Should Kids Be Allowed at Pampered Chef Team Meetings?

[KellyRedHead]

Good Evening everyone!

I just wanted to ask all you Cheffers your opinion.

I was to go to a team meeting tonight ( I haven't been to one in awhile, trying to get my business back on track) so anyway, the weather here is not so great, snowy, cold below 0 and I wanted to bring my 13 year old along for company for the 45 min drive. My daughter also helps me with my business catalog stamping and is starting to go to some shows to help me carrying things etc...

I emailed my Director to tell her I would be there along with my daughter and she says I can't bring my daughter no children are allowed. This has been a long standing P Chef rule and also a team rule. I figured for one P Chef is a family company and it wouln't be a problem and two she is 13 yrs old not 3 yrs old.

So I wondered, how all of you run your meetings ? If you agree with her that's fine, I just want your opinion.

Thanks-
Kelly

Not sure if this is where this ?? should be, if not just let me know.

 

[chefkristin]

Good Evening everyone!

I just wanted to ask all you Cheffers your opinion.

I was to go to a team meeting tonight ( I haven't been to one in awhile, trying to get my business back on track) so anyway, the weather here is not so great, snowy, cold below 0 and I wanted to bring my 13 year old along for company for the 45 min drive. My daughter also helps me with my business catalog stamping and is starting to go to some shows to help me carrying things etc...

I emailed my Director to tell her I would be there along with my daughter and she says I can't bring my daughter no children are allowed. This has been a long standing P Chef rule and also a team rule. I figured for one P Chef is a family company and it wouln't be a problem and two she is 13 yrs old not 3 yrs old.

So I wondered, how all of you run your meetings ? If you agree with her that's fine, I just want your opinion.

Thanks-
Kelly

Personally, I think she is FULL of **IT!!!! We bring kids to our meetings all the time!

 

[SillyChef]

I wouldn't see the problem for having a 13 year old there. My AD invited our kids to the meetings when needed.

A 13 year old isn't such a "child" anymore, plus she might just want to have a side job soon.

 

[cmdtrgd]

I agree with the no kids allowed for most types of meetings. It is two hours out of your month, at least, it should be. It is a time for you to completely focus on PC without any possible interruptions - "she hit me.....", etc. Also, even if it is part time for you, it is full time for others. If you bring your kids, it shows them that you don't value their time. And, for those who did find someone to watch their kids, it makes them feel bad too - "why do I have to pay for a sitter..." type of thing. Just think, if you were in the corporate world, would you be allowed to bring your 13 year old to a company meeting?I applaud you for getting your kid involved in the business. THAT is where it is a family company.That being said, there are times when kids should be invited to come.

 

[DebbieJ]

I think bringing a 13 yo vs. bringing a 3yo are VERY different things.

I would think that bringing your teenager would be no big deal, especially considering the circumstances with the weather. I'm guessing she'd just sit in the back doing homework or something?

If I were your director, I'd rather have you there with your kid than not have you come at all.

 

[KellyRedHead]

I can see drawing the line somewhere, but for one she is 13 not 3 like I said and two some people can't afford to get a sitter for meetings. Especially when they are not earning any money for that evening. It's hard enough for some people to find a sitter for their show dates, but meetings are sometimes even tougher.
Thanks again for all your opinions.

Deb-
That was my opinion too! I would rather have my team member be there with the child then not at all!

I guess it bothers me because I called her and told her how my February was shaping up to be great and I was getting back on track again. And I really needed the meeting!

I feel like I need to find a new hospitality team, you can't change directors without leaving P chef for a year can you?

 

[chefjeanine]

A rule has been created and it needs to be followed. No children has to mean no children regardless of their age. It is a distraction and as Kate said, they would not be welcome in a corporate setting. This isa business meeting.

Though you may not realize it, this is not an easy rule for Directors to set. . . don't make it more difficult.

Maybe there can be a summer event when the family is welcome.

See if you can find a potential recruit to ride along and keep you company.

 

[dcypcar.chef]

We have a standing rule that no children are allowed unless you are a nursing mom and will be gone for feeding time. That has been the only exception ever made in our cluster. Children of any age (including husbands aka our other children) are distracting and slow down the progress of the meeting.

 

[gilliandanielle]

I think that 13 year olds should be allowed, but that is the youngest except for newborns. My director has her 8 & 10 year olds there and another director brings her 2 year old. It was very distracting to have the little one keep interupting, but I don't think she had any other choice.

 

[Sk8Mom209]

At our cluster meetings there is usually a whole table full of kids. Lately, we have been meeting at a residence and there is a sitter and everyone with kids splits her fee.

We are after all a family company, why would family be absolutely excluded.

 

[SillyChef]

I guess it just varies from Cluster to Cluster...

 

[tiffanypc05]

We don't have children at our meetings except for newborns and we do have a 13 or 14 year old that does the shows with her mom and she comes to the shows. She's in no way a distraction...When they get to that age, they should know what to do.

 

[ihavethetools]

A few months ago at our meeting a consultant had a problem with childcare that night and had to bring her young child. He was not disruptive at all...well I think the director's daughter took him upstairs to play with him while we had our meeting.
I'm sure this is an exception. When my boys were that age there would have been no way they'd do well in this sort of setting.

However, a 13 yo girl, I don't really consider a child so much.

I also think I'd have to 'respect' the rule, not necessarily agree with it. I'm sure it's hard to give any for fear that someone (not necessarily you) would take advantage of it and then they'd have to tell everyone no children at all.

I'm pretty taken aback that even husbands are not allowed! That is (I'm sorry) AWFUL! My husband and I are teammates as well as mates. I support him in every way in his trucking business and I am allowed in ANY room at ANY time (corporate) of the trucking company we are leased to. If they were to keep me out...we'd have some serious issues with them.
I don't consider my dh a child!

Just my little .02...

Kris

 

[heat123]

We have a standing rule that no children are allowed unless you are a nursing mom and will be gone for feeding time. That has been the only exception ever made in our cluster. Children of any age (including husbands aka our other children) are distracting and slow down the progress of the meeting.

My cluster is the same way.

 

[adventurechef]

I don't think the "No Kids" rule is a Pampered Chef company rule - I think it must be a "Team" rule. I believe it's up to the discretion of the Director holding the cluster meeting.

Most of the cluster meetings I've been to are at someone's home, and their children are there. Should they send their children out because they are having co-workers over? Most older children can sit quietly and do homework, etc., and that is a good idea about hiring one sitter and splitting the cost between the consultants who bring their kids. I actually had a show where the host hired a sitter to look after all the kids downstairs while the moms shopped upstairs.

A few meetings have been at restaurants and in meeting rooms where kids couldn't be accommodated.There are, of course, exceptions and every parent knows how their children would behave in that situation.

I don't think that kids should be allowed at regional or national training meetings, and definately not at Leadership or Conference, as it is a more professional setting, and those consultants (with or without kids) are there to learn and not get distracted.

Families are part of the PC philosphy and my personal feeling is that they should be included in your own home-based business. The good thing about having your own business is doing your own way!

My 2 cents, Linda

 

[rennea]

I too agree with the "no Kids" rule...but if your 13 DD helps you out and she is part of "your" team, then yes I think she should be able to come.

 

[GeorgiaPeach]

I agree with the no kids allowed for most types of meetings. It is two hours out of your month, at least, it should be. It is a time for you to completely focus on PC without any possible interruptions - "she hit me.....", etc. Also, even if it is part time for you, it is full time for others. If you bring your kids, it shows them that you don't value their time. And, for those who did find someone to watch their kids, it makes them feel bad too - "why do I have to pay for a sitter..." type of thing. Just think, if you were in the corporate world, would you be allowed to bring your 13 year old to a company meeting?

I applaud you for getting your kid involved in the business. THAT is where it is a family company.

That being said, there are times when kids should be invited to come.

Very well said, Kate. Alot of team meetings that I know of are "no kids allowed" except for nursing babies. While many children might be able to sit quietly and do homework, there are MANY that cannot. If you open the door to allow one child you are opening the door for others. (I realize this thread was started regarding a 13 yr old and thus she is probably not as big of a distraction as younger children.)

As a director, I know that we spend alot of time and effort planning a training meeting. If a child disrupts a meeting, you are not being fair to your director.

I'm a bit bothered by the comments about how if the director can have her children at the meeting why can't others come. It's totally different if the child lives in the house. My children (and husband) stay in the tv room and do homework then get ready for bed. The consultants that attend my meeting have children that stay home and are able to get ready for bed and stay in their routine on a school night. Should my children be sent to McDonald's for two hours? There is a big difference between having consultant's children in my home and trying to keep them entertained and my own children being allow to stay in their own home on a school night.

 

[chefkristin]

I don't think the "No Kids" rule is a Pampered Chef company rule - I think it must be a "Team" rule. I believe it's up to the discretion of the Director holding the cluster meeting.

Most of the cluster meetings I've been to are at someone's home, and their children are there. Should they send their children out because they are having co-workers over? Most older children can sit quietly and do homework, etc., and that is a good idea about hiring one sitter and splitting the cost between the consultants who bring their kids. I actually had a show where the host hired a sitter to look after all the kids downstairs while the moms shopped upstairs.

A few meetings have been at restaurants and in meeting rooms where kids couldn't be accommodated.There are, of course, exceptions and every parent knows how their children would behave in that situation.

I don't think that kids should be allowed at regional or national training meetings, and definately not at Leadership or Conference, as it is a more professional setting, and those consultants (with or without kids) are there to learn and not get distracted.

Families are part of the PC philosphy and my personal feeling is that they should be included in your own home-based business. The good thing about having your own business is doing your own way!

My 2 cents, Linda

Thanks Linda- I AGREE!!!

 

[Shawnna]

We have children at most of our cluster meetings. Some are young, some are 10 or so and on occasion I have taken my own. Most of the time all of these children sit quietly reading or coloring, but if they are disruptive, the moms take them out of the meeting...sometimes they go home, sometimes they just take them out until they calm down. However, if your daughter regulary helps out, she is part of your team and it wouldn't hurt for her to see how your meetings work. Our meetings are in a bank conference room. However, I think that should be up to each director on whether she wants children there or not...it is true that if she lets one bring a child she will have to let everyone else bring theirs too.

 

[KellyRedHead]

Thank you every one again for your opinions.

From everyone's posts some sound like kids are allowed and some are not. Guess it's up to the Director and how she or he runs their meetings.
I use to be a PC Cons several years ago and join again last year. The cluster I was on then allowed the kids to come. Many (if not all) brought something for there kids to do and we never had a problem. If the child was being a distraction, then the mother would politely remove herself and the child.

My daughter (and sometimes my DH) helps and often accompanies me to shows. Depends on the show, locations, large amt of invites coming etc.. And I just thought this would be a good learning experience for her.

I emailed my director my opinion in regards to the matter and I am waiting on a reply. Maybe she will allow my daughter and maybe not. If not, I just know I will not be attending to many meetings and will have to depend on my fellow Cheffers for training

Thanks again to everyone! I will keep you posted on the outcome.
Kelly

 

[PamperChefCarol]

We have kids occasionally at our cluster meetings. I think if it's a matter of the consultant being able to come with the kids, or stay home, then come and bring the kids, by all means.

The kids have been well behaved and not a distraction. Now if they were a distraction, it would be a different story.

 

[cmdtrgd]

The kids have been well behaved and not a distraction. Now if they were a distraction, it would be a different story.

Not to pick on you, Carol, but I think you hit the nail on the head. You can't just say no disruptive kids or ban some kids from the meeting. No kids or any kids allowed. How would you feel if someone pulled you aside and said that your kid with the runny nose was a distraction and couldn't come any more while another kid kept whining and the mother did nothing about it. That is a severe circumstance, but it could happen. Different people have different ideas on how to raise and discipline kids.

Now, I do like the idea of having a group baby sitter. However, that wouldn't work for my meetings because I don't have them in my home.

 

[cmdtrgd]

I don't think the "No Kids" rule is a Pampered Chef company rule - I think it must be a "Team" rule. I believe it's up to the discretion of the Director holding the cluster meeting.

I don't think that kids should be allowed at regional or national training meetings, and definately not at Leadership or Conference, as it is a more professional setting, and those consultants (with or without kids) are there to learn and not get distracted.

I think this is where the "company rule" thought might have come in.

Families are part of the PC philosphy and my personal feeling is that they should be included in your own home-based business. The good thing about having your own business is doing your own way!

My 2 cents, Linda

I respectfully disagree that PC includes family. It encourages families to come together. If we were a family business, we could sign togther as couples. PC allows for us to be there for our families while still bringing in the income we need/want.

I feel bad for Kelly that she won't be able to attend many meetings. I don't have kids, do I don't have that situation. However, I do have single parents in my downline who get together and share a babysitter for cost reasons and also carpool to the meetings. Maybe you can do that, too. Don't get me wrong, I want a family and love kids - heck, I run the city Youth Drama program here! I just don't think that 2 hours a month is too much to ask of someone who wants to grow their business. Now, if it was once a week, I would have a problem with that.

 

[cmdtrgd]

Also, I do think that husbands should be allowed to come. Sometimes it is a great way to get them to finally support their spouse. They get to see the big picture!

 

[chee65]

Our team allows children. It's never been a distraction. If no children allowed was the rule in our cluster there would probably only be 3 people there LOL. I know it seems like only 2 hours a month but remember that we also do shows, or at least supposed to. So, to our director and Advanced Director they would rather we bring our kids then not be there at all. But I guess most of the consultants in our cluster have children so nobody seems to mind. Spouses are allowed too. So I guess we are very informal about this aspect but we do get things done and everyone has a great time.

 

[ChefBurke]

Well I had to bring my 9month old at the time in Dec to a meeting.. I am a single mother-dad not in picture & its a drive for me anyway to tampa & I don't have the funds nor trust a sitter-I watch her fulltime. There is nothing wrong with sitters but unless i know them i don't want them watching an infant.Too much can happen-i don't care.. but yea i asked my director & she said yea since its a holiday party its ok, but if it were a problem I just wouldnt go.

 

[ChefBurke]

Respectfully Kate, you do not have children so your free to have your opinion but you need to also understand alot of single moms have to have regular jobs to support them & kids,also to fit in PC, and raise children with school,activites & such...is alot! yea one meeting a month but think about a single mom doing at least 1 show a week to have extra money for the kids-having to pay a sitter once a week then well twice a week once for meetings... As a single mom I think if they arent a distraction its FINE! This is supposed to be about(many peoples reasoning for starting pc) have more time with family- i dont bring my baby to the meeting but if i had to go to a meeting & bring her-i will or won't go.

 

[DebbieSAChef]

I have to add my commentAt my cluster meetings we are encouraged to bring our kids to the meetings. I have four, and one on the way. My director has four kids who occasionally pop in for a good night kiss, or to sample some of the food we are testing out.
The other director who tag teams with my director (they take turns opening up their homes each month) has six kids! The youngest is two and occasionally pops in with dad for a good night kiss also.
They begged me to bring my newborn to a meeting and I did when my son was born. I was nursing at the time but he just slept through most of the meeting.
I enjoy getting away from all MY distractions to come to a meeting to get encouraged, recongnized and informed!
I also believe that every director is different and the kids are all different too. We moms know if our kids are too rowdy to sit through a meeting and should know better than to bring our child who may distract the meeting. Espcially if they missed their nap, have had no dinner or are acting fussy.

I agree that it is a meeting where other moms also leave kids behind to spend some time among other women and relax so we should respect that and ask their opinons as well, not just our directors. I did ask everyone about my baby and they all said YES. Of course they are all moms or kids friendly. Everyone is different.
Sometimes I know it's inevitable, no babysitter, strapped for time, etc...
Fortunately for me I have a husband who understands and is always available to watch the kids so I can go to my meeting. Not everyone has that option, and a babysitter sometimes is expensive. A 13 year old should be more than capable of handling a meeting. I homeschool in order to show my kids Christ, family situations dealt with in maturity, and hands on situations so they know how to conduct themselves in the real world. I would have no problem with my nine, ten year old at the meeting. My two year old or 16 month old is another story!

Debbie

 

[fruit76loop]

Ok...I can't keep my mouth shut on this one....As I read some of your posts I was a little disturbed by the way the thread was turning.

I am directly affected by both sides of this thread...as I have a 1 1/2 year old son and a 4 year old daughter...and I am a Director.

First, let me address the "no children" being a company policy. Here is the policy guidelines for Conference and Leadership and as you read through them you will see that children of any age are not allowed at any official Pampered Chef meeting.

"Meetings Policies

Rules Pertaining to Children and Guests

While The Pampered Chef has a philosophy and a business opportunity based on blending family and career, it is not appropriate to bring your family with you to all business events. Official Pampered Chef meetings are not an appropriate environment for children. Even quiet infants and well-behaved children can be a distraction from the business purpose.

You may not bring infants or children to official Pampered Chef meetings.

If you are a nursing mother and find that you need to feed your baby during a meeting, schedule your time to meet with your childcare provider between General Sessions and Workshops, so that you can be with your baby at critical times. You can also arrange for another Consultant to take notes if you need to be away from the meeting.

If your family has been helping you with your business, and you would like to share some of the excitement with them, guests age 18 years and older may be registered (and must be paid for when applicable) to attend National Conference and other meetings open to guests. You may be required to show proof of age.

As there is a minimum management level required to attend Leadership Conference or certain meetings, no guests (unless otherwise indicated in the registration information) may attend those meetings. "

So, now that we have discussed actual company policy, I do believe that it is of course up to the Director to decide if they will abide by these company policies or not. At my meetings, nursing children are allowed NO OTHERS, NO MATTER THE AGE OR THE BEHAVIOR. It is not fair to tell Sally consultant that she can't bring her 8 year old, but tell Julie consultant that she can bring her 10 year old. I am sure that you can all see the possible problems with bending the rules.

Is it also fair to Nancy consultant who found a babysitter for her children to take time out of her busy schedule to come to a meeting only to be distracted by Patty consultant's children? I would have to say no. We are all at the meetings to learn and one needs to be fair to everyone.

I work very hard on my meetings and I do not even allow my children at the meeting. Now, of course my children are in my house while the meeting is taking place on a different floor, but they are not at the meeting.

To be fair to all you have to agree that the policy is clear with children and meetings. I know that it is hard to get a sitter or afford a sitter for some and I know it is important to make it to meetings, but in reality if you can't afford a sitter or find a sitter you just might have to miss that meeting. What about setting up a babysitting trade with one of your friends, co workers, neighbors, consultants in different clusters...WHERE THERE IS A WILL THERE IS A WAY.

Ok, now that that is said....remember ladies that we are here to support eachother and this thread seems to have a nasty vibe to it.

 

[fruit76loop]

One more comment...then I'll shut my mouth, I promise!

As I read back through this thread I found one more thing that was like a flashing red light to me and I have to address it. Please do not take this personal as I am only addressing the issue, not the person who posted the thread!

I don't think that kids should be allowed at regional or national training meetings, and definately not at Leadership or Conference, as it is a more professional setting, and those consultants (with or without kids) are there to learn and not get distracted.

those consultants (with or without kids) are there to learn and not get distracted.


Why is National or Leadership any different than a monthly meeting? I know monthly meetings are more relaxed and a more personal meeting; however, I would hope that all consultants come to meeting to learn and not get distracted. It is just as much of a sacrifice for some consultants to make it to monthly meetings as it is for others of us to travel across the country to attend conference. I have consultants on my team that travel 2 hours to get to my monthly meetings, I believe they are there to learn and not get distracted!

Ok....zzzziiiiiiipppppppp!