Mom threatened by state for babysitting neighbors kids.

[Rageaholic]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090929/..._backlash_mich

Apparently, in Michigan, you can't care for unrelated children for more than 4 weeks at a time unless you're a licensed day care provider. The mother in the story let's 3 neighborhood kids into her home before school as a service, yet she's being threatened because she's breaking that law.

I think it's a stupid law, and this is proof of it. I mean, can't the state of Michigan see the difference between a daycare and a friendly favor? This is a case when the State is just being intrusive. I mean, it's not like anyone's being hurt or abused.

What is everyone elses thoughts on this?

[Greenday]

Stupid law is stupid.

It's not a daycare. It's watching a couple kids.

[Gravekeeper]

Don't you sort of need a bare minimum amount of kids to be considered a day care? My mom use to do similar to this for years, and she usually had 4-8 kids at a time.

[the_std]

GK, I do believe Canadian laws are different. My mom also ran a daycare, and as long as she had under a certain number of kids, she didn't need to be licensed.

Can't say that's for sure how it works in the States.

[gremcint]

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.

an hour? an hour? an hour? an hour? an hour?

[Rageaholic]

I should add the the governor and other state officials are trying to change this law, but the fact that she was harassed in the first place is just stupid.

[DrFaroohk]

I heard about this on the radio, and the host said it was some government conspiracy because Obama wants to control the daycare centers so he can brainwash our kids or something. Seriously. I can't remember who the guy was but he was sort of like Glenn Beck-ish.

[fireheart17]

I heard about this on the radio, and the host said it was some government conspiracy because Obama wants to control the daycare centers so he can brainwash our kids or something. Seriously. I can't remember who the guy was but he was sort of like Glenn Beck-ish.

is that the same government conspiracy about how kids are really being vaccinated with mind-control drugs so that they'll refuse to follow the teachings of the Bible?!

(I'm kidding of course )

Seriously though, my mum used to drop me off with some friends for about 30 minutes prior to school so we could all walk to school together.

[BroomJockey]

Right, she was doing it for an hour. Further, was she even being paid? Because if not, they're really fucking idiots.

[crazylegs]

You think that's odd?

Try OFSTED telling two police officers that caring for each others kids while the other works in an offence...

[Rageaholic]

You think that's odd?

Try OFSTED telling two police officers that caring for each others kids while the other works in an offence...

Yikes! These laws need to revamped or just gotten rid of. I mean what next, a neighbor can't look after a family's pet because she's not a registered vet? I mean, as long as they are both okay with it, what's the big deal? Just because it's a law doesn't mean it's logical.

[Cats]

I would post a more dignified response to this, but I think my brain just lost too many cells from the extremely high levels of 'stupid'.

I hate to see what they'd do to a teenager who babysits their neighbors/friends kids for several hours at a time.

Or how about techers? I mean, they do in essence look after kids for several hours a day 5 days a week, don't they? Never heard of them needing a day care license before.

[DrFaroohk]

Where's all the people who are usually spouting "rules are rules"? I mean, really when you think about it, the law is pretty clear. You cannot care for a non-relatives child for more than 4 weeks. It doesn't say "Unless its free" or "Unless its only for an hour a day" or "Unless its just for kids getting on the schoolbus".....where did all those people run off to?

[Talon]

I'll see the Picard single-hand facepalm, and raise a double:

[Rageaholic]

Where's all the people who are usually spouting "rules are rules"? I mean, really when you think about it, the law is pretty clear. You cannot care for a non-relatives child for more than 4 weeks. It doesn't say "Unless its free" or "Unless its only for an hour a day" or "Unless its just for kids getting on the schoolbus".....where did all those people run off to?

I was wondering the same thing. Perhaps we've reached a point in which the "rules" are too stupid to be justified.