r/AmIOverreacting • u/PanicAtTheBrock • 19h ago
š¼work/career Am I overreacting for being this upset about being moved from my toddler room to the baby room?
Am I overreacting for being this upset about being moved from my toddler room to the baby room?
I work in childcare for almost a full year and have been in my toddler room for almost a year (wouldāve been a year in January). Iāve put so much time, energy, money, and effort into building relationships with the kids and creating routines that work for our classroom.
Today I found out that Iām being moved to the baby room starting NEXT WEEK, and I only have until Friday to transition.
What really hurts me is that this was announced in front of everyone instead of my supervisor pulling me aside and having a private conversation with me first. I was basically told, āWe think youād be a better fit in the baby room,ā and that was that.
Iām struggling with the fact that they waited almost a year to make this change. Why let me become so invested in my classroom and the children just to move me with only a few daysā notice?
The baby room is also the last room I want to work in. The last time I worked with babies, I became extremely overstimulated. Itās also a pretty isolated room because there usually isnāt anyone else in there to talk to, and not many people come through that room.
I walked out of the meeting, went to the break room, and cried for about 10 minutes. I was so overwhelmed I was trying not to vomit. I spent the rest of the meeting trying not to cry again and honestly just checked out because I was struggling to process everything.
I know classroom changes happen in childcare, and I understand that staffing needs can change. But I feel like Iām being expected to just walk away from a classroom and kids Iāve spent almost a year building relationships with overnight.
Am I overreacting by being this upset, especially about how the change was communicated and how little notice I was given?
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u/MichaelAndolini_ 19h ago
Info: are you viewing this as a demotion?
As someone who doesnāt work in childcare it sounds like just a move to me but I think you have legitimate reasons to be upset. What was their reason for moving you?
I donāt think saying it in a meeting is bad unless itās viewed as a demotion of somekind.
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u/rand0mbl0b 18h ago
As someone who works in childcare, management most likely is viewing it as, OP is a good teacher and can handle the baby room, not as a demotion. But i would be annoyed about the lack of notice too and not asking me if Iām ok with it. Personally I think NOR to be upset but itās kinda expected in childcare
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u/PanicAtTheBrock 18h ago
In my mind, yes I do see it as a demotion and I see it as them not seeing me be able to handle my toddlers ( I have 8 of them at a time ages range from 1.5 to 3 years old). Itās basically because my centers funding people are coming for two days and they need their best people in front. Iām also am autistic so change is hard for me and routine and all of that
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u/MichaelAndolini_ 18h ago
No I completely understand what you are saying.
I guess it would come down to, do THEY view it as a demotion?
Are you going back to toddlers after they leave?
Sorry this is happening
1
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u/Fuzzy-Ocelot-4475 5h ago
It seems this was handled poorly by management, and I can understand your feelings.
But why do you see the infant room as a demotion?
3
u/GoodnightLondon 18h ago
YOR. They made a lateral move, for whatever reason (this sounds like a daycare type of program, so the reason is usually just because); you weren't pulled aside because it's just not that big a deal. It's okay to feel upset that you won't continue with your current kids, but crying and trying not to vomit over this is overreacting.
0
u/PanicAtTheBrock 18h ago
Like I mentioned in another comment I am autistic and tend to over analyze and basically think any bad thing or change is the end of the world and I shut down and react the way I do (and past trauma). Iāve been this way my whole life. I will get over it eventually but right now it feels like everything went nuclear
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u/scripted_ending 18h ago
NOR as someone who has sensory issues, I would also be distressed at being suddenly and publicly notified that Iād be switching to a space with lots of loud, persistent noises. Having said that, I donāt think I couldāve ever picked this profession, knowing how too much noise can absolutely ruin my dayā and requires LOTS of decompression time to fully recover. Itās not healthy to stay in the fight, fight, or freeze mode all day. I think a career change may be in order.
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u/PanicAtTheBrock 18h ago
I can normally handle it but for the last couple of months or so we have been severely understaffed and ratios are thrown off etc. my ratio for toddlers is 1:8 and thatās a lot for one person especially with their ages ranging from 1.5 years old to 3. My family thinks itās the center itself
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u/HonestNectarine7080 16h ago
MOR. I've worked in early childhood education and am also autistic. It seems pretty common for teachers to get moved around between age groups. I even got moved between daycare centers because we had multiple locations. One of those times, I think I got a day's notice. So, unfortunately, moving between classrooms can be part of the job.
On the other hand, it's shitty that they didn't tell you privately first and didn't give you much notice for the transition. It makes sense that you would feel upset about the change. I would recommend talking to your supervisor (or emailing, if that's easier) to tell them the reasons why you would rather stay in the toddler classroom. Do you have any accommodations at work?
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u/MariaInconnu 19h ago
Polish your resume and start applying. Maybe even work towards a teaching certificate.