What Would You Have Done - DCM Situation

[Mrs. CC]

I have 3 part time families I care for. One is a 2nd shifter and usually on weekends.

I watched DCG a week ago for one night but wasn't paid because the DCM cancelled before the day she was supposed to pay. I told her to add it onto this weekend because we would be watching her child Fri, Sat and Sun.

Friday she brings her child and I let her know child is coughing, has horrible congestion, sneezing and isn't acting well. She says her child has been this way for a few days and it is just a cold.

Yesterday she texted me 1.5 hours before her child should be here and she says she will not be bringing DCG. I asked why and if all was well. DCM says that DCM is not feeling well so she is calling off of work.

Ok That sounds reasonable but annoying because we were not able to do other things based on expecting her child to be here. I worked on a contract for her to sign so this would not cause me to miss out on both money AND plans.

DCG should have been dropped off at 3:15pm today. Instead at 3:22 DCM breezes in and is being very rushed. I say hello to DCG and as mom is working on her daughters jacket I let DCM know that she owes for 3 nights tonight.

She says to me "I don't have the money for you. We do not have money."

I say "You owe me for services rendered and tonight as well. I let you know yesterday the total, you didn't make alternate arrangements, the amount is due tonight."

DCM says "I will ask my husband to take the money out of our bank."

me: Good

Then she says "DCG is on medication."
me: Oh is it something she will need to take while here?

DCM: No, I already gave it to her.

me: How long has she been on it? Has it been 24 hours?

DCM: Yes, it has been 2 days.

me:Oh, so she was on medication when you brought her to me on Friday night? What is she on medicine for?

DCM: No, she wasn't on medication then. I took her to the Doctor last night and they gave her the medicine.

Me: So she hasn't been on her medication for 24 hours yet?

DCM: No, but The doctor says she isn't contagious.

me: What is she taking medication for? What does she have?

DCM: She isn't contagious and I don't have time for this.

me: I have 2 children and watch for other families. If your child is sick I can not have her stay.

DCM:She isn't contagious. She has bronchitis and possibly pneumonia.

me: She can not stay here

DCM: She isn't contagious

me: She is sick. It hasn't been 24 hours. She can not stay here

DCM: FINE! I will just take her home and not work then.

DCM then storms out of the house.

I am guessing she isn't going to be using my services on Wednesday as we have scheduled. Her girl is awesome and I am sad to see her go.

I am still angry that she was going to dump her child on me KNOWING she wasn't going to pay me AND KNOWING her child was sick.

Her facebook status now says how she needed encouragement and will just have to let go and let God. I am annoyed.

So, what would you have done? Anything I can improve on?

[daycare]

all services need to be paid in advance... Payments are due on the last day of the week that your child receives care one week in advance. Late fee starts after 6:00 pm that night, $40.00 plus $10.00 each additional day that it is late. I don't accept payments over the weekend. If the DCP shows up monday morning with kid in tow, but no money. The child cannot stay.


Do you have an illness policy that outlines exclusion? You should also add to your policy that the child is well and able to participate normally. (not exact words, but you get the point) YOu may also want to say that one child needs must not put the rest of the children at risk.....

YOu did great making the mom take the child home. great job standing your ground.

[kendallina]

I think you definitely did the right thing by not allowing DCG to stay. There are two very separate and important issues here.

#1 you really should implement a No pay, No stay rule. Never should a family owe you for services that you already provided. If they are supposed to pay you on a Monday and forget to bring it Monday morning, the child doesn't stay. I would be upfront with them in the interview about this point and say that you will stick to it, no exceptions. I would say that the likelihood of receiving that money now is slim.

#2 is the girls' illness. I would not go on the parent's word that her child is not contagious. If a child is ill enough to see a doctor and get medication, then when she gets back to daycare, she really should have a doctor's note stating when she is no longer contagious. Or if she is sick enough to not be able to participate in your routine, then she stays home. That's how I do it, I'm sure others will have suggestions as well.

So...is this a long-term family? Do you expect that she's just never going to show up again? If you are worried about never seeing her again, you could send her a certified letter stating that you need to receive back payment for the days that she never paid you and give her a week or however long to pay it. Good luck!

[awestbrook713]

You did what you needed to. I see nothing wrong, besides dcm trying to pull a fast one and expecting you to just roll over. Good for you! Hang in there this to shall pass.

[daycare]

this is great advice!

Also about the illness. I clearly have stated that should you need to take your child to the dotcors for an illness, I require a doctors note stating diagnosis. Not contagious, contagious, or child can return to daycare. Utlimaltey I have the final say if the child can stay or not. It has to be me that decides if I am able to care for the child and still be able to care for everyone else..

I had this happen to me last year when I got a note that stated that child could return to daycare. Well the child came, got everyone sick and was here scream crying for mommy half of the day until I sent her home..

[Meyou]

I think you did the right thing.

What gets me is WHY WHY WHY WHY all these parents think it's out to drag a sick child out to a DCP just because staying home isn't convenient but when they're ill they can take all the time off they need. The child IS A PERSON TOO!! They shouldn't have to be dragged all over the earth feeling horrible. They should be home in bed with their mom or dad. When I was working outside the home I never stayed home with my kids because they were too sick to "get into" daycare that day. I stayed home because they were sick human beings who needed their bed, rest, fluids and quiet. Was it a PITA the year my ex-dh and I used all of our sick and vacation time by mid-Feb when our 2nd dd was a baby?? Sure, it was. But she needed to be home. What I was more frustrated with was the dumbasses who kept bringing their babies with viral diarrhea back into the infant room before they were well again. Poor babies......ALL OF THEM since they didn't have a chance to stay healthy.

K, rant done. Sorry. Pet peeve for me.

[nannyde]

Bottom line is that the parent intentionally lied twice and expected you to be okay with it.

The kid was sick and she was okay with her being in your home ill.

You had past money due and she came to receive more care that wasn't secured by payment.

So she wants to lie... have you care for her sick kid... and pay when and if she gets it whenever she wants to.

What she wanted from you are very common parental wants. She just wants what she wants.

You have to decide if you can have a liar in your daycare who is willing to expose you and your kids to serious illness and not have any assurance you'll even get paid to tolerate the lying and the care of the sick kids. She wants your services on HER terms and you have to decide if you are willing to offer them.

[Mrs. CC]

I don't know how to update the original message, so the update is here.

DCD dropped the money off on Monday and said they would need me this Wed for 2 ish hours. I told him how much it would cost and it needs to be paid at drop off. I also let him know i had emailed copies of the contract and policies so they can refresh their memories on what they state.

I just texted a confirmation for hours of service and cost because I have been feeling that they were going to flake again.

Got a text within 10 minutes saying they wouldn't need me tomorrow.

So, I picked up my phone and called.

DCD apologizes for the confusion and insists that he meant to say they didn't need me on Wed. I point out that we discussed pay, hours and when it was due and he agreed to that. DCD says he must have misunderstood our discussion.

I said "so are you terminating services?"

DCD said "for now but we will call if we need you in the future."

AM SO ANNOYED!!! Am not sure i will replace them. Am feeling down about this and wondering why I thought this was a good thing for me to do - meaning childcare in the home.

I know I need to **** it up, but I am just so annoyed. This is the only family I have lowered prices on, flexed my hours and didn't require a contract. THE ONLY ONE!

[Mrs. CC]

And to clarify, Wednesday was our last day we agreed to care. I was sticking to our agreement in watching DCK on Wednesday but wasn't looking forward to dealing with the parents again. Guess I just got that out of the way a day early!