Frustrated with Mom on Mat leave

[Monday 2 Friday Mama]

Forgive me in advance if this sounds awfully crunchy, but I need to blow off a little steam and this seemed like the best place to do it. I have a family that I quite like. I have cared for their daughter since she was a year old, and I'll be caring for her younger sister in the new year when Mum returns to work. My kvetch is this: since Mom went on mat leave with baby #2, dcg only attends daycare part time - 3 days a week. No problems here. At first, Mum was pretty good about bringing her daughter to daycare at roughly the same time each morning. It was later than the drop off time she had when she was working (10:30) but I was okay with this. I totally understand trying to work around the schedules of sleeping babies, and not wanting to get up in the morning when you've been up half the night breast feeding. LOL I don't mind waiting until 10 or 10:30 for dcg to arrive, and my other munchkins are okay waiting until a little later in the A.M. for morning snack. However, this morning Mum calls me and wants to know if it would be okay if she brought her daughter to daycare after lunch. Ummm....not cool. After lunch is naptime. It is virtually impossible to bring a child into daycare and keep them quiet enough that they don't wake everyone else up. Additionally irritating is the fact that if you're going to drop by during naptime - no set time - just sometime after lunch, it completely kiboshes my ability to use naptime for my own lunch or have a chance to put my feet up for a few minutes. I realize that this is a relatively small fly in the garden of life, but it just really rubbed me the wrong way this A.M. I explained to Mum that I'd prefer that she drop off in time for lunch, and she was very gracious - no push back or anything - and as I said, this family is really nice for the most part. It just bothered me - I mean seriously, if you're not going to bring your little one to daycare until 1:30 just keep them home for the day.

[mimi]

I agree with your sentiment. Dcmom needs to respect that you have a schedule and you do not run a drop in daycare. The only time I allow this if there is an appointment they must go to and then of course I am accommodating to that, however, arriving at naptime, no way and I would say that this arrival time is a disruption because at naptime you are cleaning, prepping for the afternoon and time for you to have your lunch and some r and r.

[mickyc]

Oh I hear you! I have one family who is constantly changing the schedule and for the most part it is ok but it drives me crazy other times.

Just continue on with your regular routine. If snack is at 10 and that child doesn't get there until 10:10 and everyone else is finishing up eating I do not feed the child. Chances are they ate a late breakfast and are ok to wait until lunch anyways. I do not allow any drop offs or pickups between 12:30 and 3 - maybe change your contract to reflect that as well. If she wants to feed her daughter at home that is fine but she needs to drop off at 12:30 but will still be required to nap just like any other day at daycare because you need your break. Stick to your schedule - do not bend for parents who come and go at off times.

Actually right now I have 2 kids I am waiting to be dropped off. 1 texted saying she is running late and the other is at an appointment. Snack is on the table so they won't be fed snack today as they were not here.

[Crayola kiddies]

I have in my policy book that there are no drop offs or pick up between 12-3. so I would tell her the child has to be there by 12 and my lunch time is at 11:15 so I would also tell her to make sure the child is fed if she will be arriving after 11:15

[torontokids]

I am even stricter. I don't allow for drop off's after 10 am unless for a medical appt and these arrangements are made in advance. I explain to the parents it is not fair to their child to drop them any later then 10 as they won't get any playtime in before lunch and then nap time. All my parents respect this.

I also have no pick ups during nap time, unless for a medical appt which is again, prearranged.