Should Kids Be Allowed at Pampered Chef Team Meetings?

[Rebeccascabinet]

I think every director has to do what is best for the cluster and every cluster is different.

 

[baychef]

Had our TEAM meeting last night and there was a child there, I would say in the 11, 12 or 13 year old age. I thought of this thread. I must say that it was hard to concentrate and keep focus when she did cartwheels (several times throughout the meeting) and then would open her Mom's cell phone and some song would play, then ask her Mom something in a very loud whisper. One of my quirks is that I need total silence to concentrate (I hate it) . I have never been able to "tune out" people.
Ann

 

[smspamperedchef]

I just had a brand new consultant sign up who is doing the business WITH her 13 year old daughter to pay for her college education. Although "mom" is the consultant the daughter LOVES to cook and will do a lot of the demonstrations with "mom's help. They are a team which I think is awesome! They both came to the meeting Monday night but I asked my Director about it first. She stated that any child that is actively involved in your business that is there to learn and help is more than welcome to attend. However, company sponsored events i.e. National Conference, they are not allowed to attend til they are 18. However, you unfortunately will have to abide by your Director's rules especially if it is being held at her house.

 

[PCJenni]

I am very serious about my business. In fact I am regularly am top sales for the month in my cluster. And I have a 1 year old that I bring to meetings. I would not be able to attend if I did not bring them. I think you need to consider the people involved. Someone who brings their kids and lets them run wild is never appreciated!

 

[ivykeep]

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.

While I've never actually been to a cluster meeting, I'm not sure I'd consider a cluster meeting to be an OFFICIAL COMPANY MEETING -- especially since they seem to be completely different in different groups.

Specifically playing devils advocate -- do you have limits on the ages of your nursing children? I'm still breastfeeding my 13 month old, and frankly she'd be MUCH more distracting than a 13 year old at a meeting. My husband is coming with me to Conference, but not attending as a guest as he will be providing child care for our daughter who will still be breastfeeding in July (I plan to bf until she is 2 or she no longer wants to (whichever is first) or I get pregnant). I totally understand that she can't be included in Conference events, but I also can't leave her for 4 days.

However, if I were in your cluster, why should my 13 month old be allowed just because I'm nursing yet Consultant Q's 3 month old can't come because she is bottlefed?? There is still a level of unfairness there.

I don't go to cluster meetings because my director (even though she lives close to me) conducts her meetings at her old house which is 90 miles from my house (over 100 from her new house) and I'm simply not interested in driving 3-4 hours to get to a 6 pm cluster meeting (I'd have to commute through BOTH Baltimore and Washington DC traffic at RUSH hour) and then 2 hours to get home for a two hour meeting (that's an 8 hour time frame for me, so my daughter would DEFINITELY have to attend with me -- I have no idea if they'd welcome her or not, because I'm not subjecting either of us to that amount of time in the car for a meeting).

 

[ivykeep]

Asked not to breastfeed in a store/

PS I've always wanted to have a retail establishment just so I can have a sign that reads, "Nurslings are welcome here!" Just last week the lady at Copy Max asked my not to nurse there any longer (I guess they'd rather have the walls rattle while my youngest screams while waiting for my copies!). I think if she asks again I'll ask if she requests that pacifier sucking and bottle sucking babies not be in the store either.

This was a big thing while I was pregnant -- in Maryland it is specifically illegal for any business or public place in Maryland to not allow you to breastfeed -- I'm discrete since I don't want to be hanging out for the world to see, but if anyone actually asked me not to breastfeed in their establishment and enforced that (i.e., I told them that I was legally protected and they insisted I not) they are liable for something like a $1,000 fine. There was an article in one of the baby magazine's last year that published a "breastfeeding license" and detailed what the laws were in each state. If I can find it, I'll let you know what it said about CO.

 

[Chef Diane]

My Director has a "no kids" policy too. The only children allowed are those of nursing moms (the infant that is). She even ships her kids off for all meeting; cluster AND training. I do have to agree with some of you about the no kids means no kids, if you let one in next month it'll be two and so on. Besides how do you choose and not hurt someones feelings. Its just easier to say no.

 

[AJPratt]

I can see younger children being tough, but a 13 yo? Does she realize your daughter is 13?

My director wouldn't have a problem with kids of any age. Her daughter (16) is usually available to babysit and they have a great playroom in their basement.

 

[MomToEli]

It makes me quite sad to realize that when I cross the stage at NC as a new Director or for other major recognition that my son won't be able to go across with me. Will my dh be able to? The company I am coming from is VERY big on partnership - fully believing that it is not possible to grow a business without a fully supportive partner and that they should be recognized right along with the agent. Every award I have has both mine and my dh's name on it. When I was presented with a leather jacket, so was my husband. While we haven't taken our ds (now 8) to Convention yet, we were planning on doing so this year. He would be welcome in all of the General Sessions, though not in the workshops. General Sessions are like rock concerts anyway, so he sure wouldn't be disruptive to things! We have decided not to go this year, as I plan on going to Chicago.

Anyway, that honestly is one thing that I truly am having a hard time with. He sacrifices, too, for me to build a business. I think he should be able to share in my high points by walking with me across stage.

I won't break the rules, though I will offer my thoughts on this to the powers that be if ever given the opportunity to do so.

 

[cmdtrgd]

Sandy,I understand your position. I do think that kids from age 14 and up should be allowed at General Session. I'm not up to date on those rules. However, having been to one NC, I know how many people are there - and we have three waves of huge crowds! Imagine if just 1/4 of the people brought one person with them. And then if they also brought kids.As for spouses being recognized too, I don't know what to say about that. I do know that giving rings and diamonds to both people when one earns TPC would be astronomical in price! I also don't have a spouse that WOULD go across stage much less go to conference with me...yet. When I need him to be there, he will be.

 

[MomToEli]

Kate,

I know that where I come from is unique and is thinking outside of the box for most people. When we went to convention 2 years ago (they are every other year), there were over 59,000 people there. (You read that right). We fill the Georgia Dome. Probably 40% of them are spouses, and most of them go to the workshops and everything. There are certainly not that many kids, but they do go and are not forbidden. They give out rings as well, and they do give them to spouses as well as the agent. Of course, the benchmark for getting them is nice and high. Believe me -- you EARN them, and make plenty for the company at the same time. The time investment to reach that point is also high. Higher than I am willing to commit at this point in my son's life. But, you would be surprised at how much more productive a person can be when the spouse is sitting back there knowing that they, too, will benefit from your success - in ways more tangible than just getting a great check.

Incentive trips always are for 2. If you want to take the kiddos, you have to pay for them always. I'm thrilled that PC offers trips for 4! I honestly didn't realize that ANY other company had as nice of trips and included spouses.

 

[naekelsey]

KellyRedHead, do you know of any meetings that go on closer to your home??? This way you don't have to drive so far in the snow.

 

[chefmary]

I'm coming into this discussion fairly late, but I thought I'd jump in anyway! I'm a FD and my "original" cluster meetings are about 1 1/2 hours away from where my team and I live. If I didn't hold meetings at my home, my team would not attend any meetings and if I told them not to bring their kids, there wouldn't be a meeting! I've made it clear to them that while our team is young and small, kids are welcome, but as we grow, it won't be feasible to have the kids around, because they are loud and disruptive. Again, I think it's a matter of judgement and if it were me, a 13 year old would not be a problem!

Mary

 

[cmdtrgd]

Mary,That is a healthy way to look at it. As long as everyone knows your current and upcoming policies, I don't see a problem with it.