Would you want this????

[boygirlgirlboy]

So here's my story....
A while back one of my dcp drops off her child. Child is having a REALLY rough morning and just can't settle. Mom comes to the playroom and sits and tries her best to calm him. I told her if she just leaves, he'll be perfectly fine.....but she doesn't...I know, my mistake I should have MADE her go!! Anyway time goes by and I have to do my school run. She didn't have to be at work till later so she offered to sit with the kids while I took my own kids to school. A quick text to my other dcp's and they're okay so I leave, I'm gone maybe 10 minutes, all is good....or is it????
Fast forward to this past weekend. This mom is now on mat leave, no baby yet, no schedule, nothing to do....but she still wants to bring dcb 2 times a week to prepare for baby...no big deal. And she'd like to bring him for maybe a month after the new baby arrives just because....
Anyway yesterday I receive a text..."dcb is now down to one nap a day", it continues, "if you have to do your school run I can come and sit with all the babies while you're gone so dcb's nap doesn't have to be interrupted".

This child is here 2 days a week and he'd be the only one napping during that time frame. It's been such a long winter, everyone has been so sick and I'm so looking forward to our afternoons out in the sunshine.
Does this mom make any sense to any of you?
She's home, I feel like saying keep him home with you if the timing of his naps are so crucial to your evenings. Although I do like her and adore dgb, I really don't want her in my home while I'm not there.
I just emailed back and said I can't accommodate his new schedule. I think she's very much put out...but...oh well...my business, my schedule!!

[gcj]

Like you said: your business. your schedule. your HOUSE! Stick to doing things the way you do them. It either works for her and he stays or it doesn't and she's dumb enough to take him out thinking she'll find another daycare to tell how to run things.....

[sunnydays]

There is no way I would EVER leave the kids alone with anyone, be it a daycare parents or anyone else, for any reason (unless I was bleeding to death or something...LOL). That is a HUGE liability for you! What if something happens while she is there? Does she have a police records check? CPR? Will your insurance cover you if you are not there and something happens? What if one of the other kids accuses her of something...you were not there...you would not know, but you would be responsible. Just way too many risks! I would tell her what time your naptime is and tell her if this doesn't work for her child, then you will not be able to offer him care (it sounds like you already did that).

[crafty]

I feel the same way as Sunnydays and who knows maybe she will be asking you some sort of compensation for the time she covered for you too or use that to reduce her childcare fees.

[cfred]

Yup, I'm with the others. It doesn't sound like a good scenario. If she'd just leave, the transition would be sooooo much easier. The nap thing - he'll adjust to everyone else's schedule. I've not encountered a problem with that in all my years in ECE. They all assimilate to the program

[treeholm]

Lots of red flags. First, like sunnydays said, what about your insurance and liability if you are not there? Yikes! Second, can you really expect her to continue to pay her full rate if she is now your assistant and covers for you? That could get really awkward.

[playfelt]

Mom is bored and looking for something to do - you are not a drop in centre and that is how she is treating you. She thinks by offering to help you that you won't mind. I would tell her that insurance won't allow you to leave her in charge of the children.

As far as child coming if she is home he can come for the morning to socialize and then go home at noon and mommy and baby can nap. If that isn't acceptable then well she can keep him home all the days now if she is off. The amount of lost income wouldn't be enough to give up the chance to be outside with the older kids.

[apples and bananas]

I agree as well, would have never left a mom home with my daycare kids.

However, from the sounds of it she sounds bored and willing to help. Maybe, a better approach would have been to suggest she changes the times she drops off. Or simply send an email and remind her that this is your schedule, and unfortunatly if you changed it to suit everyones schedule then you'd never get outside, you'd never get crafts done, they'd never eat together etc.

I aggree... your house, your rules! But you changed the rules a bit when you allowed her to stay with the daycare kids. I can't blame her for thinking it's acceptable.

[mom-in-alberta]

I would feel SUPER weird, knowing that a daycare mom is in my house, without me.
I think there is too much that can go wrong. She is bored, and looking for something to do. Tell her the kid can come for mornings, she can go join a playgroup or Mommy'N'Me thing.

[Momof4]

There is no way I would leave my dckids with anybody else. My daughter came over one day when I had to leave for a dentist appointment but it was only for about 15 minutes and only one boy was left and I was freaking out. You should tell this Mom that your insurance company told you never to do that again!