Jealous busybody gets Mom in trouble.

[Pico and ME]

THAT'S what the title of this article SHOULD be.

State to mom: Stop baby-sitting neighbors' kids
AP

By JAMES PRICHARD, Associated Press Writer James Prichard, Associated Press Writer – Tue Sep 29, 7:23 pm ET

IRVING TOWNSHIP, Mich. – Each day before the school bus comes to pick up the neighborhood's children, Lisa Snyder did a favor for three of her fellow moms, welcoming their children into her home for about an hour before they left for school.

Regulators who oversee child care, however, don't see it as charity. Days after the start of the new school year, Snyder received a letter from the Michigan Department of Human Services warning her that if she continued, she'd be violating a law aimed at the operators of unlicensed day care centers.

"I was freaked out. I was blown away," she said. "I got on the phone immediately, called my husband, then I called all the girls" — that is, the mothers whose kids she watches — "every one of them."

Snyder's predicament has led to a debate in Michigan about whether a law that says no one may care for unrelated children in their home for more than four weeks each calendar year unless they are licensed day-care providers needs to be changed. It also has irked parents who say they depend on such friendly offers to help them balance work and family.

On Tuesday, agency Director Ismael Ahmed said good neighbors should be allowed to help each other ensure their children are safe. Gov. Jennifer Granholm instructed Ahmed to work with the state Legislature to change the law, he said.

"Being a good neighbor means helping your neighbors who are in need," Ahmed said in a written statement. "This could be as simple as providing a cup of sugar, monitoring their house while they're on vacation or making sure their children are safe while they wait for the school bus."

Snyder learned that the agency was responding to a neighbor's complaint.

...

Rest of the article here

Who the heck is going to complain? Perhaps a neighbor who isn't included in this convenient arrangement? Sheesh.

[glatt]

We don't know why the neighbor complained. We can only guess.

Maybe the kids were playing outside for that hour, and would go over to the neighbor's house, get his extension ladder out, climb on his roof, and drop russet potatoes down the vent pipes in his roof, clogging his pipes.

What? It could happen.

[lumberjim]

The STATE needs to butt the fu*k out

[DanaC]

We're having similar problems over here. New rulings on adults 'working' with kids. So if you and another parent have a reciprocal arrangement whereby you take turns taking the little-uns for an hour after school (for instance) that's considered a 'reward' based arrangement and falls under guidelines that mean by law you should have a CRB (criminal records bureaux) check.

Ludicrous.

[xoxoxoBruce]

It's a designated school bus stop. Does the state have a rule about how long before the bus arrives, kids are allowed to show up?

[SteveDallas]

Originally Posted by glatt

What? It could happen.

You sound like you're speaking from experience. 'Fess up... was it you? Or your offspring?

Originally Posted by lumberjim

The STATE needs to butt the fu*k out

I tend to agree, but I'd also like to hear more about the neighbor's justification for complaining.

[SteveDallas]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

It's a designated school bus stop. Does the state have a rule about how long before the bus arrives, kids are allowed to show up?

For that matter, where is "the bus stop?" Is it a specific street sign? the intersection? Etc.? How far away from it may the kids be while still considered to be "at the bus stop?" What does it mean to "care for" children? There has to be some difference between that and a visit.. unless the law really intended to cover every time one kid visits another kid's house without a parent in tow.

[classicman]

I don't think it really matters why the neighbor was complaining. There is no "day care" ... So stop this crap and go do something productive. Sheesh - It's l;ike they have nothing better to do.

[Pico and ME]

Originally Posted by lumberjim

The STATE needs to butt the fu*k out

In this case the agency did recognize that they were in the wrong and are working to change the regulation to allow for exceptions.

[Sundae]

Originally Posted by DanaC

We're having similar problems over here. New rulings on adults 'working' with kids. So if you and another parent have a reciprocal arrangement whereby you take turns taking the little-uns for an hour after school (for instance) that's considered a 'reward' based arrangement and falls under guidelines that mean by law you should have a CRB (criminal records bureaux) check.

Ludicrous.

The case in the news recently concerns two part time policewomen in Bucks. Mum worked with them both. The children (girls) are within montha of eachother and as close as sisters - the arrangemtn has been going on since both Mums returned to work. They are both far more understanding of eachother's hours and potential over-running than any non-police staff would be. And of course it's reciprocal ie does not qualify for any state benefit.

Both girls are now in govt subsidised care, with strangers, and the mothers are looking at taking desk jobs.

I'm not usually anti govt involvement, at least not at a knee-jerk level, because I've read too many lies in the right wing press. But this case defies belief. By all means protect children. But common sense has to kick in at some point. Again, it was a neighbour who informed that a uniformed officer was running an illegal creche. Who you gonna call when you get a knife to your throat honey?

[classicman]

I loved the reply by the Gov"t when the woman called and told them the kids would simply be in her house to stay out of the rain - "Tell her to buy her kids an umbrella" WTH

[Pie]

What if she wasn't 'watching' them -- they simply came over to play with their friend. So now (by their definition) if any kid comes over to play with your kid, you're running a daycare.

Really?

[classicman]

I think it was because it was a daily event, but thats purty much how I took it as well.

[Pico and ME]

Originally Posted by classicman

I loved the reply by the Gov"t when the woman called and told them the kids would simply be in her house to stay out of the rain - "Tell her to buy her kids an umbrella" WTH

Where did you read that?

[classicman]

I saw it on Morning Joe on MSN this am.