AAHHHHHH...you really thought it would be ok to be late....Venting

I had a sweet little 20month old girl start on Monday. She is great, cry's on and off through out the day. I get the feeling that when she cry's at home her parents give her what ever she wants, not happening here.

Mom had emailed me last Friday with what times she would be dropping off and picking up each day this week. On Monday she was suppose to be here by 8:30 got here at 8:50 not a problem the weather was bad, so I expected everyone to be running late.
Pick up was between 3 and 3:30, didn't show up until 4:10 (40min late), she works a 2 min drive away. No phone call, which I would have liked. I am open until 5:30 so not a big deal.
Yesterday, she was dropped off on time. :)
Pick up not so good. She was suppose to be off work at 5, and pick up by 5:30 when I close.
At 5:20 mom calls and asks if it would be ok if she picked up at 6pm. Your joking right, no she really thought this would be ok. I told her NO I close at 5:30. She then told me she could not get a hold of her husband and would be late. I told her we would talk about it when she got her.
at 5:55 dcm called and said she would be here in 10 min. I told her that my dinner would be in ready in 10 min and to make it a fast 10 min. At this point both my husband and I are not happy. She shows up at 6:10pm and she says sorry and tells me she thought it would be ok to be late. She had a client come in at the last min. She is a hair dresser. Why would it be ok to be late, its not like I am going to get paid for this time, she is through an agency, so I don't think I can charge her a late fee (but will be looking into this). I told her that I close at 5:30, after that it is my family time. That she need to manage her time better at work and if this keeps happening I would have to terminate care.

My husband said I was a bit harsh, but was proud that I stood my ground. I am very good at letting people walk all over me.

This morning at drop off the mom in forms me that her husband will be doing pick up and drop offs from now on. she will be dropped off between 7:30 and 8:30. I told dcm that snack is at 8:15 if she is not here by then she will have had to have eaten one before coming. dcd will be here by 5:30 for pick up (we will see, he works downtown)
I told all my clients that we would be having a later snack this morning since this girl was being dropped off a little later this morning. the momtook her daughter to McDonalds for breakfast just before coming here.
Really, I was kind enough to hold snack for 15 min so your kid could have some and you feed her junk just before coming. I will not be doing this again.
She then tries to leave her stroller (still open) in my entrance way. I am in a small apartment there is no room. It is blocking my path to the door, can we say fire hazard. She did not seem pleased when I told her she had to take it with her. But I don't care if she likes taking the stroller with her or not, its a fire hazard and my policy about strollers is on my website and they told me they had read all my policies.

The girls noise runs non-stop. They were told when they signed my contract they had to bring a box of tissues. I even sent out a remind on Monday (after they showed up with out them) to all parents reminding them about bring tissue and about what days I am closed, my mitten policy etc. Still no tissues. I have gone through a box on her alone in just two days. I will be speaking to the father tonight.

I gave the girl a small amount of the snack, since all the other kids were eating. She didn't touch it (didn't think she would since she just eat.) after 30min all the other kids were done eating and had put their bowls on the counter I took the girls bowl away (this was 10 min ago) and she has been crying ever since.

I have my B&A school kid until 12:30/1pm today, The schools are on a one day walk out.

I have a feeling this is going to be a long day.

oh my Valerie! *hugs to you*

did this kid have been to daycare before? looks like she has been with mom and dad at home and does whatever she wants. it will take awhile to get her into our program, but hopefully doable.

and strollers blocking your way? yeah...let her take it with her. As if we have unlimited space?
i do have stroller parking area, but to parents who arrange in advance, not just block your way.


kudos to you, stay on your ground. i don't like late pick ups too, we have families too.

angie

Arg, that's an awefull way to start daycare!
Hugs to you! :(

How frustrating!!!! Good for you standing your ground!!! I don't think you were too harsh, now she knows who is boss.

She was in a home daycare near her dads work, but they wanted her closer to mom.

See, you gave a little and then she tried to take alot. You should be so proud of yourself for standing up to her especially considering you said you normally let people walk over you. :flower:

Ohh i would of been so mad. Some parents dont understand that this is our home and we have a family too!! We also need some family time once all the kids are gone :) Good for you for standing up for youself!!!

Maybe they were looking for a new daycare because she was being kicked out...due to late pick-ups etc. Why would they move her closer to mom's work and then now the dad is picking up? Makes no sense. Did the mom know you were going to change your snacktime to accommodate her daughter? Because, if I understand correctly, you had told her that if she wouldn't be there by 8:15 she had to have a snack first...maybe that is why she took her to McDonalds (not exactly a healthy option, but that's beside the point)?

Wow yeah, I'm afraid of one day getting parents like that. So far so good but... my stress level will not be good if it happens. It is so hard to be firm on our rules and yet, its our rules. They are made so we are all on the same page right from the start and avoid stressful situations. After that its hard to have a good day with the child when we are thinking of their parents making us so mad.

My parents are welcome to drop off and pick up at anytime DURING my opening hours (except around nap time). If breakfast is done... they get no breakfast (they usually have breakfast at home then) (Oh and I accept no food from outside in my daycare), if we are outside... they have to find us... I say that but it just happened once or twice in a year so far. The day goes as planned except if I new in advance that they would arrive later, then I be nice.

When it comes to pick up, anytime before 5pm its fine. If they said 3:30pm and show up at 4:30pm well, I'm still open so, nothing to say about it. For me, its the same price, one fee for the whole day. LATE PICK UP : unless a huge snow storm, its strike 1-2-3 and out ! Again, I have had only one experience so far and it turned out fine BUT I DO HAVE LATE FEES oh yes, my time... their money lol !

Hope things go better for you :)

how much was she charged for the late pick-up? My fee is $1/minute. I don't think they'd be late too many time if it cost them $40 the first time!

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Did the mom know you were going to change your snacktime to accommodate her daughter? Because, if I understand correctly, you had told her that if she wouldn't be there by 8:15 she had to have a snack first...maybe that is why she took her to McDonalds (not exactly a healthy option, but that's beside the point)?

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I did tell her that today I would hold snack later for her. I told her today that from now on snack will only be served 8:15

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Maybe they were looking for a new daycare because she was being kicked out...due to late pick-ups etc. Why would they move her closer to mom's work and then now the dad is picking up? Makes no sense.

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they wanted mom to pick up, but since I will not stay open later for then, Dad will now pick up. I am worried with him working downtown and I am in the west end.

Yeah you charge more then me lol ;)

My late fee policy is:
My daycare closes at 5:30 (as per my clock). There will be a charge of $1.00 per min for the first 30min the its $2.00 for every other minute. This is to be paid in cash within 3 days of me giving you bill, or care will be suspended until payment in made. You will be charged right up to the minute you leave (not when you get here). I will give you your official bill the next day of care, I will also email you a copy.

the problem is they are subsidized so I don't think I can charge them the fee. I just need to get a hold of my adviser.

$1 per minute and $2 for every other minute? Doesn't that still come up to $1 per minute?

sorry that should have been 2.00 per min after the first 30 min. so if they are 34 min late they pay $38.00, $30 for the fist 30 min plus $8 for the last 4 min.

sorry I got distracted by the kids

I just got off the phone with my adviser. Nope I am NOT aloud to charge the family a late fee. But I can terminate if it keeps happening. 3 strikes and they will be gone. (once I find a replacement that is)

My adviser just called me back to inform me since she was here over 10hours I get $4.63 extra. I would prefer my policy pay out.

See this is why I am private... my daycare, my own rules. Nobody controls how I run my things >:(

If I am taking the children to a park then the parents have to find us if they are late.

I agree that I like being private and making my own rules.

Parents have to learn that we are very busy planning activities, meals, and when our days are thrown into chaos because of their irresponsible behaviour it isn't fair to all the other children.

Also, your husband should know that you are the boss!!!!!

I agree with PP, I don't think this family chose a daycare to be "closer to mom" I think they were terminated.

Is this family on a "new client probation?" If they are I would remind them of that tomorrow at drop off.

I think your plan of 3 strikes is a good one. I think they have used more than one strike based on all the infractions you listed but I get lumping them all together this time to count as one strike.

Thank you for this post Valerie! Just when I was contemplating signing on with an agency this post made me decide otherwise :p

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Thank you for this post Valerie! Just when I was contemplating signing on with an agency this post made me decide otherwise

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if you can get private clients then get them. I wish I could find private ones. Right now if I wasn't with the agencies I would have no clients. I hope that in a year or two I can leave them.

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I agree with PP, I don't think this family chose a daycare to be "closer to mom" I think they were terminated.

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They did give a 2 weeks notice to the other provider, or at lets made it look that way. They started 3 weeks after the interview. so unless they had other care for that time I don't think they were terminated. They had private care and wanted subsidized care.

The little girl cry's most of the day. I tell her to help clean up, she cry's. I tell her its quiet time, she cry's (but does lay down and does to sleep). My 1 year old son goes never her, she cry's. I ask her to say, please, Thank you or sorry and she cry's. I tell her to sit at the table to eat she cry's. The other kids don't like all the crying, I seem to be able to block it out (so far).
I can go on and on, but I think you get the picture. I was hoping it was because she is new here, but I have a feeling that when she cry's at home she gets what she wants. She is an only child. She is also hitting a lot. She is only 20 months, so I know that for the most part its do to her age. I have been giving her time outs for hitting.

Had parents like this time and time again, and the only advice I can give you is: people like this NEVER CHANGE! I think it would be wise to get rid as soon as you can fill the spot, until then reinforce your rules, make them pay late fees, for all late pickups, and maybe even give them extra charges for the supplies they are not providing that you are using for their child. This one doesnt seem like a good fit for any provider, or any GOOD provider that is! :(

Kidlove - because they are through and agency I can't charge them for anything. I am pissed that once again they forgot to bring tissues. I will speak with the father at pick up and tell him that no tissues tomorrow no care, there is a 24 hour Metro across the street, they can run over and pick some up (with the girl) in the morning if they show up with out it. Not only were they told about bring tissue in the interview, its in the contract and I gave them a supply list when they signed all the paperwork and I have reminded them twice now. Tonight is the last reminder. I am all out of tissues and have been using toilet paper.

They really should respect your rules. She wouldn't want to have to work 40 mins. later without pay just like you don't want to either.

So dad just left with her. He showed u with a box of tissue. :) He said he was sorry, his wife forgot them in the car this morning

guess who showed up late for snack this morning?
we were a few min from being done. I did offer her a few crackers, but not the whole snack. She didn't want them. All she has done since she got her is cry. I made up one of her bottles, but she hasn't touched it. I have a feeling that this is going to be another long day.