Keeping kids after hours

[apples and bananas]

My very first clients ever started with me a year ago. I was new, I had a set of basic policies but they were nothing compared to everything I have in there today. She's my last of the first set of clients that I still have.

Her normal pick up time is 5:30. Some days she's here as early as 4 as she works from home, but as a rule she waits until the very last minute to pick up the kids.

She sends me a text today at lunch time that says " I know I've been picking up the boys early lately, but today will need to be a bit later, I hope that's ok " I asked how late she says " dad should be there by 7" WHAT!!!!! ???? !!!!

LOL So, my response, I'm sorry I have plans at 6:30, they will need to be picked up by 6.

So, here's my question... Anyone else deal with a client who picks up early one day and feels they have the right to pick up late the next?

By the way, I sent an email on my lunch to reinforce pick up times. I'm a pretty easy going person, but out of courtesy at least ask me before you drop them off.

[Lou]

That is ridiculous...do you have a closing time? Why did she think it would be acceptable to pick the kids up at 7??

[jec]

My hours of operation is from 7am until 5:30 and my daycare parents can use any 9 hrs within this time frame. I do get them to sign off on hours but if they need to change it then I ask them to let me know out of respect. NEVER have I had a client ask for later than my hours of operation.

If you had plans or not, that is your time and she should respect that. Unless it was an emergency, I would do just as you did and let her know that she needs to pick them up. If she chooses to pick them up early one day - those hours don't tack onto another when she needs them.
Hope she is respectful of it!

[Crayola kiddies]

Yes I have one as well and although they have never even come close to my closing time she picks up all over the place ... She has more appts then anyone I have ever met .... She will text me one day and say her dentist appt finished early so she will pick up early then the next day she will say she is going to be late a half hour cause she wants to stop at the grocery store ....very frustrating .... Disrupts the other childrens naps and never asks if that is ok? But I would not be ok with 7 pm at night . I would say to the parent .. "Sorry I'm closed at xxx o'clock you need to be here by then"

[playfelt]

Picking up early is the choice of the parent. Whether I AM AVAILABLE after hours is MY choice. Never should a parent just assume that it would be ok. Till 7 is not going to be a bit "late" that is just rude. On the other hand my fee for extra services would be $10 an hour so that is an extra $20 plus $5 if you want them fed supper so for an extra $25 well.... some days I just might. Or do it once or twice for the money and then when she pulls it the third time just assuming she has that right say sorry got plans need picked up by 5:30 as in no overtime which will hammer home the I have control of overtime.

This is what it says in my contract:

14) DROP-OFF/PICK-UP:

Parents may use only the hours scheduled in their signed contract. Any changes must be approved ahead of time. Do not assume I am available for extra care outside these hours. I plan my own family’s activities according to the contracted schedule. Children not arriving within 15 minutes of their scheduled drop-off time jeopardize the availability of care for that day. Late fees will be due for each hour or part hour for children not picked up on time. No drop off or pick up during naptime please (12:30 – 3:15 pm daily).

[apples and bananas]

So frustrating! I allow the different pick up times because I've always allowed it to be honest. I sent her an email stating that this is my closing time and any late pick ups need to be requested at least 24 hours ahead of time and I may not always be able to assist. In other words, if you need to leave them late, plan it! Don't text me 5 hours before pick up and try to extend it then play it off like it's owed time.

Her response was " don't be sorry, you're not obligated, just wanted to see if you were able to do it" She's a frustrating one for sure.

[Inspired by Reggio]

Wow - ya um NO!

My hours are my hours and you stay within them - your paying for the space contracted and you drop off by 9am or you risk arriving to a empty house and you pick up after 3pm unless previously arranged to avoid disrupting quiet time ... if you use less hours that is your choice you do not get to make up hours another day!

[apples and bananas]

So, dad was supposed to be here no later then 6. At 610 I text mom as dad wasn't here. She responds 10 min later telling me it will be another 20 min. So, that puts him here at 640.

I'm already super late for my appointment.

What would you do? How would you handle this?

[Inspired by Reggio]

....What would you do? How would you handle this?

Its a challenge because up to this point your policy of flexible hours and allowing them to 'change and extended' them without additional fee or negotiation on your part just them 'telling you' and not having clear 'hours of operation and late pick up policies' have given them the impression that THEY are in charge and this is ACCEPTABLE and therefore it is going to be hard to break that without conflict on both your parts - if you want this to STOP you are going to have to get FIRM about your hours of operation that you serve clients, about sticking to the contracted hours they agreed upon and charging MORE if they are regularly using more than a normal 8-9 hour day cause they are wanting you to work overtime for FREE, plus a STIFF late fee for being late past their contracted time AND I would add a clause that while you empathize that on occasion emergency might arise that result in a client being a 'few minutes late' and that is why you have the late fee to ensure you are compensated for those rare times that repeated lateness of more than ONCE per year WILL result in immediate termination of your service contract and forfeiting of their security deposit!

They are not going to LIKE that hard stance on your part if you have up to this point been 'lenient' and sloughed it off and they might actually PULL on you however IMO if you do not stand up and say ENOUGH and treat your business like a business before you know it you will be raising those children for more than 12 hours a day for your normal daily fee you quoted back in the beginning - you will basically be working for FREE for this family once you've fed their kids for that many meals and so forth!

Sorry but as Crayola mentioned - I would not stand for being treated like that specially in my own home .... their behavior is screaming that they do not value or respect you - the person who is helping to raise their children for them and well sorry but that is just inexcusable!

[jec]

I don't think you saying you have flexible hours gives them the impresion to go over your hours of operation. Flexible hours to me is that your flexible during those hours your open. I think they are taking advantage. Would they expect a store they go grocery shopping to stay open for them past their hours of operation because they are running late and need them to be more accomidating. They know when you close and that isn't or wasn't up for misunderstanding
However...if they seemed to misunderstood that and I would give them notice today what your meaning of flexible hours are if your planning on giving them another chance.