Jasp...

WHY are you ALLOWING them to pick up late? I know you don't want to think it's YOUR fault but you do have to take some responsibility for it.

Parents will ONLY treat you as disrespectfully as you allow them to.

YOUR time is important and valuable just like the dcparent's time is. YOU have to make it crystal clear late arrivals will NOT be tolerated.

I have a late fee policy of one dollar a minute. But you know, I rarely have applied it. And the reason is I make it very clear you can NOT be late. I have actually terminated a family for being late. I have a three strikes you're out policy.

These parents don't arrive late TO work so they obviously have the time management skills to be on time to pick up their kid from daycare.

Here's some food for thought.....

If a parent is only late FIVE minutes a day over the course of a year that is an additional:

21 HOURS a YEAR you work for FREE!!!!

Put your foot down and stop it.

When a parent arrives late at my house they come in and do the usual, "Oh, sorry I am late (followed by lame excuse)"

I simply look at them like this and allow for a period of awkward silence to ensue.

THEY KNOW I am not happy and they don't do it again.

Only YOU have the power to stop it.