Your family dinner time

[Monday 2 Friday Mama]

Hi there, I'm in 100% agreement with the other caregivers comments posted here. My last daycare babe heads home for the day at 5:15 P.M. and that last half hour (4:45 to 5:15 P.M.) when I am just caring for her alone is the hardest part of my day. It doesn't matter that she starts up at 8:45. The reality is my other babies arrive at 7:30 - and most of them are finished their day here by 4:30-4:45. By the time 5 P.M. rolls around I am beat ! At some point parents should realize if they need extra long hours, they need a daycare centre where there are multiple caregivers who can work in shifts. Who's at their best after 9 and a half hours ? =) I have turned down prospective clients who wanted a late pick up - 6 P.M. or 6:30 - because of the dinner-time dilemma. In my opinion a 6 P.M. pick up is just too late. While I am your child's caregiver, I am also a person, and a Mom. I need to eat my own meals and still have enough time in the evenings to prep school lunches, or pick up fresh fruit for the next day's lunch for the daycare kiddies. And Heaven forbid, that my own children might want to participate in an activity - i.e. swimming lessons, Brownies, etc. I also admit to thinking (if the parents want the child to be here for really long hours) "Why don't I just adopt your child - I'll send you a yearly card and pictures. If the extent of your daily interaction with your son/daughter is that you get them up in the A.M. and drop them off here, and then pick them up, take the child home, and put them to bed, why did you become a parent ? " LOL If a parent challenges my hours/is trying to push for an extra long day, I politely explain that I am prepared to work for 9.5 hours a day - that gives them ample time to commute to and from their work. That's perfectly reasonable. At some point in time, it's no longer about money - it's about needing to be "off the clock" and have your own life so that you can get up again the next day and do it all again with a smile ! =D

[Dayhome Mamma]

I have a little girl signed on until 6:30/7:00 so she eats dinner with us which is at 6:00. I charge 10 dollars more for her for the day due to the dinner, and because it is out of the regular time frame that most places would offer care. She is scheduled to stay with us up until 7 but is usually picked up by 6:30. She is also only usually here twice a week, once in a while 3 days. Her mom is a flight attendant so she needs the flexibility and service. She pays a set monthly fee for a set amount of days which is up to her if she uses all of or not so my income remains the same no matter what her schedule ends up being.

[gcj]

It doesn't seem to me like there's much of a "right" answer to this one. If you wait for the child to be gone, it's WAY too late for your family and if you eat with the dc child, where is your family time gone?
I think the problem is your hours. Is it a long contract? I think you need to have definite hours that work for your family and they are non-negociable.
That's my 2 cents, anyways....

[DORITOSGIRL]

Thanks everyone for your honest positive feedback..

Mom and dad want the little boy to have dinner with them. I prefer that as he is the pickest eater I have ever seen ( he even cries if the potatoes are on the wrong side of the plate WTF LOL) and they are willing to cater to him I am NOT.

I agreed to the later time, but it was a lesson learned. My new kids who are starting are gone by 530 at the latest.

I do feel sorry for this kid he is with me almost 10 hours a day, and I am sure he is not having dinner much before 7 730 and he must be exhausted by dinner time. Mom and dad are both white collar ( lawyer/IT) professionals and work very long hours.. They are not getting much family time during the week as its my understanding the boy goes to bed by 830 at the latest..

I will keep doing what I am doing and I like the suggestion of " changing" my hours with a months notice.

[DORITOSGIRL]

Our dinner is always ready by 530.. Monday to Friday I live for the crockpot.. 10 mins prep in the morning and dinner cooks all day with very little effort, or its a frozen meal pulled from the freezer ( I batch cook meals once a month, lasagna, chili, stew, pulled pork etc).. Or a salad with something bbq when hubby gets home to man the grill..

My girl is only one so she just goes with the flow but she needs time alone with us especially daddy who works long hours so I think I will ensure this kid is gone by 6pm.. which mom said would probably be the case when I took him