Children with Special Needs

[Suzie_Homemaker]

This might not be the popular answer but you contracted with this mom to provide care for her child until either give notice because it not suit you. Transporting daughter to school when you are contracted to working is not okay when you have contractual obligations. I do understand that our family come first but I don't agree with running personal errand on business time. You opt put your child in school knowing that she need transportation. You either have to let client know you not available to provide care when you committed to or find someone else take her. I would be cross if my provider suddenly not able provide service they agreed because they choose do something different in business hours.

That said - you did not commit to collect her child from school either. If she opted to put her child in outside program for part of his normal time with you, it up to her to arrange his transportation. What if you not have car insured for business use? She would have to figure out then.

Personally, I think the combination of your change and her change mean the service agreed not suit either of you. Contract and service and times need be changed and if no agreement made then give notice and she find someone who can pick up her child.

[caringforkiddos]

In general I agree with you. I should have mentioned that during interviews (hers was 2 years ago) I was clear with all of the parents I meet with that I intended on sending my daughters to this particular school and was clear that I would need that time to drop her off and pick her up reserved for the Kindergarten year, and also that we are planning on moving closer to her school. Initially, the boy I look after was going to be going to Kindergarten as well, so the timing wouldn't have been a problem, and she changed her mind about two weeks ago and decided to send him to Preschool for another year (with different pick up/drop off times). I certainly didn't commit to being available and then surprise her at the last minute. (I agree that that would be very bad business on my part.)

I always keep the lines of communication with parents open so that they are never blindsided by anything going on in my house.

I suppose I was just looking for validation to not feel guilty that she's in a bit of a bind now. I did my best to be clear and cover my bases.

[Lee-Bee]

Like you I would not do well with needing to rush back to meet the boys parents after the morning pick ups.

So, I think it is best that you give an honest thought to how much time you need to not be rush, to account for traffic, to account for having to chat with teachers and other parents at the school and leisurely get back home. Let the boys mom know now that you can only provide care for her from from X:XX onwards and for her to decide if that will work for them.

They will either realize it is just too many moving parts to pull it off smoothly at your place anymore or they will willingly accept that they need to pick up and provide care until that set time.

BUT....BIG BUT let them know that they CANNOT arrive at your place before that set time. It will just get stressful to arrive home each day to them sitting in their car in your driveway. And it will just create a grey zone of you being home some days early and other days just in time for that set arrival time and then they may start to plan for you to be there at the earlier time and it will just get messy. They NEED to plan to have somewhere else to be until that set arrival time. This needs to be made clear.

[Suzie_Homemaker]

In general I agree with you. I should have mentioned that during interviews (hers was 2 years ago) I was clear with all of the parents I meet with that I intended on sending my daughters to this particular school and was clear that I would need that time to drop her off and pick her up reserved for the Kindergarten year, and also that we are planning on moving closer to her school. Initially, the boy I look after was going to be going to Kindergarten as well, so the timing wouldn't have been a problem, and she changed her mind about two weeks ago and decided to send him to Preschool for another year (with different pick up/drop off times). I certainly didn't commit to being available and then surprise her at the last minute. (I agree that that would be very bad business on my part.)

I always keep the lines of communication with parents open so that they are never blindsided by anything going on in my house.

I suppose I was just looking for validation to not feel guilty that she's in a bit of a bind now. I did my best to be clear and cover my bases.

Then I think you did all can. You transporting her child was not part of agreement. Would be different maybe if you doing school run to same place but she changed her mind and her son school location. It on her to figure out.

I would just let her know that you not able collect her child when you collecting own at same time from different school and ask her how she plans on getting her child to you once school dismissed. Ball in her court.