A dinner lady has pulled out my child's tooth, am I overreacting?

carlamarie_2

irishrose Thats where you're wrong, iwould not complain that nobody had taken it out because it would even enter my head that they were able to, or would want to. And I'm fully aware that you don't carry contact info on every child, YOU KNOW. My daughter comes home quite frequently with accident sheets when she has fallen, paper cuts (and lots of really stupid little things, that don't warrant a note sent home. This is the school policy) etc. am I wrong to expect to even get an accident sheet today, in your opinion? Bearing in mind she banged her face. Her teacher didn't even pull me up and explain that her tooth had removed.

Nowhere at all in this thread have I mentioned child protection!

And as I've previously said I fully understand and appreciate that the dinner lady was trying to help my daughter.
My complaint will not be a personal attack on the dinner lady it will be on the fact that I wasn't contacted before hand!

IrishRose12

carlamarie wrote: »

Obviously if my child was choking (which on a baby tooth, is highly unlikely, Let's be honest!) I wouldnt want them to stop and ring me first! Intervention would be perfect if any of my kids got to that life or death situation.

Allowing my daughter to have a drink of water whilst at the same time as having a wobbly tooth is NOT a life or death situation.

The age argument will never be settled, maybe life was better back then. I wouldn't know, I only have experience in this time and age. But I'm pretty sure life wasn't perfect then either! The world is a mad place and is getting madder by the second, but as I said its the only one I know and to me at least, this is normal.

My kids are not wrapped in cotton wool, far from it, I encourage them to climb trees and splash in puddles and all the other things that your generation did, yet many of my generation don't allow.
I simply asked if I was overeacting, which you gave me an answer to, thanks for that.

Actually yes - she could have choked on a baby tooth, children have choked on far smaller items, trust me.
Also, if the tooth was that bad after knocking it when falling, then it could have been a cause of concern for the dinner lady to have given her a drink of water. She was obviously thinking of your daughter's best interests.
No offence you say she has a big gap now, but if it was only a small tiny baby tooth then it couldn't have left that much of a gap could it?

carlamarie_2

I don't recall saying she has a big gap? I said nice gap.
I could measure it, but I don't see how the size of the gap helps in anyway?

COOLTRIKERCHICK

the gap would have been there if it fell out naturally or been taken/pulled out...anyway

meritaten

but carlamarie - if you complain to the school, even informally, they WILL investigate and this lovely woman could lose her job! you don't know that the tooth wasn't hanging by a thread after the bang on the mouth. if she had swallowed it or choked on it - wouldn't you be asking 'Why didn't someone have the sense to remove it'?

personally, I would always prefer someone displays a bit of common sense than blindly follows 'rules'. and yes that could be because I am an older poster. and can remember being comforted by school staff when upset, by cuddles or a hug and even a 'kiss it better'!

IrishRose12

carlamarie wrote: »

irishrose Thats where you're wrong, iwould not complain that nobody had taken it out because it would even enter my head that they were able to, or would want to. And I'm fully aware that you don't carry contact info on every child, YOU KNOW. My daughter comes home quite frequently with accident sheets when she has fallen, paper cuts (and lots of really stupid little things, that don't warrant a note sent home. This is the school policy) etc. am I wrong to expect to even get an accident sheet today, in your opinion? Bearing in mind she banged her face. Her teacher didn't even pull me up and explain that her tooth had removed.

Nowhere at all in this thread have I mentioned child protection!

And as I've previously said I fully understand and appreciate that the dinner lady was trying to help my daughter.
My complaint will not be a personal attack on the dinner lady it will be on the fact that I wasn't contacted before hand!

No offence but I doubt that very much if this is the way you are reacting about the tooth coming out.

As for the accident sheet thing... No I wouldn't expect a note sent home with my daughter because her tooth came out, unless it was a concern. Teeth come out near enough all the time, it's all part of growing up. But to go up and complain about the dinner lady - as lets face it that's what you will be doing whether you think it or not - that lady will think twice next time your child comes to her for help or guidance, or any other child for that matter.

It's up to you at the end of the day, but I just hope that dinner lady doesn't get to disheartened because she thought she was helping your daughter. A quiet word by the principle to the dinner lady is a telling off is far more than a quite word or reminder.

EDIT: Whether it was a nice gap or a big gap it doesn't matter, it would have happened anyway when the tooth came out. It's not the fault of the dinner lady

cte1111

I've got children at primary school. I don't think I would be concerned about this incident. It sounds like normal behaviour really. The tooth was wobbly in the morning and had become more so by lunchtime. An adult helping to remove it is just a normal helpful act.

Given that your daughter has already confirmed that it didn't hurt, there was no blood and is perfectly happy, then I can't really see what the problem is.

I'd be a little irritated if the school rang me to come and help in a situation like this. Mind you they did ring once when my son's wellies had rubbed on a trip out to the local woods. I was 40 miles away at the time in the middle of a business negotiation and my husband was 200 miles away on a course. Fortunately another Mum who knows us was with the group and she applied some plasters (and presumably sympathy) herself so it was all sorted. This is the same kind of incident IMHO.

carlamarie_2

COOLTRIKERCHICK wrote: »

the gap would have been there if it fell out naturally or been taken/pulled out...anyway

I am fully aware of that thank you. I'm just confused to why the size of the gap is an issue?

meritaten wrote: »

but carlamarie - if you complain to the school, even informally, they WILL investigate and this lovely woman could lose her job! you don't know that the tooth wasn't hanging by a thread after the bang on the mouth. if she had swallowed it or choked on it - wouldn't you be asking 'Why didn't someone have the sense to remove it'?

I honestly wouldn't ask that question. And believe me, if it were hanging on by a thread my daughter would have been screaming her head off as she really is a drama queen.but she was not crying when she hit her mouth. She tasted blood looked in the mirror saw a little bit of blood and asked for some water.

duchy

meritaten wrote: »

but carlamarie - if you complain to the school, even informally, they WILL investigate and this lovely woman could lose her job! you don't know that the tooth wasn't hanging by a thread after the bang on the mouth. if she had swallowed it or choked on it - wouldn't you be asking 'Why didn't someone have the sense to remove it'?

personally, I would always prefer someone displays a bit of common sense than blindly follows 'rules'. and yes that could be because I am an older poster. and can remember being comforted by school staff when upset, by cuddles or a hug and even a 'kiss it better'!

Odds are if you complain (even informally) she WILL lose her job.
In your shoes I would be looking at the intention and from how you've described it and because the child wasn't upset I personally wouldn't complain even informally. If the child was upset it would make a difference though.

wallbash

am I overreacting?

The vast majority of the replies suggest you are.
These are posters who have answered honestly and given a straight forward reply to your question.

Do yourself ( and daughter AND dinner lady) a favour and just move on .
Don't mention it at school,its history, No damage/hurt was caused or meant.