Snow clearing

[Home Together]

Hi all,
How do you deal with clearing the snow in your driveways and walks in the morning? Do you have them clear before the parents drop off kids in the morning?
The reason I ask is that I had a parent write me a little nasty email about the snow in my driveway yesterday. Not once has she verbally said anything but the first response was to send an email about it saying that she did not have time in the morning to have a discussion about it since she was rushing out to get her son to school. She drops of her two younger twins that I care for during the day, and then pick up her son at school later. She lives around the corner ands walks the kids over in the morning in a double jogging stroller. Yesterday the snow was not higher than the heel of my boot but she indicated other days when she struggled to get her kids up the driveway. She said in the email that she understood that I could not go out and leave the kids to shovel but on the days that my husband is home that he should have cleared just a little path for her.

Any thoughts or advice?

Thanks

[apples and bananas]

IMO, we are a business... and it's our responsibility to ensure our front doors are accessable. There's a huge liability if someone slips or hurts themselves on my property. So, I make sure everything is shovelled and salted before the first client arrives. My kids are SK and older so I can leave them to eat breakfast for a few min while I make it safe outside, but most of the time my husband does it before he leaves for work.

I don't think I would want to address this with someone in person either, maybe the email wasn't supposed to sound nasty. Maybe it was a "just so you know.... " but it came accross nastier then expected.

If I were you I would just appologize when you see her next and thank her for voiceing her concern. "I recieved your email, I'm so sorry you had trouble in the snow, I appreciate the feedback" SMILE!

[Bookworm]

Well, I personally always have the walkway up to my house shovelled and salted before my first clients show up if there has been snow. My husband usually does it before he goes to work, but I have gone out and done it sometimes before pick up quickly. It literally takes me 5 mins and I do it while the kids are in their booster seats.
Last winter, I had one of my dcmom's slip and fall while putting her daughter in the car. However, she was wearing 4 inch heels...and my driveway was shovelled and salted. Totally her fault, but she did tell me.
I look at that this is my business and it needs to be done for the safety of my clients. We would expect it of any other business. That's just my own thoughts though.

[Sandbox Sally]

I do try to have the walk ready for the parents. The driveway -meh, they can deal, but I make sure there's a clear path to my front door from the side walk. This means that I usually have to get out there early and before any clients arrive, but I kind of feel like it's part of my job to make my business accessible.

When we had the storm a few weeks back, I couldn't keep up with the shovelling. My neighbour did it for me twice, and one of the daycare dads did it when he picked up his son.

It is so nice to know great people.

[mimi]

Yes, at the very least, depending on the amount of snow, I or my husband do clear a path down the driveway so the parents can get in. If there is a couple cm I don't bother unless we have had freezing rain. I think it is part of running a business to make sure your clients can get in your door and I know they appreciate this courtesy.

[Dreamalittledream]

. Yesterday the snow was not higher than the heel of my boot

Funny you mention this; I sent my husband out to snow blow/shovel before parents arrive and he was back in within 10min...saying it took no time at all because there was hardly any. I still feel there is a duty to clear it off...but seriously, a stroller in the winter...come on,she has to understand that the expectation for us to keep our driveways/walkways clear enough for a stroller, always? Unreasonable in my opinion.

[Home Together]

Funny you mention this; I sent my husband out to snow blow/shovel before parents arrive and he was back in within 10min...saying it took no time at all because there was hardly any. I still feel there is a duty to clear it off...but seriously, a stroller in the winter...come on,she has to understand that the expectation for us to keep our driveways/walkways clear enough for a stroller, always? Unreasonable in my opinion.

Exactly! Thank you, We always shovel for a significant snowfall, but it seemed silly to shovel yesterday for her and it was during the snowstorm and my husband went out after to clear it. I should also say this mom is always running late and quickly drops her kids off, usually without any more than a hello, then runs off wihout a hat or anything in -20 windchill. Apparently the snow in our driveway slows her down,LOL not sure how she makes it on the roads/sidewalks which are rarely plowed. Usually we take what she says with a grain of salt and look at the source but yesterday really made me wonder what was expected of me as a homeowner and daycare provider

[Spixie33]

I usually don't have it cleared very well.
My husband is usually rushing out the door in the morning...and I am busy getting my kids' lunches packed etc. Parents tend to manage.
I have had parents mention if it is icy but I don't put salt down because a few of the dck like to eat snow and I don't want them eating chunks of salt. I just tell the parents that I don't put the salt because the kids eat the snow and they might accidentally eat some of the salt.
Now I feel like such a slacker reading how prepared most of you are every day. lol

[sunnydays]

I feel like a slacker too! My husband doesn't have time in the morning because he leaves really early. If it is really bad I will send my teenaged son out to clear it and if there has been freezing rain, we always salt it (we don't play on the driveway so I don't have to worry about them eating it). But, if it is not too deep and/or it is still snowing, I don;t worry too much and nobody has ever complained.

I usually don't have it cleared very well.
My husband is usually rushing out the door in the morning...and I am busy getting my kids' lunches packed etc. Parents tend to manage.
I have had parents mention if it is icy but I don't put salt down because a few of the dck like to eat snow and I don't want them eating chunks of salt. I just tell the parents that I don't put the salt because the kids eat the snow and they might accidentally eat some of the salt.
Now I feel like such a slacker reading how prepared most of you are every day. lol

[jodaycare]

I go out early to clear the driveway and walkways because I start at 6am. If there is only a couple of cms on the ground I dont worry to much but any more than that, I make sure it is cleared. If it is icy I also make sure to put salt/ice melt down.