Parents not telling me when they are picking up!!!!!!

[kidlove]

I had a Mom drop off this am and inform me that her Husband would be picking their daughter up at 12. (there was a part of me that wanted to ask why, but she didn't devulge so I kept my mouth shut.) I go about my morning as usual, feed the baby, then put her down for a nap. Mom shows up (no call first) no warning....at 10 am. I am confused...I look at her when she walks in the door and say "hi, are you here to pick-up?" She (matter of fact) says..."yah" with a smile on her face. Mean time...I'm confused.
Do I have a right to ask, why she is leaving early? or do I just let her come in un-scheduled and take her child without so much as an explination?
Just seems odd to me. What would you do?

[Play and Learn]

Hey! That's awesome! I wish more parents would just pick-up randomly early like that! lol AND....you're getting paid!

I would just casually ask her next time to give me a text message or a call to let me know when she'll be around to pick up, so that I can have their child ready.

[cdngirl]

At dropoff I definitely would have asked why they are picking up early in a friendly casual way. "Oh, how come?" with a smile. I like to know what is going on and I don't think it's being intrusive.
I think it is odd that there is no explanation offered at pickup and she was so nonchalant about it. I would expect an apology and story behind the early pickup! Could she have forgotten that she said 12 and meant to say 10?

[kidlove]

no dont think she forgot,when she picked up early I did make it a point to act a little "off", first thing I did was look at her in "surprise", then immediately after, said "oh ,thought you said Dad was picking up @ 12?". She then responded by saying "oh, he changed his mind"....so I said nothing and went about caring for the other children. (hopefully, she could tell I was a little bothered) because I was!

[mimi]

I wouldn't question her reason for picking up early no matter how curious you are. I get the impression she wants to be evasive so don't give her the satisfaction of asking. I would just let her know a heads up is always appreciated since you could be out with the children or in the middle of an activity that you wouldn't want to be interrupted by a cold pick up.

[kidlove]

my ONLY real concern was that yesterday the Dad said he wasn't feeling well, and the baby also has the sniffles and is congested. I was wondering if he could possibly be sick, considering yesterday he said nothing about early pick up and he was the one to drop off and pick up. Not to mention, I do consider it to be a little rude to not inform the Provider of what may be going on (as long as it pertains to day care) i.e., doctor appt, parent ill, days off work, whatever. just find it odd to say the least.

[apples and bananas]

I dream about parents walking through the door and givng me the rest of the day off... LOL

I would have just made a comment on how nice it will be for baby to spend time with mom. I love mommy days.... next time you're early, if you could just send me a quick txt or phone call to let me know so I can have her up and ready for you.

Or, is this a new parent? Are they dropping in to check up on you?

[kidlove]

Kind of wonder if they are checking up, which doesn't nes bother me, when she came I did ask her if she was coming to get her, or just stopping in because she was passing by, she "matter of factly" says "no, coming to pick-up!" a text or quick call would be the right thing for her to do IMO. and because she is a new parent I also dont want her to think she can make this a regular practice.

[sunnydays]

If she is a new parent my guess would be she is checking up and wanted to surprise you to be able to see what is really going on when you are not expecting her. I clearly tell parents they can do this as long as they take the child home as it is upsetting to the child if they come by and leave again. I did this when my kids were in daycare...how else as parents are we to know what is going on when we are not there? Calling ahead or texting would defeat the purpose. Personally, I would not ask a parent to call ahead necessarily, but would just say that they are welcome to come by as long as it isn't naptime and that if you are out at the park etc. they can always call you on your cell. As a parent, this would be immensely comforting. You have to remember how terrifying it is to leave your precious baby with a stranger all day...as parents I think it is our duty to drop-in unexpected on our daycare providers. I am not saying they should do it every day, but once in awhile. Just putting things in the parents' perspective.

[kidlove]

thanks for your input Sunny days and i do see your point absolutely, that's part of the reason I posted...because I wanted to know if I was just being "too controlling" or worrying too much? although, this is not the first time I have felt a little "slighted" by them, mostly the Mother. She just doesn't communicate very openly, and I am more concerned that this is the way things will always be...once in a while in the beginning "pop ins" I understand.
This is the same Mom, who tells me she doesn't want her child going anywhere with me, can't take off work to pick up early when I have appt (and asks me to travel with her to drop off at her work) but picks up early out of the blue. Not the first time either, she has picked up a few times at 5pm when her pick up is 5:35. and showed up one day last week at 5 pm, the next day 4:30...i asked "do you have a different pick up time now" she just non-chalantly says: "no, just got off early". I can't help but get a little annoyed at her "free-will" to pick-up when ever. when I have appt's she give me a hard time on having to leave work early, or suggest I drive her daughter to her.....yet, doesn't want me transporting her daughter with me to the school bus or to pick my kids up from practice. Seems more to me like a case of "what's good for the goose, isn't good for the gander"....anyone else picking that up?