Apparently, I have MUG written on my forehead!!

[apples and bananas]

I think we get so frustrated with late pick ups for personal reasons because we chose to stay home with our kids. We have made the choice to put our kids first and be with them as much as we can. It's so frustrating when someone doesn't want that time with their kids.

At the end of the day, the late is what we should be frustrated with, not the reason behind it. Most of us have worked outside of the house at some point, our kids are important, we need to be there at the right time.

All the best dealing with this. I know it's hard to tell someone that they're wrong. Just still to the late, and not focus on the reason behind it. It's not our job to teach them how to parent, just to stick to our policies.

[Inspired by Reggio]

... At the end of the day, the late is what we should be frustrated with, not the reason behind it....

I admit that the reason given here would increase my 'lack of tolerance' for being late and therefore my approach to the client - for me being late due to an emergency beyond your control would get you some empathy/slack for being late ... being late for the above reason would get you a stiff late fee and the black mark because it was EXTRA DISRESPECTFUL not only to me but to their child to leave them wondering/stressed over something as stupid as a soccer game! a

To be honest - I am self employed and do not want to work with people who do not share my VALUES because well nice thing about being self employed I do not have to anymore ... so in this case the WHY they were late is hugely relevant to me cause it is about VALUE ... they do not value ME or MY TIME to think I should just accepting having to work 20 minutes past my already long work day and they do not value their CHILD'S FEELINGS to think it is ok to leave them there an extended day and upset his 'routine' specially when they are claiming to send him EARLY when not needed because 'consistent routine' is important to them - so which is the truth?

I agree that parents have all sorts of varied values and believes and thats OK it is what makes the world a unique place .... for the most part I can turn a blind eye to that as long as it does not affect ME but when those choices start having a negative impact on me or my program well than we stop being a 'match' for service ... I had to work for decades with clients in centre care whose treatment of their children made my skin crawl and ebbed away at my passion for what I do cause my heart was breaking and my soul was dying and I was starting to see the world as an evil place ... I will not do that anymore specially in my own HOME .... life is just too short to work for or with people who suck the life out of you and make you miserable!