Yep. This happened to me yesterday, although mom was supposedly sick. They were dropped off at regular time, and picked up not a minute earlier. I sort of thought, when she said she was home for the day, that there might be an earlier pickup?
I don't blame the parents for thinking "Well, I paid for it already". But it just seems so cold. Why not go do the stuff you need to get done and then take your kids out for ice cream, or to the park?? I understand wanting "me" time. I could use some more of that myself, LoL. I don't begrudge them that. But what's more important?
I had a family when I first started; Mom brought all 3 kids to me at regular time in the AM. I noticed that she wasn't wearing work clothes. Her SON mentions that "Mom's going to the spa today". She looked a little embarrassed, and said she would probably come by a little earlier to pick up at the end of the day. Uh, she was there ONE MINUTE before closing. The kids spent 10 full hours with me, and all 3 of them were old enough to know that mom chose not to be with them. These kids were also going through the divorce of their parents, had just moved to a different province and so badly needed some attention from their mother. So sad.