I have one client who once or twice a month is here until 6pm, but most days her mom picks her up between 3 and 4:30. She will be starting school in September. I am planning on tell her parents that if its only once or twice a month then I will keep their hours until 6pm. After the first two weeks and they excepted the fact I am the boss, they have been great. They even say thank you to me every day at pick up. So I don't mind working until 6 once or twice, but if they start picking up late more then that, I will replace them.

my before and after school kid get here between 2:30 and 2:45 and his dad picks up between 3pm and 4:30. Only once has he called to say he would not be here until 5:30. He also says thank you every day at pick up and if I have a cold he keeps his son home so I can rest. He keep him at home over the two week Christmas break, which was nice.

my newest one is the only one I am worried about. They pick up between 3pm and 5:30. Most days closer to 5:15. Their have been a few times she has texted me during quiet time to see if she could pick up. But mom is a hair dresser and on their 2nd day here was 41min late and though it would be ok, because she had a last min client come in. (I talked about it in another post). dad works until 5pm downtown. but he has shown up early a few times. So they just might surprise me and find away to make it work.

I have decided to change my hours now for all new clients and on July 2nd for all current clients. That way they and I can get use to the hours before school starts. I am not a morning person, so I need time to adjust, before the presser of school starts. I will let them know at the beginning of May so we all have time to find new daycare's/clients if needed.

Thank you all for your great advice.