained that her 2-year-old daughter was just gifted "light-up princess heels" from someone in her family. Since receiving the shoes, her daughter refuses to take them off and wants to wear them everywhere, including to daycare.
The mom wants to pull her daughter out of daycare after they wouldn't let her play outside at recess because of the heels.
When she picked her daughter up from daycare, she noticed that the little girl was wearing socks instead of the heels she had on earlier. In response, the daycare told the mother that she needed to put "acceptable" shoes in her daughter's backpack if she would be arriving in heels.
"When I got home, I checked the school’s dress code and there was absolutely nothing about shoes, except that kids have to be able to comfortably play in them," she wrote.
She didn't think there was anything wrong with her daughter's heels, noting that she often wears them out, including to the park and grocery store, and never complains about feeling uncomfortable in them. After refusing to adhere to the daycare's request, she sent her daughter back in the same heels, however, shortly after dropping her daughter off, she received a call from the teacher.
The teacher said that she needed to come back and drop off a different pair of shoes for her daughter, but she argued against it, telling the teacher she was already at work and wouldn't be able to leave abruptly.
"When I picked her up, it was the same thing. Her heels were in her backpack and she was wearing socks. The teacher told me they couldn’t let her out for recess because of her shoes."
When the mother learned that her daughter was kept out of recess, she became livid.
"First of all, she’s worn those shoes to the park so I know she can play in them. Second, it’s not her fault that I couldn’t drop off a new pair of shoes so I don’t see why she has to be punished for it."
Now, the mother wants to pull her daughter out of daycare because of this and find a better one, but her husband refuses. He argued that his children from a previous marriage all went there and loved it, and their daughter not being allowed to wear heels isn't a good enough excuse to look for somewhere new.
"I personally think they’re treating my daughter unfairly and that we should look for a better daycare," she concluded.
A majority of the Reddit commenters agreed that she was wrong for wanting to pull her daughter out of daycare.
"More than likely it’s an insurance thing. If she’s going outside on the playground her feet have to be covered," one person wrote.
Another added, "They're looking out for her safety and protecting themselves from a medical lawsuit. Pulling her out isn't helping her understand that rules are there for a reason."
"Send your kids with proper clothing to any daycare or school. You were already told to send other shoes in her backpack to wear to recess. You deliberately did not. You caused her to miss recess," a third chimed in.
The daycare's rules are likely not arbitrary and meant to keep her child safe.
While it's understandable to question rules, it's vital to recognize their underlying purpose: safeguarding all children under their care. Though the situation may seem unjust, engaging in constructive dialogue with the daycare staff could lead to a more harmonious resolution.
By fostering mutual understanding and respect, both parents and caregivers can ensure a nurturing environment where children can flourish. Ultimately, it's about prioritizing the safety and happiness of our little ones, even in the face of challenges.
Nia Tipton is a writer living in Brooklyn. She covers pop culture, social justice issues, and trending topics.