Hi All.
I'm brand new to this forum.
I am looking for some peer-based feedback.
I am caring for the child of a friend. Well to me she is more just somebody I know, but our daughters are very close. I should know better than to have taken the girl on, but in spite of myself I say yes.
I'm in a really awkward situation. The parents of this child do not respect me as a daycare provider, they think of me as 'just a sitter'. Often they ask for things that are unreasonable, or beyond the scope of my normal day.. or change our agreed upon days and times at their will etc. I've often had difficulty tracking down payment. But I've let most of it go to save the relationship for our daughter's sakes. I also know they are having a very unfortunate go of things right now, with her having just lost her job a few weeks ago, and the dad's job isn't enough to pay the bills.
However, on Monday she did the dreaded "dose and dump" to me. Her daughter arrived after school very apparently ill, had been ill all weekend (the kind of sick where they spend all day between the bathroom and bed) and her mom had a job interview on Monday so decided the child simply had to go to school (regardless of the fever) so she dosed her up with Tylenol and sent her... then sent more Tylenol to school with her which the child forgot to take (it is against school policy to send tylenol to school with a child except if they have a Dr's note explaining a non-contagious illness, such as muscle sprains or the like) Anyways, the girl came to my house with a fever, and it took me 45 mins to track down her parents to come get her. She was SO ill, just shaking and crying. I inquired how she was the next day (Tues morning) and found out she was vomiting. I am so incredibly angry at her for having put me into that situation, but worse for having willingly and deliberately put my family and my whole (full) daycare at risk of something so nasty.
I sent her an e-mail explaining that she had violated my policy and our contract (I have a good, clear sick policy). I explained how devastating such an illness can be in a daycare setting etc. I was also really angry that they did that to their little girl.. forcing her to go to school.. and then after care. (she told me her parents told her she could not call home).
I just got a reply apologizing to me, and it's defensive in it's tone (we thought she was better) (but at the same time admitting she had a fever before school... and that they dosed her to try to cheat the system and buy time for the interview) Meanwhile, the dad is at home all day and their is a grandmother close by!!!
My problem is that she is asking for this to not interfere with our relationship and she has offered an apology. I feel she has violated my trust. But I love the little girl. Do I forgive and forget, or do I terminate? I'm thinking some sort of in-between.. where I give her another chance, but let her know I have documented this policy violation. My other problem with this family is they are occupying a full-time before and after school space for only $10 a week for one day after school.. (it was 5 days before). When she lost her job I told her I would retain the right to fill her space but that I would give her 'first dibs' should I find somebody wanting it.. So do I keep all this headache for $10 a week? OR do I move on. I do have to stress though that the child is a dream to have here, absolutely easy and agreeable etc.. there is no trouble getting her as she comes home on the same bus as my own children, and she is my daughter's best friend. Opinions?