Trouble with a Mom

[Spixie33]

I may be totally crazy - probably am....but I don't think it is unreasonable that a parent expects us to stay home with the daycare children until the daycare closes.

I consider that I am WORKING during the daycare hours and just like I could not do personal things during an office job - I can't do them during my daycare. I have to treat it professionally unless it is something I have special permission for or it is an emergency.

If the parent has never discussed the arrangement with you or been made aware that there could be days for dropoffs etc then it may have been the first they are hearing of it.

I have my kids in activities 3-4 days a week but I make sure everything is after daycare hours. I would NEVER take a daycare child to drop off for ballet or swimming or want them there. THat is my time to focus on my kids. I wouldn't want it and I doubt parents would want it. That is why I made my daycare have an early close at 5 and I pick activity times very carefully.

I have never heard of a provider taking daycare kids with them in my area.

YOu asked about personal days where you have appts....for days like dentist appts, doctors etc - I book those usually weeks in advance and notify parents that I am closing for the day or a half day. Again...those are personal things and there is no way I would want to drag a daycare child plus my own kids around for those.

Now if something happened at school - like I had a all home that one of my kids was hurt or sick then I might have to drive with a daycare child but I have authorization ahead of time and it gets discussed during the interview process but I would not like to. I would probably have my husband come from work and go to the school rather than me do it with daycare kids....especially since I don't have a van.

I think that providers just have to think of what they think they would/could do in every situation, what the options are and then discuss this with parents in the interview or face to face at drop off at pick up time if it is a new thing.

I hope everything went well with the mom though and everything is good between you