Quote Originally Posted by sandylynn View Post
Hi Busy ECE mommy....I have a solution for you! RENT MY HUSBAND FOR 5 MINUTES! I KID YOU NOT....During the summer months I always have parents who LOVE to stand at the front door and chat (with the main door open)....my husband actually came up from the basement and flat out asked the parent "DO YOU HAVE AIR CONITIONING"....they said....NO..actually we don't",,,my husband says "DIDN'T THINK SO BECAUSE IF YOU KNEW HOW MUCH AIR CONDITIONING COSTS...YOU WOULDN'T BE STANDING HERE WITH THE DOOR OPEN! Another time.., husband asks same question to another parent...they reply...YES...I have air conditioning...WHY.. ..my husband : 'WOW...I'D HATE TO SEE YOUR HYDRO BILL"...parents just look at me as if to say...wow....he's rude....BUT HE IS RIGHT....if we don't nip it in the bud...they will continue to do it...I had another parent that loved to use my 100 year old antique desk in my entrance way....for their drippy sippy cups...SERIOUSLY! Another time a parent sat his 35 lb. son on the desk to take his shoes off! I almost freaked out on him...It really is sad that we have to ask and remind GROWN ADULTS of things that should just be obvious....Honestly. ..I refuse to walk on egg shells ...putting up with parents inappropriate behavior for fear of losing a customer...I have my pride....won't let them away with it....I may sound harsh...I love my job ....I love kids...but don't walk all over me...I look after the most important, precious person in your life....
Haha My husband can get away with saying things too. The thing that I would suggest though is just being upfront in the first place and as it happens. No need to respond to rude with rude. Just be to the point and simply say, in future please do not do x,y and z. Letters don't really work for everyone, I've had that too. I know a lot of people don't like confrontation, but if we deal with problems as they arise, in person and don't pacify the parent out of fear of their response, then most issue wouldn't become chronic. I have had to go as far as to prepare myself for the offence to occur and intercept them. See it happening before it does and simply step in front of the family member and politely remind them that the front hallway is the place for outdoor wear to be removed. Do you have a bench or a bottom step available for them to do this because I can't understand why they would walk into your house to do this if there was another option which was specifically for their child that they were aware of.