DCM Shopping on MY Overtime?

[daycare]

I have not read everyone elses post, but I am more than likely going to get flamed for this.

YOU are the one who decided to work over time. There is no way possible for you to know what parents are doing at any time of the day and really, you should not worry about it. As long as they are abiding by the rules and paying on time, then there is nothing you can do.

I do feel for you, I was duped into a situation several months back when a DCP came to me and told me that they needed 14 hours of care 5 days a week and was willing to pay me X amount of $$ for it. Their reason was that they could not get all of their work done with their family business. Later, the mom confessed to me that the real reason was that she could not handle the kids because they were monsters, her words not mine.

I was so angry that I fired them..... I too gave up a lot, including my family dinners, kids activities and etc.

Looks like you and I both learned the hard way that there is NO amount of money that you can put on your FAMILY TIME!!!

Sorry this happened to you, please make sure not to make this mistake again....

[My3cents]

I have not read everyone elses post, but I am more than likely going to get flamed for this.

YOU are the one who decided to work over time. There is no way possible for you to know what parents are doing at any time of the day and really, you should not worry about it. As long as they are abiding by the rules and paying on time, then there is nothing you can do.

I do feel for you, I was duped into a situation several months back when a DCP came to me and told me that they needed 14 hours of care 5 days a week and was willing to pay me X amount of $$ for it. Their reason was that they could not get all of their work done with their family business. Later, the mom confessed to me that the real reason was that she could not handle the kids because they were monsters, her words not mine.

I was so angry that I fired them..... I too gave up a lot, including my family dinners, kids activities and etc.

Looks like you and I both learned the hard way that there is NO amount of money that you can put on your FAMILY TIME!!!

Sorry this happened to you, please make sure not to make this mistake again....

I don't agree with this. I want to know how to reach my parents if I need to in an emergency situation. I am providing services for them to work or go to school. Babysitters provide services for the fun stuff and it don't come cheap, they make a lot more then I do If I am given a heads up on this type of stuff, I don't mind- My parents are good about telling me that they have a doctors appointment or are taking the day off. It's not about caring what they are doing, but it's about knowing how to reach them if I need. I have had parents that have brought their child to care because they want time to clean the house, do errands,need a break, want a day for themselves, and want to socialize the children. For those parents I just ask that they keep their cell phone on them in case I need to get a hold of them. Anywhooo, that is how I roll- I always tell my parents that when they are not working or committed they should be with their kids- but I do have understanding for those that do not abuse me and my services and feel it makes for better parents getting/taking a break. For the parent that can't handle her children, sad......monsters, sad. But......at least she is honest and putting them in a place that she feels is better then what she can offer- Kuddos to her for knowing she is not cutting it herself. I just find there are all different type of parents and they are not all a cookie cutter of me- have to respect that.
Not flaming, just difference of opinion

[DBug]

I have not read everyone elses post, but I am more than likely going to get flamed for this.

Nope! Everyone else said the same thing as you ::::.

And I agree -- I made a big mistake with this one. I'm not going to do overtime again. Stupid me ... we even cancelled our Valentine's plans because I thought dcm needed my help . Ugh.

I'm just trying to figure out how to ethically get out of doing next week's overtime . I've already told dcm I need to be done early on Wednesday. We do have other things going on the other nights, but we've already pushed them back because of dcg's schedule. Monday's a stat, so I'm closed (but I'm betting dcm will still try to drop off ).

Since I've already committed to it, I guess I'll have to deal with it. But there definitely won't be a next time!

[daycare]

I don't agree with this. I want to know how to reach my parents if I need to in an emergency situation. I am providing services for them to work or go to school. Babysitters provide services for the fun stuff and it don't come cheap, they make a lot more then I do If I am given a heads up on this type of stuff, I don't mind- My parents are good about telling me that they have a doctors appointment or are taking the day off. It's not about caring what they are doing, but it's about knowing how to reach them if I need. I have had parents that have brought their child to care because they want time to clean the house, do errands,need a break, want a day for themselves, and want to socialize the children. For those parents I just ask that they keep their cell phone on them in case I need to get a hold of them. Anywhooo, that is how I roll- I always tell my parents that when they are not working or committed they should be with their kids- but I do have understanding for those that do not abuse me and my services and feel it makes for better parents getting/taking a break. For the parent that can't handle her children, sad......monsters, sad. But......at least she is honest and putting them in a place that she feels is better then what she can offer- Kuddos to her for knowing she is not cutting it herself. I just find there are all different type of parents and they are not all a cookie cutter of me- have to respect that.
Not flaming, just difference of opinion

So right now you can tell me where all of your daycare parents are? Do you have GPS on them or something? Alll joking aside, I understand what you are saying, but do you really think that DCP tell us everything that they are doing?

Yes, I agree, DCP MUST be able to be reached at all times and if they are not, then I need to have back up numbers to call and they MUST be able to pick up the child or make any decisions for the child in the parents absents. BUT that is a whole different thread.

I think a lot of us can agree that there is no way to police parents and what they are doing.

[countrymom]

I don't agree with this. I want to know how to reach my parents if I need to in an emergency situation. I am providing services for them to work or go to school. Babysitters provide services for the fun stuff and it don't come cheap, they make a lot more then I do If I am given a heads up on this type of stuff, I don't mind- My parents are good about telling me that they have a doctors appointment or are taking the day off. It's not about caring what they are doing, but it's about knowing how to reach them if I need. I have had parents that have brought their child to care because they want time to clean the house, do errands,need a break, want a day for themselves, and want to socialize the children. For those parents I just ask that they keep their cell phone on them in case I need to get a hold of them. Anywhooo, that is how I roll- I always tell my parents that when they are not working or committed they should be with their kids- but I do have understanding for those that do not abuse me and my services and feel it makes for better parents getting/taking a break. For the parent that can't handle her children, sad......monsters, sad. But......at least she is honest and putting them in a place that she feels is better then what she can offer- Kuddos to her for knowing she is not cutting it herself. I just find there are all different type of parents and they are not all a cookie cutter of me- have to respect that.
Not flaming, just difference of opinion

I agree and thats I do it here too. Respect all the way around.

[daycare]

Nope! Everyone else said the same thing as you ::::.

And I agree -- I made a big mistake with this one. I'm not going to do overtime again. Stupid me ... we even cancelled our Valentine's plans because I thought dcm needed my help . Ugh.

I'm just trying to figure out how to ethically get out of doing next week's overtime . I've already told dcm I need to be done early on Wednesday. We do have other things going on the other nights, but we've already pushed them back because of dcg's schedule. Monday's a stat, so I'm closed (but I'm betting dcm will still try to drop off ).

Since I've already committed to it, I guess I'll have to deal with it. But there definitely won't be a next time!

what does you contract say? I went by my contract and had to finish out the last two weeks. When I told them i could not participate in offering extended hours of care, the family gave notice. So be ready for that.

I was just honest and told the DCM I am really sorry, but I really did not think that by offering the small amount of overtime each week would hurt my family as much as it has. I am really sorry, but after *** date, I will no longer be able to offer extended hours.

i was so miserable when I did what I did, so I really feel for you....hugs Wish sometimes I wasn't such a people pleaser all the time....

[countrymom]

So right now you can tell me where all of your daycare parents are? Do you have GPS on them or something? Alll joking aside, I understand what you are saying, but do you really think that DCP tell us everything that they are doing?

Yes, I agree, DCP MUST be able to be reached at all times and if they are not, then I need to have back up numbers to call and they MUST be able to pick up the child or make any decisions for the child in the parents absents. BUT that is a whole different thread.

I think a lot of us can agree that there is no way to police parents and what they are doing.

I do, some are at work, one mom is at work on face book (she's a good friend) one set of parents are on a plane to mexico, one dad is home and will be leaving in about 5 min. but they are good parents so I have no problems.

[WImom]

IMHO...probably not. I would make a clean, fresh start the week after.

I would do this too. I would though make sure she is working next week on the overtime day.

[daycare]

I agree and thats I do it here too. Respect all the way around.

Of course I agree with this too, it is about respect, but really parents are not going to call us and tell us their every move throughout the day.

Example...One of my favorite DCP yesterday decided on his lunch to go golf, he ended up staying at the golf range a lot longer than expected. I had no clue that he decided to go golfing on his lunch and then ended up having to call his mom to come get his son. I really don't care what my parents do, but that is just me.

[bunnyslippers]

I would be annoyed with her shopping, but she is paying you - kind of tricky. I think in the future it would be better to be upfront with her about having things scheduled for your children on the days she has asked for overtime. I think a little give and take in these situations is fair. I also would NEVER sign up for overtime on a day that my children had activities. It's not worth missing those moments!

[wdmmom]

Nope, Nope, Nope.

No overtime here.

Find a babysitter.

You got it! No favors, no extras, no special, no exceptions!

You want to go shopping, pay a babysitter three times what I make and shop away!

And I would never offer a family a list of any other provider or babysitter. You never know their level of care and I'd hate for something to come back on me if something went wrong or didn't go well.

[saved4always]

Got it, Ladies No more overtime. Ever.

BUT, can I/should I cancel next week's overtime when I've already committed to it?

I would probably do it if you already commited. UNLESS there are other activities next week that your kids will miss if you do the overtime. If there are activities, I would tell her that you cannot do those days anymore.

I never offer overtime. When parents "talk out loud" about needing care outside of contracted hours, I sometimes have to bite my tongue so I will not offer more than I am willing or wanting to do. And they usually come up with something much more convenient for me to solve thier own problem (like a grandparent picking up on time if dcp has to stay for a meeting, etc.) than what I would have offered if I had opened up my mouth.

[daycare]

can you tell her that you will commit to next week, however, if she can be back on the nights earlier so that your kids can attend their activities?

I don't think it would hurt to ask her?

There is light at the end of the tunnel......

[GretasLittleFriends]

Not sure what your kids' activities are, but could they get a ride from someone else (teammate/friend)? I know it isn't pleasant to rely on other people, but that way they could at least still do what they needed to do.

As for me, I typically don't mind what my parents do when their child is here. I do, however, have one parent whose communication skills aren't the greatest (frankly, they lack severely), and that mom irks me, but her child is a wonderful child. Right now that mom is the only one I'm having problems with.

I did have a mom ask me Monday if she can pick her daughter up an hour later today so she can do her grocery shopping before she comes home. She works a half hour away, and will do her shopping at Walmart (in the same town she works). To me, I have no issue with that since she will be paying me for my time, and she is already that far away anyway, it really just makes sense. Obviously if I would have a scheduling conflict, I'd let her know.

[bunnyslippers]

I think the "I was trying to help out" trap that we all fall into is the mistake. If you were in a regular office job, you wouldn't work late every day because your boss needed help. Teachers don't keep students late to help out families after school. It is so important to try and keep a professional line with the families we care for, and try not to get wrapped up in their personal scheduling issues. More often than not, when you do extra for a family, it goes unappreciated and becomes expected. It leads to bitter feelings. Lesson learned, I guess!