Daycare drama

It seems Eleanor is struggling a bit a preschool lately, or just maybe the school is struggling; I'm her mama and I am leaning towards the latter.  My baby is nothing but consistent, even if that means consistently stubborn, opinionated, hyperactive and hungry. 

She does very well with her "main" teacher, Ms. Leslie.  I've spoken to her at length as recently as 2 days ago.  For 30 minutes.  She gets Ellee, understands that she is a precious princess, and ultimately can trick her into doing what she wants her to do. 

Yesterday, I walked in and asked "how was our day?" to the lady at the front desk.  She paused and said "well, not great" and continued to tell me that we had a timeout today for sticking our tongue out at one of the after school teachers.  This 'teacher' and another one, are the closing teachers and therefore, get a mix all ages from 3's to 5? 6? who knows... there are some big boys in with my LITTLE 3 year old GIRL.

As I wholeheartedly and repeatedly agreed, it is wrong of her to stick out her tongue; and she got a well deserved timeout. I was told after she was browbeaten asked to apologize, she did.  Then was asked if she remembered why she said she was sorry, then asked if she knew she wasn't supposed to stick out her tongue at her teacher, then asked if she was going to use her listening ears, and on and on.  I'm over it just hearing it second hand. 

Then something interesting happened.  Sometimes when you let people just keep talking, especially about something (child discipline from a computer clerk at a daycare) or someone (3 year olds in general, my daughter specifically) interesting and revealing things come out of their stupid mouths.  Apparently, after one of Ellee's waterboarding sessions, time out interventions, she began to try to talk to her capture in an attempt to make her seem like a human being timeout guard and she said she had a puppy and read a story and that she was a princess.  This struck with the timeout Nazi as funny, but not like we are amused; like "oh you think you're a princess? YOU ARE NOT".  Her exact words to me? "I said 'you are pretty and all but you're not ALL THAT..." I said "well, she won't have body issues with that confidence" and cut myself lose from the conversation and ended with "I guess we have somethings to discuss".  I did stop Ellee at the front desk and she apologized to the point that the phrase means nothing anymore and we talked about it on the way home.  I even did the "wait til your father gets home" but it was barely any fun since I figured she had been crying about it for about 3 hours straight. 

She did tell papa, he was upset and she ran off crying to her room.  She came back down, apologized and we left it at that.  I can't help but feel like the message was really lost in the delivery on this one.  Not only is the mouthpiece for the preschool and idiot that wanted to be sure a 3 year old girl knew she wasn't sitting royalty, but these 'teachers' are really incredible.  Since I'm not good and just writing a check and letting her figure out how to deal with these teachers, I wanted to call the school and discuss it with an administrator; since they are long gone when I get there at 4:20pm everyday.  But, before I could call, I got a call.  I was being advised that Eleanor was being put on a behavior modification program and that it would be my job to follow up every night (like I don't already, thanks for the insult, old maid) and that she would be given a smiley face at the END of the day, by one of the two teachers that have already decided they are NOT amused by Ellee.  I explained that doesn't work for me and here is why.  Using names and specific instances, each of the old bags got ratted out.  The tone of the conversation quickly changed and the director told me they afternoon rotation of teachers is going to be switched up.  No longer will the 3's be merged with teenagers in the other room, they will come back from recess at 3:30pm and another teacher will watch them back in Room 4.  This will only happen until about 4:30pm until that teacher will go home, then they will be blended again.  So long Bodypump at 4:15pm, I've got to get my daughter to be sure she doesn't get mentally abused by the 'teachers' who's salaries I pay. 

Eleanor IS a princess; just ask her, she'll tell you.  And I'm NOT apologizing anymore for being a pacifist parent.  Figure it out or don't cash my check.