It isn't just about being out of the house. It is about being in the middle of reading a story or playing a game with the kids and then having to stop to go answer the door. The mood is lost, the pieces are scattered, the child comes in excited and wants to "play" which is over and now we are on to planned activities so they are upset. But what you had planned is now ruined unless you start at the beginning of the book again or redo something and the reality is we just give up many days and let them play - we planned for nothing. Problem very often is that the same parent that is your most unreliable is also the one that complains the most or has the highest expectations of your program but than thwarts your efforts at every turn and that is indeed frustrating.

I explain to parents at interviews and remind those on maternity leave that their "privelege" of coming to care will be revoked if they continually disobey the rules is that all arrivals must happen before 9 am and there is no pick up between 1 and 3 pm. Exceptions made for occasional doctor's appointments and since they would be arranged in advance I would have been able to plan my day to do our activities around the time. In other words if parents don't want "just a babysitter" then they have to assist with lesson time by getting their kids there on time.