so just a lil ranty rant thing about some crap I need to do tomorrow So you know how we all like to prepare in advance for like a schedule change? and like we totally fucking DREAD it but at least at the end of the day you get to go home and chill so realistically it'll be fine.
Yeah fuck tomorrow. I work in a preschool and tomorrow the lead teacher will be out because of a doctor's appointment, she wont be back, she'll be gone all day. Cool. Fine. Not really a big deal. It happens. I have to lead circle time.
if you havent been a preschooler recently that means I have to hold the attention span of about 8 kids between 3 and 5 with autism and adhd sitting in a circle for about 15 minutes straight. I have to do that twice, so 30 minutes in total. ugh. It's part of my job now, I need to be able to do this for the lead teacher, but. Man I hate being the center of attention and I have to improvise on the fly and I just dont have the experience to lean on like the lead does. She makes it look effortless. It is NOT effortless. She's got more years of experience doing this than I've been ALIVE and I'm NOT EVEN JOKING. She's been doing this for over 20 years. I'm 20. And like it's totally gonna be a thing where it's not actually that bad after I do it for the first time but I'm just ~anxious~ because I have an ~anxiety disorder~.
I dont have to do it for the second class but I will essentially be leading the classroom for a good chunk of the day during groups and snack time because the person who would usually take that position will take on most of the modified schedule of one of our kids with higher needs. Thats cool. That's fine. It'll be a bit of a headache and Im fully prepared to be screamed at by disgruntled kids. But it's whatever realistically.
But then I dont even get to go home. It's my mothers 40th, I am not allowed to miss her becoming an Old Lady. See all 3 of my older stepsisters are coming from across the country and this will probably be our last whole family gathering in which someone's not either dead or giving birth so obvi I HAVE to be there.
But then thats not even it. Because tomorrow afternoon for dinner is the ONLY time during their trip here that we'll all be at HOME together. Why does that matter? my partner hasn't met the family. He's coming to meet my 3 sisters, 1 brother, my mother, my father, and a plethora of my parents work friends. And he's also autistic, he's gonna need me to support him a bit. He's not the same kind of autistic as me, he's super monotone, he's crap at reading social situations- he's not rude, he's just autistic- and somebody's going to have to shut down my oldest sister (who is married to an autistic man who leans much more heavily adhd and trauma than he does autistic) trying to give me unsolicited advice about "how to compromise with an autistic man" She doesn't seem to get that....her husband isn't the way he is in their relationship JUST because he's autistic. Thats part of it. But its not EVERYTHING. it's that they really suck at communicating. I've watched them try to make really simple decisions and they just don't have the same needs and communication styles. Me and my partner dont have that problem, because our needs and styles match up really well.
And I knowww she's just trying to find common ground with me because we have like none and we dont talk a lot but cmon I dont want to listen to your "what I can teach you about dating an autistic man" rants save it for tiktok I love my man and dont need to hear about how hard it is being with yours and I really hope she doesn't say any of that crap in front of his face I am not gonna be in the headspace to deal with that.
and its just all piled up on the same day and mhhhahhhhhhhhhh I'mso over it already :(
Mahhhhhhhhhhh How do yall cope with your shitty surprise "hahah! all of your extra draining stuff is piled up on the same day!" days?

Hi teachers! I am in some serious need of advice...
I always wanted to be a teacher growing up, but I've taken a bit of an unconventional route and I don't know which direction to go now.
I graduated community college in 2018, I didn't do great, but I got my AA and then went off to ride horses professionally until 2023. In September of 2023, I began teaching at a preschool. In July I am relocating to Michigan and have a job at another preschool lined up. I will be an assistant teacher for a Pre-K class. To maintain my employment there, it is required that I am working towards a CDA or Bachelor's in ECE. In theory my bachelor's degree will be 80-90% covered by a TEACH scholarship, but I'm not sure if my CDA would be paid for if I went that direction.
I don't think I want to stay in ECE, but I'm not 100% sure what grade level I prefer. If I get my bachelor's in ECE, does that lock me into lower elementary or could I take a few more courses and be able to teach middle or high school (probably science)?
Is it better to get my CDA and pay to get my bachelor's in secondary education while I'm still working in preschool? I don't want to be going to college forever!
Please let me know if I missed any important information and thank you in advance!

Cyborg #59 - Test of Strength

<< < >
Author: Commander_Z
Book: Cyborg
Arc: Machine Mayhem
Set: 96
Previously:
Victor Stone, Donna Morris and Keiji Otari worked together to create a robot called Atlas to participate in the collegiate Machine Mayhem tournament, a robot fighting competition. The humanoid robot easily crushed its competition in the first round but disappeared overnight before the second round. His three creators split up to track him down, with Keiji finding the machine in a back alley a little ways away from the stadium...
Keiji stood before the massive figure, blinking, trying to focus his mind. He had had many late nights and early mornings over the past couple weeks, so Keiji figured he was still sleeping. Or hallucinating. Or both, somehow. But, the voice rang out, its clearest yet, “No.” ‘Clear’ was a very generous and relative term, though. The noise wasn’t modulating through a speaker or a voice box, instead Atlas was making his own speaker by vibrating the motors and joints that allowed him to move.
The alley that Keiji found Atlas in was less than an ideal to make changes to a robot, but Keiji figured that Atlas would be understanding considering the circumstances. He pulled out an old bluetooth speaker out of his backpack and gestured towards Atlas with it.
“This’ll help you. No more grinding gears to talk. Just got to trust me for a few minutes, okay?”
Atlas stood still for a few moments, whether he was thinking or just unsure how to make a positive affirmation with his joints, Keiji couldn’t know. But, after awhile, he responded.
“Yes.”
Keiji set his backpack on the ground in the gross alley, making a mental note that he’d have to clean that later and got to work.
Around ten minutes later, he was done.
“Okay, Atlas. Try to use the speaker. It’s connected to RO23 on the tertiary control board.”
“...T…Te….ing…Test…Testing. Speaker operation confirmed.” Atlas spoke in a deep, synthetic voice that occasionally warped itself in tone, like how a whammy bar would add vibrato to a chord on a guitar.
“Great. So… Atlas… What's going on with you? Why’d you leave?”
“I am performing my task: defeat opponents, become the strongest. No foes in that arena were a challenge. Therefore, I left.”
Keiji raised an eyebrow. “That’s… not what we made you for. We made you to win Machine Mayhem, not to pursue strength as some sort of goal in of itself.”
“Incorrect. Nowhere in programming was “winning the Machine Mayhem tournament” a specified goal.”
“Okay, but I programmed you, and I’m telling you that was the intention.”
“Intentions are irrelevant. A teacher may shape their students’ minds, but they cannot determine what anyone does with their knowledge. That is a privilege reserved for each and every individual being. You say I was programmed to win a tournament. I say that I was programmed to make myself the strongest being. Only my interpretation is relevant.”
‘I guess that’s not an invalid interpretation of what I programmed him to do. But… that’s not exactly a sane or safe perspective on life…’
“And how are you doing that? Just fighting anyone you can see?”
“No. I have already stated that I found those machines in that arena unworthy of my efforts, in my short time in the outside world I have seen humans to be much the same. Few of you would pose any challenge.”
“Well, that’s a little more reassuring that you won’t just be fighting everyone you see. But - ”
Suddenly, a woman about Keiji’s age flew into the alleyway, riding on a metallic pink hoverboard. She wore hot pink combat boots with dark black leggings, and a matching hot pink sleeveless top with thick metallic bands around her wrists that went up to her forearms. Her eyes were obscured by a visor-like pair of glasses, tinted a reflective red to hide her identity.
And yet, Keiji knew instantly that she had to be Donna Morris. He knew that she had been working on some other project with Vic before they started Atlas, but he figured it was just for some shared class or lab work. But this… This was unexpected.
“Halt… robot! Step away from the civilian and no one needs to get hurt!”
‘Why’s she speaking so formally? Guess it’s some mindset thing.’
Neither Atlas nor Keiji reacted to what Donna was saying. Keiji knew she wasn’t talking to him, and Atlas just seemed indifferent to her presence. Finally, Atlas turned and faced her.
“You seem powerful. Show me the strength of your will and I may concede.”
“This doesn’t need to be violent. We can talk it out, here or somewhere else.”
“Actions speak louder and truer than words.” Atlas moved into a combat position, leaning forwards on his left leg, raising his fists up to his chest.
“Come.”
“Don- ”
“When I’m in the suit, it’s Black Narcissus. Some of us like to keep our identities secret, no offense to Cyborg, wherever he is.” Donna said.
“Okay, nice to meet you, Black Narcissus. Just… be careful with Atlas. He’s stronger than he looks.”
Donna smiled. “So am I. Just watch.”
Donna pressed her thumb and index finger together on both hands and a large light on the back of her hands turned gray. She pointed her hands right at Atlas, who still stood in his combat position, waiting.
A thick, gray fluid shot out of her gauntlets, ensnaring Atlas’ arms to his body and his legs to the ground.
“Gotcha! That’s industrial strength adhesive - ”
Atlas flexed his arms and the adhesive snapped with ease, then crouched his legs before springing upwards towards Black Narcissus and her hoverboard. She quickly flew out of the way but Atlas managed to barely get one hand on the board. Black Narcissus pressed her thumbs to her middle fingers, changing the cartridge in her gauntlets. The light on the back changed to purple and she fired her gauntlets again, launching a blast of energy at Atlas.
The extra energy rattled the robot’s circuits, and he released his grip on the board to escape further damage, sending him crashing back to the ground. She shot another salvo of energy blasts at the machine, keeping him stunned on the ground.
She switched her left gauntlet back to adhesive, hoping that it would be able to restrain a weakened Atlas. Before it could reach him, the robot rolled out of the way and grabbed a trash can, hurling it at Donna. She swerved out of the way again, then dodged a second trash can thrown as a follow up.
After the second can, she was on her toes, prepared for a third, but it didn’t come. She looked around, trying to find where Atlas went, but he was completely out of sight. She sensed him at the last moment, coming from the rooftop that he jumped up to. He grabbed her board and slammed it to the ground with her on it. The board shattered into a million pieces, but Donna seemed unharmed. Atlas sprung up, ready to keep fighting, and Black Narcissus rose fractions of a second after. She pressed her thumbs to her ring fingers and the light on the black glowed a dark red.
She swung a right hand punch at Atlas who caught it in his left. But the light on the back of her gauntlet started to glow brighter as she put in more effort, pushing back against his metallic muscle. Atlas pushed his legs back, trying to stabilize himself. Donna started to push him back more and Keiji could hear the motors start to strain. Atlas stopped resisting against Donna, then, before she could take advantage of it, he kicked up some of the pieces of the broken hoverboard at her. Using her momentary surprise, he punched her square in the chest, knocking the wind out of her and sending her to the ground.
“You fought well,” Atlas said, turning away from her.
“Wait,” Donna said, getting up. “I’m not done with you.”
“Yes, you are. Accept your defeat. There is no shame in losing to the strongest.”
Before Donna could protest, Atlas turned to Keiji. “Come, and bring your things. I have use for you.”
Keiji raised an eyebrow, but grabbed his backpack and started to follow Atlas further down the alley.
He turned back to Donna and mouthed “I’ll text you” to her. He hoped she got the message.
⚙️⚙️⚙️⚙️⚙️
“Stop here.”
Keiji stood behind Atlas, who was peering into an old garage a couple blocks from the alley where he fought Black Narcissus. He grabbed the padlock that was keeping the door shut and squeezed it, turning it into dust.
“You will find the tools you need in here. Repair the damage caused in the last fight, human.”
Keiji raised an eyebrow. “First off, I don’t really like being called “human”. Technically true, but feels hurtful in this context. Second, I’m a software guy. I couldn’t fix you if I wanted to. Third, being nicer to people will generally get you better results. Not really inclined to help someone who starts by insulting me.”
“Niceties are a waste of time. Fix me, or I will end you.”
Keiji shook his head. “No, you won’t. I can’t fix you, but you know my teammates can. And they’d never do that if you hurt me at all.”
Atlas punched the concrete wall in frustration, cracking it. “Very well. You are correct… I do need your help. What will they require to do so?”
“I don’t know. But come back to the arena with me. We can talk with them there and see what it takes.”
“Very well. Let your friends know that I require their assistance.”
⚙️⚙️⚙️⚙️⚙️
Atlas stood before Vic and Donna, who made it back to their workspace just before the robot did. He towered over the three humans, but if any of them were intimidated, it was hidden behind a masterful poker face.
“Y’know, I thought more people would care that we just walked in with a robot and are talking with him like he’s a person,” Donna remarked.
“People are busy and indifferent. The other competitors probably think it’s a marketing scheme or something and are just ignoring us. I wouldn’t worry about it too much,” Keiji said.
“Yeah, that. But so… Atlas has become sentient. Good for you, really. But… hooray. Another sentient robot,” Vic said.
“You see a lot of those?” Keiji asked.
“More than you’d think.”
“I am glad that you are not concerned by my presence. That saves me much effort. But the question at hand remains: I have been damaged and require repairs. Will you repair me?”
“Yes,” Vic and Donna said at the same time.
Vic looked at her, surprised. He figured she’d have some hesitancy.
“But, I’ve got a small condition for you. Should be no big deal. Win us the next round of the competition.”
“Ridiculous. You ask me to do something so trivial it is unfair, like a pro athlete competing at a preschool.”
Donna shrugged. “Yeah, it’s trivial and easy, but it helps us a lot.The club will look much better and get a lot more support for next season if we make it into the semifinals.”
“I’ll even raise the stakes. If you win the next round, we won’t make you enter the finals. Instead, I’ll give you a real challenge. You can fight me.”
“Why would I want that?”
“Because I’m the strongest one here by far. And, if that’s still not enough if you beat me, I’ll show you how to repair yourself. Then, we’ll let you go live as you want, provided you promise to only fight people who want to fight.”
Donna looked at Vic, concerned. “Who would want to willingly fight someone like Atlas?”
Vic sighed. “Trust me. There are plenty of weirdos in this world who just want to fight. It’s much better than me just throwing him in prison or taking him apart.”
Atlas made a noise that Vic thought was supposed to be a scoff. But maybe it was just static. The speaker wasn’t that high quality.
“You make a very strong set of promises if I win, which I will. But if by some miracle, you managed to cheat your way to victory… what happens then?”
Vic shrugged. “Pretty much the same thing. I’ll teach you how to repair yourself and let you go with the same stipulations. You just have to know that a human beat you.”
Atlas laughed. “You are a fool if you think that could ever happen. I accept your terms, human. Guide me to the arena, those boxes of scrap will be reduced to dust.”
Vic walked him over to the arena as as if he were any other competitor, but instead of waiting by the sidelines to see the results, he walked back to their workspace. He knew that Atlas would win and wanted to try and make sure that Donna and Keiji were on board with the other part of his plan.
When he got back, Donna was nervously pacing around while Keiji was scrolling through some webpage.
“So.. Vic… do you really think that this is the right idea? You’re just… unleashing him on the world. Isn't that irresponsible?” Donna asked.
“I don’t think so. Yeah he wants to fight people but he has restraint to some degree. He knows the difference being fighting every random person he sees and fighting someone who has a reasonable amount of strength. I dunno, I think him messing up and fighting… Superman or something and taking a big loss would teach him far more than we ever could or throwing him in jail for being dangerous. Is it a risk?… kinda. But so is any option.”
“So your best guess is just… let him go and figure it out?” Keiji said. “Isn’t that a bit too… hands off?”
“Got a better idea? That’s pretty much what we got to do.”
“No. I don’t. But this just feels... risky.”
“Yeah, it is. But he’s fairly reasonable after being conscious for what, 12 hours? Over time, he’ll probably mellow out and if he doesn’t, I can take care of him then. But he deserves a chance like anyone else.”
Keiji nodded. “Fine Vic. If that’s what you think the best path is… I’ll stand by you.”
“Same, Vic. I want to believe in him too.”
“Thanks guys, really. Hopefully we can all look back on this and agree this was the right path.”
A horn sounded and a voice came over the loudspeaker. “Semifinal-2 has ended! The winner is the University of Michigan’s Atlas! Please collect your robots and be ready for the finals at 1:00 PM.”
The team stood up and gave each other a round of high fives. They really had made something great. Now it was time to see just how great he really was.
⚙️⚙️⚙️⚙️⚙️
Two hours later.
The team packed up after their semifinal match, citing an unspecified emergency with the tournament staff. They weren’t happy with the anticlimactic end, but ultimately they couldn’t force the three of them to continue to compete and so they left without much hassle.
The three of them drove north until they found the first open field that Vic and Atlas could have their match in. There wasn’t anywhere that they could find in the city that wouldn’t attract too much attention or put innocent people at risk and they managed to convince Atlas of that too. The robot was in the trailer towed behind the three of them, much to his chagrin.
But after a half hour or so, they found a spot. A wide open, grassy field with no one around to interfere or get hurt. A perfect spot for them to settle things. Vic got out of the car and started to stretch, trying to limber up after the car ride while Donna and Keiji helped Atlas out of the trailer.
Atlas rotated his head, taking in the environment. “A flat, quiet field. An honorable place for battle.”
Vic let out one lat calming exhale before approaching Atlas. “Plus, no one is around to get hurt. That’s important too.”
“...Yes. That too.”
“The rules are simple. A clean match, no foul play between either of us. Whoever is left standing when the other yields or is unconscious wins.”
Atlas laughed. “I will never yield.”
“We’ll see,” Vic grinned.
“Oh, one other thing. Not really a rule per say, but a strong suggestion: Try not to seriously hurt each other. You’re not trying to kill or maim each other,” Donna said.
“Yes, yes. May we begin?”
Vic nodded, and took a step backward, creating about ten feet of space between him and Atlas. Before the dust even settled, his arms were force cannons launching pure energy right at Atlas’ chest. Vic had designed Atlas, he knew that he wouldn’t be very damaged by those. But he had underestimated just how much he would be able to tank them. The force blasts did little more than chip the paint and an exhilarated Atlas sprinted at Vic like a charging bull.
Once Atlas was a few feet away from Vic, he prepared a concussive grenade and exploded it directly against Atlas, using the force to stagger him out of the charge. Before the robot could launch another attack, Vic swung a full force punch into the robots’ chassis, crumpling it inwards slightly. Vic followed up the punch with another, but Atlas was ready for it and parried it with his left arm, then kicked Cyborg away, sending him flying backwards.
Cyborg shot his force canons at the ground to give himself some momentum in the opposite direction, slowing himself down. But Atlas had some tricks up his metaphorical sleeves too. Having realized that a direct approach was difficult, he used his powerful hands like a backhoe to scoop up a massive piece of earth and hurled it at Cyborg. Vic was unsure how to react to this, or more precisely, how he expected Atlas to follow this attack up. The boulder itself was a problem, sure, but it was just to close the gap. Atlas could be using it to block his line of sight and be jumping right behind it, or he could be using the temporary blindspot caused by the massive object to approach from either side.
Instead of guessing, Vic decided to power through the problem. Vic shot both of his force cannons at the projectile, sending bits of dirt every which way. Atlas was hiding in what was once the dirt ball’s shadow and Vic took advantage of his surprise to launch himself at the robot. Cyborg shot his force cannons behind him, propelling himself forwards rapidly in a charge mirroring Atlas’ own.
He knocked the massive machine to the ground and sat on his chest, using his arms to pin down the machine’s.
“You’re down, Atlas. Do you yield?”
“I told you. I will never yield. I am the strongest!”
Atlas began to press his weight against Vic’s strength. Vic knew he was a match for Atlas’ strength but there was one key problem: stamina. Vic’s body was, of course, cybernetic in part, but it wasn’t the same. He was still human and human beings got tired. Machines did not.
Vic could already feel his muscle starting to fatigue. The fight hadn’t been long, but any fatigue was going to be the difference. He knew he was a match for Atlas’ strength when he was at 100%, but every percent below that made it more and more likely to be Atlas’ win.
‘I need to end this fight now or the immediate future if I want to win. But my normal attacks aren’t doing anything to him. I could try a sonic attack, but I don’t think that’d really effect him. I could try targeting his joints specifically, but those were designed to take more than I can give. But I can’t just let him overpower me for the win. That’d make him overconfident and more likely to get into trouble afterwards. No… I’ve got a better idea.’
In an instant, Vic’s muscles stopped resisting. “I yield.”
Vic pushed himself off Atlas, who stood up and looked at Cyborg, confused.
“What foe yields when he has his opponent on the ground, at his mercy? I demand you continue!”
“No. This fight was never to the death, only to yielding. But frankly, you aren’t strong enough to interest me. You said it yourself, you will never yield. And pummelling you to a point where you are the equivalent of unconscious just isn’t worth my time. So I yielded. Congrats. You win.”
Atlas stood, incredulous. “No. That is not allowed. I did not win. You lost! Those are not the same!”
Vic turned to Keiji and Donna and then noticed that the fight had taken them about 30 yards from where they started. He started to walk back towards them, and Atlas followed.
“Guys, I yielded that fight. Doesn’t that mean I lost?”
Keiji raised an eyebrow. “I guess?”
“See? Congrats, you won.”
“... I do not accept this victory. This is a loss in all but name. Mark my words, Victor Stone. I will wander the globe, facing foe after foe to grow stronger. I will become the strongest being and when I do, we will have a real fight, one where you must acknowledge my strength for real.”
“Looking forwards to it. Stay out of trouble until then, understood?”
Vic held out his hand for a handshake which Atlas begrudgingly accepted.
“Understood.”
“Atlas, catch.”
Keiji tossed a small flash drive to Atlas who had to bend down to grab it.
“That has all your schematics and drawings on it, as well as all the parts we used to make you and where we sourced them from. It’s probably the best thing out there to help you repair yourself.”
“Thank you. You all have given me much to think about it. When we meet again… I will be stronger in body and mind. Farewell for now but I will return to challenge you again, Victor.”
“I’ll be waiting. And I promise to go all out next time, Atlas.”
Atlas took off to the west, heading to only he knew where.
Once he was far enough out of sight, Vic laid down on the ground, exhausted.
“Well, that’s enough bluffing for the next decade. I really underestimated him.”
Donna sat down to his left, Keiji on his right.
“Told you that you were being cocky. We all built him but he’s out of all of our leagues,” Keiji said.
“Yeah… but I really wanted to do it, y’know? Kinda humbling to be beat by your own creation.”
“If it makes you feel better, I lost to him too,” Donna said.
“Wait what? When did you fight him?”
“I’ll tell you on the way back. Not my finest moment, but I put up a good fight.”
“Proud of you. You’ve come a long way in your training. But after that fight… I’m going to need to get a lot stronger and pick my own training back up. I kinda feel like I’ve been stagnant for awhile, just sort of winning my fights through grit and will power. But if Atlas had been hostile… I don’t think I could’ve stopped him. So, I’ll need to get back to the drawing board and see what I can do to take myself to the next level.”
“And we’ll be there to help you however we can. But uh… Vic, finals are in like two weeks. Maybe focus on that first?” Keiji suggested.
“I’d rather get beat up by another robot,” Vic groaned.
<< < >

Last year at this time, I gave notice to my NF of 3.5 years so that my wife and I could move to NYC. It was really emotional and I wasn’t really sure what was in store - I didn’t have a job yet and wasn’t sure exactly what I wanted to do. I also couldn’t yet imagine not nannying after raising the most amazing human from when she was 9mo (I cried like everyday of the last month).
I ended up getting a part time job teaching after school at a nature preschool and then got a side job nannying part time for 2M. My school has now offered me a full time classroom position for the summer (and potentially the 24/25 school year). This meant that today I gave my last nanny family notice.
I am sad about leaving this family but I’m mostly emotional about the end of my nannying journey. I’ve spent the last 6 years forging the most incredible bonds with NKs, learning from the really wonderful nanny internet communities, and also learning so much about myself. Reddit seemed like the best place to put my little reflection because this was the very first nanny community I joined and I owe the incredible nannies here and their knowledge for so much ❤️

When I was hired as a nanny they had explained to me that they had just recently pulled their child out of preschool because she was having a hard time there and really just needed me to care for her and expose her to one on one playtime, and had explicitly told me that they didn’t want the kid to feel as though they were at school.
Even though they said I didn’t have to work with her on “school” stuff i still helped her practice her abc’s and writing skills by teaching the kid to write their name ect.
Yesterday when I was at work the kid had just been going a little bit crazy and the mom asked me if I could clam her down and have her work on something productive. I put the kid’s writing abc book in front of her and started her on that.
Then the kids grandparent walked in the room and said to me, “you know our kid used to learn a lot and be smart, now she’s crazy and plays all the time”.
It made me so angry. Like i was the problem. They told me when I started that I was there to interact with the child not teach her. And I do my best to help her with school stuff even though it was in the job description. I’m trained as a nanny not a teacher- maybe they shouldn’t have taken her out of preschool if they wanted to have the kid be learning.

So today i accidentally stepped on a toad and killed it.. I didnt understand what it was, until i moved my foot and saw a toad, with all its entrails out.. I feel so bad because of it + i work at a preschool and try to teach the kids, to be nice to all animals, and then i freaking stepped on a toad infront of all of them.. A kid even asked me why i would kill it..

If you are thinking about working at or if you are thinking about donating to Faith Comes By Hearing/Hosanna [https://www.faithcomesbyhearing.com](https://www.faithcomesbyhearing.com/) you should consider the following. Having worked at Faith Comes By Hearing myself for decades, you should be aware of their culture and ideology. (Arranged from most important to least.)
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\*Treatment of the Bible:
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Grammatical, historical and cultural context as well as literary genre are all ignored by top management. So, Scripture is often misquoted and misused:
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Ignoring basic, common sense guidelines, rules for interpreting the Bible results in misinterpreting, misunderstanding, and misapplying the Bible. Management ignores the fact that observation (what the text says) must always come before interpretation (what the text means); and interpretation always comes before application (how the text applies to me). They do not consider the Bible text objectively first: They treat the text subjectively or relatively or assume what the passage text means. And they ignore the fact that a text cannot mean today what it never could have meant to the original authors and original readers. Exegesis is often contrasted with “eisegesis”; the Greek preposition εἰς means “into,” and hence eisegesis means reading your own meaning into the text. Bible study is not reading your personal theology into some biblical passage. Bible study is letting the text talk to us; we are the listeners, not the talkers. Many Christians just want to know what the Bible “means to me.” If you stop to think about it, this just is not possible. We must do the hard work of learning the author’s original meaning first, and without that we can’t ever know “what it means to me.” A text cannot mean what it never meant.
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\*Feelings and experiences rule:
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There is a focus by top management on personal experiences and feelings instead of a studied period of reflection: Emotional, simple, popular teaching instead of intellectually careful and doctrinally precise teaching. Bible studies go straight to the question, “What does this passage mean to me?” while bypassing the prior question, “What does the passage say and why do I think my interpretation is correct?” Management promotes and allows employees to get away with applying an understanding of a passage that is based on vague feelings or first impressions and not on the hard work of reading the context, verifying with commentaries and using study tools such as concordances, Bible dictionaries, and the like because a careful exercise of reason is not important in understanding what the Bible actually says for management. Besides, it takes work! For management, Christianity is identified with subjective feelings, sincere motives, personal piety, and blind faith. Management tests the truth not by a careful application of our God-given faculties of thought, or even by biblical mandates (for example, 2 Corinthians 10:5), but rather by private subjective experiences. For the most part, theoretical reason is just not part of the culture at FCBH. In fact, top management will often spiritualizing normal, everyday things like advice, facts, common knowledge:
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Example during a meeting, the CEO said he saw a full moon, then clouds formed & covered the moon, then clouds dissipated. He then said he felt God say: "I can turn nothing into something; something into nothing; turn this ministry into something & if it goes thick & blocks Jesus; it has to diminish.”
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So, personal, subjective experiences that top management shares equals truth that employees must agree with or at least accept as true.
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Also, time is money, but management uses their mandatory meetings to discuss controversial or complex topics (e.g., fasting, communion, tithing, personal stewardship of money, helping the homeless, how to create more interaction with remote workers, how to retain employees, how to hire more Gen Z employees, past trauma), most of which are unrelated to the actual work. Then they ask employees (most of which have no authority to get things changed/done) what their opinion is about the controversial or complex topic, instead of consulting with professionals or experts.
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So, top management will read a bible verse (not a paragraph, not a chapter, a verse; usually out of context) using a version of the Bible that is almost a paraphrase. Then share something personal that happened to them, something they did or saw or experienced or a personal conviction that is not related to the verse. Then explain how they felt about it, how they interpreted it. Then they will ask employees (especially internationals) to share similar experiences. And, then if no one shares or comments or speaks, management makes employees feel guilty: Along the lines of “So, God is not working in your life?”
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Example: “I felt God give me this verse about gossip. Let me share with you some personal stories about gossip…. This is how I see it. Now, in the last 5 min of our time, I want people to share. I especially want input from internationals. Does anyone have anything to say about this? No, one? Is God not speaking to you? How can God not be moving and speaking? This is unreal….”
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Top management will often use a reader response or subjective biblical interpretation: “This is what I think this verse means. What do you think this verse means? What stood out to you? What did you learn? What is God asking you to apply?” This is a very self-centered way to interpret Scripture. The focus is all about you. What you think. What you feel. But, “The Bible is not about you.” - Timothy Keller. And this leads to people looking at the same verse and coming up with completely different interpretations. Everybody seems to have an opinion on what the Bible says/teaches.
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So, instead of discovering what the original author said to the original readers. They will take Biblical concepts (e.g., called to ministry; felt led by the Spirit; God spoke to me; felt peace) and then add new meanings to them which the original author did not intend. This is dangerous since it leaves employees with doubt, disillusionment, disappointment, discouragement, and false hope and can leave them with unmet, unrealistic, and false expectations. Top management will also take subjective, unclear biblical principles or non-essentials, or personal convictions and make them scriptural authority and then judge other Christians who do not agree. They will treat the Proverbs as promises. They will also not make an effort to distinguish between Biblical principles and practices which are relative, time bound, culturally subjective, Biblically illustrated (not commanded). They will often make hasty generalizations. They will beg the question. They will commit special pleading, dictionary simpliciter, reductive, faulty analogy and many other fallacies. They will also allegorize promises in Scripture and spiritualize all principles. They assume that all historical narratives have individual identifiable moral application. God’s word should be taught clearly, not in a distorted manner. Top management will proof text and use religious words to promote their agenda.
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And top management will encourage others to have this view/philosophy of Bible interpretation. Many incorrectly interpret the Bible and do not even realize it.
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I pray to God that this bad method of interpretation is not being taught to internationals, to people who have never had bibles, who do not have biblical discernment, who don't know any better.
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\*Inductive Bible study and internationals:
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Hermeneutics has been defined as the science and art of biblical interpretation. Hermeneutics helps us understand the Bible. It is a science because there are specific rules the interpreter must follow. It is an art because it takes years of practice to develop the ability to employ those rules properly. There is a difference between a novice and a seasoned interpreter. Hermeneutics has two basic steps, finding what the text meant to its original audience, and then seeing how it applies to our current situation. Unfortunately, many people (Americans included), impose their own personal experiences, theology, and modern culture on to the Biblical text.
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Fortunately, God has allowed us (especially Americans) to have Bible dictionaries, commentaries, handbooks, atlases, etc., to help us with correct hermeneutics, to understand the essential historical and cultural information - the context of the original author and readers of the Bible. We have tools that shed light on the text and help us to arrive at the correct interpretation. When you read a commentary, it will provide checks and balances against your possible mistakes. They can answer questions that a reading of the text can never provide or ask questions that you may never think of asking. Unfortunately, many international people groups do not have access to these tools (or even access to mature, trained, and experienced Christians and pastors). And even if they do have access to resources, they may not know how to use them properly (i.e., limitations of commentaries).
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Grammatical-Historical Method or Inductive Bible study can easily be done with printed or digital Bibles. But how can a person do this with audio and video Bibles? This is critical especially for international people groups that do not have access to (and may never have) print Bibles.
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False gospels and heresies are popular in illiterate people groups because they are not taught discernment or how to evaluate Scripture and the thoughts of others for themselves. People with ulterior motives misuse Scripture and end up influencing the illiterate.
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If these Bible Films and audio Bibles are considered to be actual Bible Translations – video and audio translations of the Bible and the equivalent to and sometimes a replacement for print scripture – then should we also make it a point to teach people who are watching and listening to our video and audio Bible translations Biblical hermeneutics (historical-grammatical interpretation)? How to study the Bible properly for themselves?
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My experience has been that many non-Christians (and Christians) misquote or misinterpret the Bible because they do not know how to actually read and study it on their own to find out what the text actually meant to the original author and audience and seeing how it applies to their current situation.
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There are many ways to study the Bible, and there are many excellent study aids available to help you with specific books of the Bible. But the most important thing you need to remember is that to find out what the Bible says, you need to read it yourself in a way that will help you discover what it says, what it means, and how you are to apply it to your life. And the best way to do this is through the process called inductive study. Inductive study doesn’t tell you what the Bible means or what you should believe. Instead, it teaches you a method of studying God’s Word that can be applied to any portion of Scripture at any time.
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Inductive Bible study draws you into personal interaction with the Scripture and thus with the God of the Scriptures so that your beliefs are based on a prayerful understanding and legitimate interpretation of Scripture.
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\*Artistic freedom concerns:
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Another concern is with the artistic freedom or personal preference when it comes to audio and video Bible media (when these function as replacements for print Scripture). How much can be taken before you compromise the historical accuracy or the meaning and understanding of the original message? A good translation must be faithful to the historical situation and not change the cultural background. In Bible Translation, the translator’s first job is to study the text carefully to discover the correct meaning (what the original author wanted to communicate). Do international people groups understand that the “artistic freedom” (e.g., how the film is lit, the key shots, angles it shoots from, close-ups, point of view, sets, locations and props, editing, the dialogue and the actors’ performance and emotions, wardrobe choices, soundtrack, visual transitions, reference shots), the visuals and sound, are all NOT inspired?
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Biblical and Orthodox Christianity teaches that All Scripture (not just some) is inspired by God who utilized the human element within man to accomplish this without error.The very WORDS (not just the ideas, even parts of letters, and sometimes the tense of verbs) are a result of the mind of God expressed in human terms and conditions. The Bible IS fully true in all that it teaches or asserts to be true (including historical and scientific matters). Only the original documents (autographs) are completely free from error. Does FCBH make an effort to explain this to people groups? If not, then there will be conflict when the visuals and sounds that are added do not match the Biblical text. There will be confusion, doubt, disillusionment, disappointment, discouragement, false hope when people are confronted with unmet, unrealistic, and false expectations.
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So, using audio and especially video as Bibles should come with some teaching of the basic principles of film criticism, the doctrine of inspiration (difference between artistic freedom and the Word of God), and inductive Bible study or Bible interpretation.
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\*Communicating the truth:
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They employ a presuppositional and fideistic/experiential approach to evangelism: In the many testimonies that are shared, many of the people who receive the audio bibles say they believe in Jesus because FCBH gave them bibles that are in their native language. Makes you wonder what would happen if the audio was from the Quran or book of Mormon. Would they believe in anything as long as it was in their own language? FCBH does not seem to make sure people are actually believing facts. There seems to be no appeals to evidence and reason for the truthfulness of the Christianity. One should become a Christian and believe that Jesus is God because it is true (from reason, historical evidence, archaeological evidence, theistic arguments) and not because the Bible one reads is in a certain language. You should follow Jesus because He is God and proved it; not because He speaks your language.
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\*Hearing from God?
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Many in management practice “hearing from God” and then claim God said something specific and personal to them and to the ministry. This practice uses God's name in vain. And often use God to avoid personal responsibility - “I heard from God; God told me; I felt led; God spoke to me…” They then put what happens on God, so they avoid any personal responsibility if it does not come to pass. They make Christianity out to be personal, private, and a matter of “how I feel about things.” Many Christians actually feel spiritually sub-standard and defeated because for them “the heavens have been silent”. This can be debilitating, and it’s profoundly unfair to employees if their only shortcoming is entertaining a false expectation of what a relationship with God entails. Conversations are often littered with casual references to one’s latest revelations without any sense of the gravity of the assertion, or any sense of responsibility to justify the claim. Even Jesus Himself didn’t presume to speak for God without compelling evidence. But, management takes personal opinions and spiritualize them as if they were God’s word to give divine authority to impulses or thoughts that drift through their minds. To say “God is telling me” gives feelings an authority the Scripture does not justify and virtually ends debate. You can’t argue with the person if God supposedly gave the command. Trusting inner feelings is not biblical. It’s confusing at best, and dangerous at worst.
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And with certain requests from employees, when top management does not want to do something, they will respond by saying things like: “I need to pray about it first. Sorry, I do not feel led. I need to get confirmation first. I need to have peace about it first. I need to hear from God first.” But with other things, with things they want to do, they do not need to pray about it first, do not need to feel led, do not need to get confirmation first, do not need to have a peace about it first, do not need to hear from God first. When management does not want to do something, they pass the responsibility off to God (“We cannot…. because God didn’t tell us to do it. Didn't get confirmation.”); but when they do want to do something, they don't seek God and do what they want (“We have decided and are going to… and we don’t need to ask God for guidance or permission”).

I could use guidance from anyone who works in education administration, especially private PK-12.
I'm looking for work, and I'd love to get a job at the PK-12 school where my son is starting preschool. It would feel good to get involved and to gain experience in education. The school has a slew of job openings right now, but none are directly related to my background in writing/communications/design.
They do have an option to submit a resume for future openings. And I've noticed that open listings for faculty don't specifically ask for either a degree in education or x years of teaching experience as requirements. I've been thinking about what I would like to teach and have come up with (what I think is) a good idea for a unique and forward-looking high school class on writing for civic engagement. They don't have a class like this listed in their curriculum.
Would it be a good approach to send a brief outline of my class idea along with my resume? I'm trying to decide where to focus and whether I should spend precious time developing a course outline right now. Could this get me anywhere, or are they likely to ignore it? Is there any chance of getting hired for a role that doesn't exist yet? If so, what are they looking for?
Thanks for your input!

(Pardon my haphazard and sporadic writing style, I'm tired and LIVID.)
I'm officially done working in the field of child development and it's entirely due to the amount of misandry I've endured over the span of 8 years.
I've been working in education as a preschool teacher and as a preschool behavior specialist. Every school I've worked at has had parents, principals, and teachers who judge me solely on the fact that I'm a guy. Not to mention what I hear about other male peers in the field.
I understand the concerns people may have with a male in an environment surrounded by children but things are more complicated than they seem. I'm talking specifically about the covert misandry.
For example: My successes aren't ever based off of my mastered skills, it's because "I'm a man" and kids only like me because I'm a man. Women paras who yell at toddlers are surprised to find that going down to a child's level, looking them in the eye, and providing a guiding statement works better than yelling at the child. Apparently though, that communication style only worked because "I'm a man" and not because I genuinely respected that child's intelligence and employed techniques taught to me in college by veteran teachers.
I've dealt with shit like this for too long and have kept quiet.
I'm sick of parents and teachers gossiping about me, both weirdly sexualizing and sexually harassing me, and being hostile with me despite how helpful and nice I've tried to be throughout. I'm sick of oblivious staff at school sites reporting me as "a possible hostile threat", hovering around me and asking me who I am because they've never seen me before despite the fact I've been at a school site for a YEAR and even wear my school badge/lanyard openly.
My existence as a man is threatening to some with trauma and I get it. Men can be shitty...
Unfortunately, this preconceived fear is just pushing good teachers who just want kids to healthily grow out of the field. Now I'm entering a trade job, succumbing to society's expectation of where a man apparently belongs. Funny part is that I'll be making more money than being a preschool teacher ever would and I'm not going to look back. If I do then I'll be heartbroken as all I wanted to do was enrich the minds of children and help them become independent and emotionally stable people.
Bon fucking voyage. It's been a journey and I'm sorry to leave those kids behind but I've been discouraged and emotionally beaten to a pulp.

The ascent to educational entrepreneurship is a path not often taken lightly. The pillars of play school establishment are grounded in fostering the foundation of future innovators, creators, and leaders. For those who venture into the world of educational franchise, success is rooted in a rare blend of vision, execution, and pedagogy that resonates beyond the classroom. Makoons Preschool is a beacon of exemplary success in this domain, where each franchisee’s tale is a testament to the brand’s ethos and individual pursuit of excellence.
Here, we shine a light on the journeys of Makoons Kids School franchise owners. Their narrative underscores the essence of educational investment and community building. For entrepreneurs looking to make a meaningful foray into the preschool sector, these insights offer a compass, guiding you to chart a course toward your aspirations.

Empowering Entrepreneurs in Education

Entrepreneurship in education is a distinctive pursuit, woven from threads of aspiration and societal impact. Makoons Preschool has championed this cause by empowering individuals to build not just a business, but a sanctuary of learning and personal development.

The Vision that Sparks a Venture

The collective experience of over a decade in setting up bespoke nurseries tailored for each child’s unique identity is the foundational stone of the Makoons legacy. A visionary approach, catering to holistic growth through a comprehensive curriculum, has been pivotal in stirring entrepreneurship in education.

Nurturing a Growth Mindset

At the heart of Makoons philosophy lies the belief that the role of education extends beyond mere instruction; it is the catalyst for intelligence development. This mindset has permeated the venture strategies of its franchise owners, igniting a spirit of continuous learning and adaptation in the often-stagnant realm of play school education.
The trajectory of success for small franchise businesses in India is vividly illustrated through the expanding network of Makoons Preschool, a testament to how localized businesses can thrive on a national scale through dedication and an evolved educational ethos.

Cultivating a Community of Learning

Teaching is a communal enterprise, and Makoons franchisees understand the importance of fostering a familial environment within their establishments. The tactile and emotional investments in community building have been fundamental in the replication of the brand’s core values in each franchise.

Music, Art, and the Masters of Tomorrow

Makoons pupils are not just children; they are the composers of their operas, the artists of their exhibits, and the budding scholars ready to thread their tapestries of knowledge. The curriculum instills a fine blend of the arts with science, technology, literacy, and numeracy, ensuring a holistic developmental experience.

The Prep School Push

Success is often measured in the milestones achieved, and for Makoons alumni, that translates to a seamless transition into primary education. The playschool serves as a preparatory ground for the rigors of formal schooling, ensuring that the children maintain their love for learning as they become responsible members of a broader social fabric.

A Spectrum of Supportive Staff

In the orchestration of a successful play school, it is the staff that sets the tempo. The dedicated team behind the Makoons franchisees forms the bedrock of the institution, offering a nurturing environment that is second only to a parent’s care.

Knowledge, Dedication, and Enthusiasm

The staff at Makoons are not just educators; they are mentors, guardians, and confidants. Their mastery of the curriculum is exceeded only by the warmth and love they provide, creating a harmonious environment that encourages each child’s self-confidence and introspective exploration.

Gateway to Growth and Responsibility

The staff’s pedagogical competence extends to more than just academics; they are sculptors of character, guiding the youngsters to realize their full potential while instilling the values of compassion and social responsibility.

The Franchise Investment and Future Prospects

Investing in a Makoons franchise is akin to sowing the seeds of a perennial plant — a venture that promises longevity and stability. The low preschool franchise cost in India, coupled with a robust support system from Makoons, makes it an enticing proposition for budding entrepreneurs in the education sector.

Play School Franchise Cost

The initial investment for a Makoons Kids School Franchise is designed to be accessible, ensuring a democratic entry point for individuals with varied financial capacities. The brand’s commitment to quality remains unassailable, with the relatively small outlay promising a high return on investment.
With an investment range of 10 to 15 lakhs, becoming a part of the Makoons Play School franchise family is both an attainable and wise decision for aspiring educational entrepreneurs, offering a balanced pathway to enter the rewarding realm of preschool education.

Support and Sustainability

Every step of the way, Makoons supports its franchisees with operational guidelines, marketing assistance, and continuous curriculum updates. This support system is designed to ensure the long-term sustainability and growth of the franchised establishments, thereby securing the future of the investment in the competitive educational landscape.

The Roadmap to Your Preschool Franchise

For those looking to venture into the world of play school franchises, Makoons stands as a model to emulate. It is an institution that not only imparts knowledge to its young charges but also enriches the lives of its franchise owners, equipping them with the tools to succeed in a field that is as challenging as it is rewarding.

Envisioning Success in Education

Success in education franchise is not merely a statistic or a balance sheet figure; it is the collective attainment of milestones that reflect measurable impact and transformation. With Makoons, these successes are not just a dream but a tangible outcome that is replicated across each of its franchises.

Joining the Makoons Family

Becoming a part of the Makoons family signifies a commitment to the educational ethos and a partnership poised for growth. As you consider the prospect of owning a Makoons Play School franchise in India, you are not just investing in a business venture; you are initiating a ripple effect of positive change that spans generations.
With a legacy underpinned by passion, compassion, and purpose, the franchisees of Makoons Play School have etched their stories in the annals of educational entrepreneurship. Their achievements are a beacon for those who dare to dream and an invitation to join a community that thrives on the principles of learning, leading, and legacy-building in the dynamic world of preschool education.
For more information on how you can be a part of the Makoons family, visit our website or connect with us to explore the possibilities of educational entrepreneurship that await you. Make your entrepreneurial story not just about your success, but the futures you help shape through the power of quality education.

Parenting is a journey full of emotions and responsibility, and if you are a parent to a newly born child, who is preparing to learn how things in the world work, it becomes a huge responsibility to make them aware of all the things. Here is where the responsibility of preschool comes in. Preschools, also known as play schools, simply mean training toddlers with basic things, before getting admitted into formal schools, which means preparing the toddlers for the future through exploring and discovering new things with them. Here we will know the basic meaning of preschool and will go further to learn more about the best play schools in India.

What is a Play School?

In this modern world, where in most houses, both of the parents are working for a better future for their children, often they miss teaching basic things to their children. That’s where the role of preschool becomes important. A playschool or preschool helps in the holistic development of your child by teaching them basic moral education, enhancing creativity among themselves, and infusing a lifetime of curiosity, creativity and self-discovery within themselves.
At Makoons Preschool, we focus on creating a journey on which they can learn something and be creative enough to create new ideas, discoveries, and more. We don’t burden them with loads of homework; but we make them identify their real selves through different types of activities.

Benefits of a Play School for Your Children

The benefits of a play school for your toddler are beyond your imagination. The first and foremost benefit that we all see is that, through play schools, your child will learn how to freely communicate about his or her feelings, will understand your feelings as well, and will learn to express themselves in the best possible way. On the other hand, through preschool, we can easily train your child for formal schooling, which is difficult to do from home, if both of the parents are working. Also, at Makoons Preschool, your child will get the opportunity to meet and learn with different toddlers of similar age with whom they will communicate and socialize, making their path easier for further schooling.

Points to Consider When Choosing the Best Play Schools in India

The most challenging thing a parent has to do is select the best premium preschool in India that provides your children with the best instruction and skills while also providing you with the best amenities.
The following are some considerations to make when choosing the best preschool in Thane: Protection: We understand the difficulties that arise when you can’t always be there for your small child while they are in a strange place. At Makoons Preschool, we provide all of our parents with CCTV access so they may watch their child every day and feel comfortable in their child’s safety.
Infrastructure: Parents should view and evaluate the facilities before bringing their child to an institution. A preschool with a variety of services can help your child develop into a creative and enthusiastic young person. Acknowledge educators: Before enrolling your children in the preschool, you must ascertain the qualifications and experience of the teachers.

Why Should You Choose Makoons for Your Child?

Makoons Preschool, being one of the premium preschool in India, is regarded as the best preschool in Thane due to its facilities. Here are some of the points listed that make Makoons Preschool one of the best play schools in India:
Food menu: We know how important nutrition is for growing children. That’s why at Makoons Preschool, the best preschool in Thane, you will get a nutritious food menu specially prepared for the proper diet and nutrition of your toddlers. Regular physical checkups: Makoons Preschool, one of the premium pre school in India, places a high priority on your toddlers’ health. We do regular checkups on your kids because we care about their health. CCTV access: In our opinion, parents should be able to observe their children at all times and be informed about their current circumstances. Consequently, Makoons Preschool, one of the best play schools in India, provides you with CCTV access so you can keep an eye on your toddler’s health. One of the unique qualities that make our preschool different from others amd the best preschool in Thane is this. Outside games: We are aware of the importance of outside play and education for your children. At Makoons Preschool, your child will gain more clarity and become more intellectual, through our outdoor games and activities.

Conclusion

It may be challenging to choose among the best and premium preschool in India, but Makoons Preschool makes you feel more at ease and hopeful about the future of your toddler. The best preschool in Thane, Makoons Preschool, does not overburden its pupils with knowledge since it recognises the importance of proper nutrition and health. We are among the best play school in India because of our stimulating games and activities that encourage your child’s creativity and intellectual growth. What are you waiting for then? It’s time to introduce Makoons Preschool to your youngster and encourage creativity!

I’m a current preschool teacher majoring in elementary education. Because this major is more common, my school allows us to add a middle grades cognate (ss, sci, math, eng, or esl). I’m leaning more towards teaching middle school anyways. Spanish and math have always been my favorite classes in school, but I’m so back and forth on the two. I love equations, and conjugations are just like an equation to me. I consistently get A’s in the two, and even received an award for highest Spanish grade in HS. My preschoolers got their ABC’s and numbers down easily, so it’s harder for me to base this off of my teaching experience. How can I compare the two and make a decision? Are there benefits to either? Does state testing make math more difficult to teach? Thank you in advance!

My almost-3.5 year old has been in montessori for 2 years now. He just moved up to a 3-5 year old class 3 months ago and has not been doing well since then. I find that he lost his interest or curiosity in things. I'm not sure if this is part of growing up. I let this go until last month when I found that he is being pushed by another kid every 2 days. I escalated this and found their response very disappointing. They keep telling us that they are talking to the kids and letting them know that pushing/beating is not okay.
Anyway I decided to move my kid to another daycare. When I enrolled my kid in this daycare, I really liked their concept of independent and free thinking. Maybe I didn't/don't understand it very well.
My kid has always loved learning and was always curious. He used to be very observant and pickup things very quickly. He is also a "shy" kid who likes people giving him extra attention and showing him things. His daycare now expects him to approach the teachers and ask them for help. I was a shy kid too - So I don't really like the expectation.
I'm not sure if it is this school or his age (toddler-hood) that has "changed" him. I visited 2 non-montessori preschools who talk about structure and math/english academics. I want my kid to have fun. But I have heard of kids acting out if they do not feel engaged.
My question is this - do structure/academically-focused preschools teach kids better behavior?

I made a post on care.com requesting a nanny that could also also homeschool my kids. My kids are 1.5yr and 3yr. I found someone that I liked and met her in person. She was introduced to my children briefly. I liked her in person and we started to discuss pay. This was her answer for rate:
"My rate for two kids plus homeschool would range between $35-$37. My current rate right now for is $28 for one kid, $26 if it is temporary and untaxed."
We live in Charlotte, NC. She has a bachelors in Childhood and Adolescent studies and about 10 years of combined preschool and nanny experience. I don’t need her to cook or clean just watch/teach my kids while I work from home. She also does not drive. Does this seem correct?

I started a new job a week ago today(5/13/24), and already I feel off and out of place. I’m honestly considering looking for a new job come the fall because I know you should put at least six months of time into a job before going to another one. I work at a daycare, and had applied for a teachers assistant for the pre school age. Previously I’ve worked with toddlers, but I wanted to try an older age group. Working with toddlers feels under stimulating to me as of late, and I wanted to change things up for myself. When I applied to my new job, I filled out two different applications: one for an assistant toddler teacher and one for assistant preschool. While I’ve mainly worked with toddlers, I’ve also worked with infants and preschool aged children as well. I had mentioned this during my interview. I imagine that despite mentioning this, I was still chosen for the toddler assistant based on my experience. So far, it’s honestly been difficult for me to actually get excited about getting up in the morning. The pay is slightly higher than my previous job, I do get great benefits(health,dental,vision, pto, sick, bereavement, maternity, and a 403b amongst other things) and it is a smaller setting compared to my last job; so it would feel like a shame to find something else. I want to speak to my boss about maybe moving to the preschool classroom, despite being paid less than what I’d be making now. Maybe that’s stupid, but I’d rather make less doing what I love than make more doing what I don’t. Adding onto not getting the age group I preferred, as I mentioned before I feel under stimulated by toddlers. Don’t get me wrong, they’re adorable- but I want something more than that. I’m tired of potty training, the “no biting” talk, diapers, and the pacifier talk. I want to teach kids their letters, writing, numbers. I want to do the things that the older kids can do. Not only that, but I’ve noticed there isn’t exactly any structure in the room I’m in. The toddler room is kind of..ran by the toddlers. There’s not much structure in terms of following a schedule/routine and I think that’s what’s making it so tough. I know I’ve only been there a week, but I’ve been in a setting where the children aren’t following their set routine and it was incredibly difficult for anything to actually get done. I don’t want to overstep any boundaries, like I said it’s only my first week. But I’m already seeing where this is heading and I’m afraid that I’ll hate waking up and going to work everyday. Also, not to play the race card- but I also feel out of place. I’m one of the only people of color in the building. Is it wrong to feel off because of that too??? I’m 25. I have no degree(yet) but I feel so stuck. I plan on going back to school in the fall for social work. But it feels like I’m just running out of time. Switching jobs like this feels too reckless. Am I being too quick to judge about this place????

My son just turned 3yrs old in March and we were given the opportunity to let him enter preschool for the end of this school year to sorta let him adjust to it before doing a full year when school starts up again in the fall.
So he just started in April & so far i feel like I'm only getting negative feedback from the teacher which has been very disheartening.
I've gotten notes that say he's been agressive, pushing kids often and today i was shocked to see it said he had BITTEN another student?! He does not display that sorta behavior around me & my husband so we're shocked and also unsure how to correct the behavior when we don't see it? :(
He hasn't bitten anyone since he was teething at 1yrs old i can't wrap my head around why he'd do it. He is ASD lvl 1 with a speech delay so if i ask him why, which i did, he doesn't respond in any way.
I'm worried of the teachers judging him as a bad kid or other students to think of him as a bully. The classroom is mixed with neurodivergent & neurotypical students.
Has anyone else been shocked at school notes? How do you go about teaching your child proper behavior if they dont often act up at home and has a communication delay???
Thanks for listening!

I signed up my almost 3 year old and my 4 year old to start preschool in September. We have talked about the alphabet, they know how to sing the alphabet, they can recognize A. My oldest recognizes the letters in her name, she cannot write any letter but A though. My 3 year old has no interest whatsoever in learning the alphabet, writing, or learning anything for that matter. Trying to teach her anything is like pulling teeth. But she will randomly count to 17, or tell me the colors, or sing the alphabet.
I just got the preschool packets and they said that for both the 3 year old and 4 year old class they should recognize and know the alphabet and be able to write their names. Is that normal?? Am I just being a negligent mom? Should I have been pressing harder for them to learn?? I didn’t know how to read until late and failed first grade and it wasn’t because my mom didn’t try. It just didn’t click for me until the summer after first grade. I’m just worried I’m failing my kids. Any advice is appreciated!