How would you handle this dcm?

[mattsmom]

Ok, I have this dilemma and I'm asking for some feedback. I have a family that has been with me for a few years and are really great. Over the past year, the dcm has had every other Friday off, but still pays the same each week. So, because her schedule is always alternate Fridays off, I will make dr.'s appointments, etc. on those days that I know they won't be here.

Well, this past week I got an email from her, last minute, saying that she needed to bring them for a couple of hours on the Friday, because she has to run into work for a meeting. I had made an dr. appointment for myself weeks before for that day and told her that I was sorry but I had an appointment that day and I couldn't watch them (it was out of town so I wasn't sure when I'd be back). She proceeded to tell be that "wasn't she paying for this day anyway?". I told her that this was her schedule and how I make appointment for those days, etc...
She just thought that because of the situation, she could use me as a drop in centre.

Was I wrong in how I handled it?

[Secondtimearound]

I'm thinking unless you had changed her scheduled days , that you owe her the day . She is paying for it . If her schedule has been the same for years , I would have just asked to change your availability , then you know for sure second Fridays you are off , and she knows she can not use you .

[mattsmom]

I'm thinking unless you had changed her scheduled days , that you owe her the day . She is paying for it . If her schedule has been the same for years , I would have just asked to change your availability , then you know for sure second Fridays you are off , and she knows she can not use you .

The thing is that she had never said that she would need these Fridays. I was told that she had them off so she didn't need me those days. She even sends me the schedule for each month confirming that she is off those days. She just decided the day before that she needed the kids to be dropped off for a bit. I had made this specialist appointment weeks before and I wasn't about to cancel it and wait another month or two for another one.
I make appointments for these days so I wouldn't have to tell her and the other daycare parents to find other arrangements.

[Secondtimearound]

So you have in her contract , she doesn't require you these days ? Then I say you are right, if her contract says full time , and her schedule is different I would suggest you add a clause that requires notice if she changes her schedule. But I would still think , not necessarily this time , those are her days .

[5 Little Monkeys]

IMO, if she is paying you for the day than you need to be available to watch her children. If you are not available those days than she should not be paying you UNLESS you and her had discussed this and it's in the contract.

I'm assuming you have no other children on these Friday's? Does she know that or did she just assume you had other children and was paying for the day because she pays for the spot?

I have a similar thing with a parent here. Every other day her child is here until naptime. She pays for the full day though. There are times that she asks if he can stay until the end of the day if she has dr's appt's or takes a full day at work (she's a teacher and sometimes picks up sub shifts). She is paying for the full day so I don't feel that it's right for me to say no.

[giraffe]

Yup I'm with the others... If she is paying for the day then you need to be available to her.

[ttremble88]

I don't know who is 'right' or 'wrong', but what I do in the case of appointments is the moment that they are scheduled, I send a mass email to ALL of my parents, regardless if they need care for that day or not, and tell everyone when the appointment is and the time that I will need everyone picked up.

That way, if they need care for that day, they know what time they need to be here and can make arrangements. If they do not need care for that day, they do not bother contacting last minute to ask for me to take the child any later then the stated pick up time.

That being said, I schedule all of my appointments as late as possible, so that I can attempt to provide care for most of the day.

[Fun&care]

I think at this point you should keep your appointment but apologize for the miscommunication and moving forward come up with a better plan as to whether or not she can use those every other Fridays or not, or if so she needs to give xxxx amount of notice etc.

[Crayola kiddies]

If the parent is paying for the day then it is hers to use .....if you are not available then you owe her the day in my opinion......

[mickyc]

I agree with everyone here. If she is paying for that day then you need to be available for her. If she needs to come and you cannot take her child then you need to reimburse her for the day.

When I book a day off I let ALL parents know. If you booked a day off for an appointment then even if she didn't need care that day she shouldn't be paying you. What about any other kids you have? Were they all charged for the day as well?