Got Into It With DCM At Drop Off

[wdmmom]

So a DCM started knocking on the door at 728am. I don't open until 730am so the door remained closed.

(Last week was the week for early arrivals. I reminded everyone AGAIN of my hours and that they don't like going into work early without any extra compensation, it's the same here.)

DCM knocked first...to which I was in the bathroom and heard but I wasn't running anytime soon. I was still getting ready.

Then she proceeded to ring the doorbell! Everyone knows NOT to ring my doorbell in the morning! I find it rude and my kids are still sometimes sleeping.

So at 730am, I finally answer the door. I told her that I will not open the door any earlier because too many parents have taken advantage. First it's 2 minutes, then 5, then 7, then 15 and so on.

She proceeded to argue with me that she has a 715am drop off. (Mind you I've been working for this family for almost 7 months and DCB has never been dropped off at 715am.) She said if she wants to come at 715am, she will and that's the time she gave me.

After she left, I reviewed the paperwork. Her contract says 730am for a drop off time. My notes that I took during the interview say 715-730am.

This all comes AFTER I emailed all of my daycare parents an email about the early arrivals and a reminder that my hours are 730am - 530pm.

I hate to lose this family because they've been great this far, but something has got to give. She also proceeded to tell me that she has a meeting in a neighboring city on Nov 8th and that she will need to drop off at 7am and pick up a half hour late! I didn't agree to this! And, even if I do it, we need to discuss money. The way it's worded in my contract is $10 for every 15 minutes. Do I really charge her $40 for an extra hour?!

[AfterSchoolMom]

She said if she wants to come at 715am, she will

I can't believe that you'd say "I'd hate to lose this family" after she stood in YOUR home and spoke to you that way. I'd have had a hard time not telling her where to stick it.

[Blackcat31]

Yeah, I agree with AfterSchoolMom, I can't believe that mom had such attitude with you! I also completely understand not wanting ot lose this family but I would be so uncomfortable with her condescending attitude about how she will do as she wants. It is almost as if she is challenging you to see if she will get her way.

I would tell her that she needs to make arrangements for someone else to drop off and pick up on the day she has that meeting. Simply because of her attitude, I wouldn't really want to go out of my way to do anything extra (payment or not).

How are you going handle the morning drop off? Is she going to be 7:30 or 7:15? If she is an earlier drop off, is it outside of your normal hours and she will be paying more for earlier drop off or is it just part of her contracted hours.

Wow, I do commend you for not blowing your top after she made that comment though...

[laundrymom]

Siged contract says 730, drop off is 730. Make her a copy of it and invoice her for the day she is wanting extra care. Have her pay in full in advance.

[daycare]

Siged contract says 730, drop off is 730. Make her a copy of it and invoice her for the day she is wanting extra care. Have her pay in full in advance.

Ha she obviously didn't read your contract/pbh.

I agree with above. She signed your PHB follow it.

[Crystal]

Curious as to how her contract ended up being a 7:30 drop off but in the interview you noted 7:15-7:30?

[wdmmom]

Oh, I let her how it was going to be. I open at 730am. Not a minute sooner. She can come as early as she wants. Park down the street and wait until 730am.

I think the only reason she came off with an attitude is because I did first.

I'm tired of being taken advantage of, I will not work extra and not be compensated. 730am is 730am, not a minute before.

It wouldn't surprise me in the least if she decided to leave and believe me, I wouldn't mind that much considering I have a waiting list for an infant spot.

[wdmmom]

Curious as to how her contract ended up being a 7:30 drop off but in the interview you noted 7:15-7:30?

Because during the original interview, I ask for projected drop off and pick up times. I wrote in my notes 715-730am drop off. On the paperwork I have every parent fill out, she wrote 730am as a drop off time.

[laundrymom]

Because during the original interview, I ask for projected drop off and pick up times. I wrote in my notes 715-730am drop off. On the paperwork I have every parent fill out, she wrote 730am as a drop off time.

Rofl,... SHE WROTE 730????? Loo. She gets 730!!!

[cheerfuldom]

She gets 7:30, don't even mention your notes. Do not take her child that extra early morning/late day. It would be best to keep very strict to your policy at this point and enforce that early/late is not negotiable.

[mom2many]

Because during the original interview, I ask for projected drop off and pick up times. I wrote in my notes 715-730am drop off. On the paperwork I have every parent fill out, she wrote 730am as a drop off time.

I would make a copy of the paperwork that she filled out showing this time and explain that this is also consistent with her signed contract. I would tell her if she needs to drop off earlier or pick up later, then the rate increases accordingly.

[Unregistered]

I can't believe that you'd say "I'd hate to lose this family" after she stood in YOUR home and spoke to you that way. I'd have had a hard time not telling her where to stick it.

First off let me say that I understand how you feel


but two minutes before open and you wrote in your notes in could be 7:15

So many of you are quick to terminate. I know it's hard for most of us to get kids, esp if we have not been in business for years and established. Economy is hard right now.

I understand being taken advantage of but I also feel you have to have understanding and be a little flexible with clients.

Am I alone here? Or is everyone this strict with their family's? I am not promoting being taken advantage of and understand it can be 2 minutes then escalate.

[MarinaVanessa]

Siged contract says 730, drop off is 730. Make her a copy of it and invoice her for the day she is wanting extra care. Have her pay in full in advance.

Also quoting laundrymom here because, well it is what it is. She said and signed 7:30. Make a copy that interview sheet and one of her contract, show it to her and remind her that you have always been willing to work with her but she has to communicate with you, just like you have been communicating with her (ex: notice to remind everyone about your opening hours).

Remind her that if she needs you a little earlier than the agreed drop-off time that she needs to run it by you first but that she shouldn't just expect you to do it. Point out that telling someone that they have to do something is completely different than having someone ask you to do something and that she can catch more flies with sugar than with vinegar.

Explain that your opening time is 7:30 and that if she occasionally needs an earlier drop off then that will be fine but she has to pay accordingly since her fees only cover her contracted hours. I would deffinetely point out to her that she signed for 7:30 and has never once dropped off before 7:30. I do think that you have to point that out. If she decides to get smart mouthy and tell you she needs to change her contract just charge her time-and-a-half for any time before 7:30 that you agree to do.

As for what you are going to charge her, well that depends on you. If you don't mind watching dck a little earlier (it was just her delivery that bothered you) then you could work something out with her that you are both comfortable with. If your policies say that you charge $10 for every 15 minutes and that's what you feel is compensation enough then do that.

I for one have a "$5 for every 15 minutes" policy if they are late or earlier than their contracted times with no notice. If however they ask me and I agree to take a child earlier or later I charge $5 an hour. It helps keep the unnanounced late/early drop-offs and pick-ups to a minimum. Maybe you can offer something like that and charge a fee that you are comfortable with.

[Crystal]

First off let me say that I understand how you feel


but two minutes before open and you wrote in your notes in could be 7:15

So many of you are quick to terminate. I know it's hard for most of us to get kids, esp if we have not been in business for years and established. Economy is hard right now.

I understand being taken advantage of but I also feel you have to have understanding and be a little flexible with clients.

Am I alone here? Or is everyone this strict with their family's? I am not promoting being taken advantage of and understand it can be 2 minutes then escalate.

Nah, you're not alone. I think getting yourself worked up over two minutes is a waste of time and energy. It's not worth the added stress that causes, for me anyways.

[boysx5]

I term a a dcm for this one time a long time ago each day she would come early and I let then one morning I was dropping off my oldest son at school who had a project to bring in and she tried to drop early and was annoyed that I wasn't there when she was suppose to b 7:30 well she left a nasty message and came with an attitude well I gave it right back and gave her two weeks notice. She came later that evening and had flowers and candy but I told no thanks I would not be treated that way