Logged Out For Privacy, Will I Be In Trouble?

[Unregistered,]

I think that I might be in trouble.

So yesterday was my daughter back to school night. I have missed back to school night for the last 5 years because of DC. Well this BSN, my daughter was asked to sing solo the National Anthem. The music class did a theme on different countries of the world, my daughter had a solo presentation of singing in French, Arabic and Gaelic. I was not going to miss it this year for anything.

So as normal, I informed the parents a month in advance. I sent out reminders weekly and posted it everywhere all over my house. I even sent a text the morning of the event that I would be closing early so I could attend this event. NOT one parent seemed to mind, no one said anything at all.

So yesterday I am getting ready to leave and I still have one families kids here. I called the parents 5 min before I was to leave to remind them again. I got no answer. I called both parents. Well I waited a total of 15 minutes and no one came. I was not going to go down the list of emergency contacts so as stated in my PHB/policies if you are not here to pick up your children on time and I have some where to be, I will take the kids with me. Well, I loaded up the kids in the car and off I went. I kept my phone on me and checked it often. Finally about 30 min. into the singing concert, my phone rings and it’s the DCM.. Boy is she mad.

Long story short, I end up having to leave the concert to take the kids to meet the mom out front of the school. I missed my daughters performance and the mom was so mad that she said that she will be turning me in?? UGH My emotions are all over the place and I am not too sure what I should do? BTW the kids are not here today and I have not called DCP to ask anything……

What should I do right now and why do I feel like I am at fault?
BTW even if the DC family forgives me, they are not welcome back here. They cost me something that I can never replace. Oh and my daughter was really upset when she told me she noticed that I had to get up and walk out in the middle of the concert and did not get to see her perform….She said “those kids robbed you of seeing me at my best again mom” I cried most of the night last night….

[Cat Herder]

Legally speaking only...

1. Did you have a signed consent to transport?

2. Is it printed on your signed contract that you would take them with you in the event of a no-show past closing (even a scheduled early closing)?

As long as you have those, you are covered.

[littlemissmuffet]

I'm so sorry.
I hope you don't get in "trouble" - but even if you do, you are not at fault here, the mother is and she's a HORRIBLE person for turning this around on you. Stop letting it eat you, move on - never let that family back in your home, and in the future, close at least one hour prior to having to be somewhere, and use that emergency contact list!

[DaycareMomma]

I hope you have a statement signed saying you can transport the children, or else that alone could get you in big trouble.

Also, you probably should have went down the list of emergency contacts. That is how it would go here.

I understand wanting to see your daughter sing, but you also have an obligation to your job. If your dcp were not there, you should have called the emergency contacts right away.

Do you have a late fee policy? Mine is $1/minute past your scheduled pick up time.

*Sorry, saw you posted at the same time I did* Then I guess, I think you will be just fine. Just be ready to hear from your licensor.

[Blackcat31]

I disagree that her obligation to her job supercedes her obligation as a parent. She was technically closed since family should have picked up already. Plus she said he policy handbook states that if you don't come on time, she will take her kids with her which is what she did. I see nothing wrong with how you handled things but I would be livid with that family. This mom has no right to be angry with you since this whole fiasco was caused by her actions or rather lack of actions by not being on time for pick up.

((((hugs)))) that you missed your daughter sing. I hope someone in the audience perhaps has the performance on video for you.

[DaycareMomma]

I disagree that her obligation to her job supercedes her obligation as a parent. She was technically closed since family should have picked up already. Plus she said he policy handbook states that if you don't come on time, she will take her kids with her which is what she did. I see nothing wrong with how you handled things but I would be livid with that family. This mom has no right to be angry with you since this whole fiasco was caused by her actions or rather lack of actions by not being on time for pick up.

((((hugs)))) that you missed your daughter sing. I hope someone in the audience perhaps has the performance on video for you.

Maybe I stated what I meant wrong, I meant, IMO she should have called the emergency contacts before just leaving with them. But either way, I REALLY hope somehow you can get a video of your daughter singing.

By that tiem I would have told the mom to wait to get her kids until your daughter was done singing because you didn't want to miss it.

[sharlan]

I'm sorry that this happened to you.

IMHO, take it for what it's worth, YOU did nothing wrong. The MOTHER was at fault, end of story.

Let her call licensing on you. I really doubt there is anything they could do besides tell you not to do it again.

I actually had this happen as a parent. My dh was in a car accident, couldn't get to the kids, provider took the kids to a school play. Back before cell phones, so she left a note on her front door. It cost me $30 for the kids to watch a school play, but oh, well, they were being taken care of.

Term the family and move on if you can. Put it in your contract/handbook, policies that you will not miss your children's school functions for the parents convenience.

[Unregistered]

gotta learn how to do this...

..I forgot to log back out..

Yes I have permission to transport and the parent also signed the handbook stating that if I have to be some where and the parents are not on time to pick up, I will be taking the kids with me.

I do have an obligation, just as my DCP do. I have an obligation to my family first no matter what. AND if a family is not respectful enough to follow my rules then they need to find another place to go.

I did make a few mistakes here and I am learning my lesson. Like someone said I should have closed earlier, (I was trying to be nice and not put anyone out, so I stayed open as late as i could). If I would have allowed for more time then I would have had time to call the emergency contacts on their list, but I didn't.

I bend over backwards for these families every day, even weekends, holidays and other special occasions and if they can't do 1 thing (so far this is the first time I had to close early this year) for me then I don't want people like that here...

[SilverSabre25]

I agree--so long as it is written in your contract and the contract was signed, there is no legal reason you should not have done exactly as you did. I'm sorry you had to miss your daughter's performance. That's very ****y and I'm so sorry it happened.

[youretooloud]

That family would never step foot back into my house again.

This is a family who would never ever respect you, or care what happens to you as long as it works out for them. If they met someone cheaper or more convenient, they wouldn't think twice about leaving you in a heartbeat.

Most parents are awesome! They would not only have no problem with me going to see my child's concert, they would happily help me with anything I wanted. But, there are those rare families who act like this family just did.

You can choose to forgive HER for messing up your special night... but, you don't have to. She is wrong. She was selfish and lazy. Not you.

[kendallina]

..I forgot to log back out..

Yes I have permission to transport and the parent also signed the handbook stating that if I have to be some where and the parents are not on time to pick up, I will be taking the kids with me.

I do have an obligation, just as my DCP do. I have an obligation to my family first no matter what. AND if a family is not respectful enough to follow my rules then they need to find another place to go.

I did make a few mistakes here and I am learning my lesson. Like someone said I should have closed earlier, (I was trying to be nice and not put anyone out, so I stayed open as late as i could). If I would have allowed for more time then I would have had time to call the emergency contacts on their list, but I didn't.

I bend over backwards for these families every day, even weekends, holidays and other special occasions and if they can't do 1 thing (so far this is the first time I had to close early this year) for me then I don't want people like that here...

I think you should be fine since you have permission to transport their children and since it says that you will take children with you if parents are late. This parent has NO right to be upset given these circumstances. I would call her and talk to her, calmly explain the situation and also explain if you have any policy about giving two weeks notice and payment. Sorry this happened...

[Oneluckymom]

Legally speaking only...

1. Did you have a signed consent to transport?

2. Is it printed on your signed contract that you would take them with you in the event of a no-show past closing (even a scheduled early closing)?

As long as you have those, you are covered.

I agree if you have those you should be fine...esp if you had them sign in the contract "if I have to be somewhere and you are not here at your scheduled pick up time child will go with me".

[MamaBear]

You should be fine since your contract states that you can do exactly what you did. She sounds like a total terd for acting that way to you! What a jerk she is. This is the part of daycare that I hate... missing out on our own kid's functions because of things like this. And than to have a parent be a total jacka** to you on top of that doesn't make it any better. I'm so sorry you had to deal with that. I think you'll be fine though. I would definitely terminate ASAP if she tries to come crawling back to you.

[morgan24]

She was the one who was late but she's trying to turn it into your fault when it wasn't. I would prepare for an inspection just in case but I don't understand what she would even turn you in for. You have in your hand book if they are on time you'll take the kids with you.

Wouldn't surprise me if she gets in touch with you and tries to make nice because she'll figure out she was being a bit**. I wouldn't let her back in my house. Try not to let it upset you and move on.

[wdmmom]

If you have it written down and it's signed, you didn't do anything wrong.

Of course the situation could have been handled differently...he!!, DCM could have accommodated your request to close early. As I see it, tough times call for tough measures. It's not your responsibility to track down an emergency contact just because DCM couldn't manage to be on time.

Be prepared for a visit from licensing. That's about the only reprocussion she has against you for your actions. You, however, have the ball in your corner. Take her to small claims court for failure to provide your required notice!