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I have edited out the details of my previous post because I would hate for dcm to stumble onto it. But thank you so much for the replies. I have decided that Grandma is probably the best person to care for this little boy. 
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Geez!!! That's scary! Do you not require payment in advance? I would insist that you get paid first of all. Then let them know that you not being able to contact either parent is a critical reason you need to term. They need to supply you with both cell numbers & general work numbers so you can contact them in case of an emergency. I'm glad the little guy was okay but if he was so sick DCM needed to keep him home.Hi, I've talked it over with hubby this morning but really didn't get anywhere so I thought I would post here and see if I can get some opinions on what I should do about new dcb
I had a new dcb start last week for his first week trial. (He had come somewhat troughout the week before as well with mom to hang out here and there...). Anyway I always do a 1 week trial before I enter into a contract with a new dcp just to make sure the dck is a good fit for my home and the kids I currently have.
This dcb has a severe egg allergy so I did the epipen training prior to him coming. He apparently also has severe asthma as well as a list of other ailments mom forgot to mention...not surprising. I was nervous about the egg allergy but knew I could probably handle it. I am also comfortable with asthma as both my daughter and I have it so puffers, etc are no problem.
Anyway dcb started on Monday with a wicked cough which got progressively worse throughout the week. On Tuesday I told dcm she should have him seen at the clinic and she did. Next morning she sent more puffers and nose mist.
Anyway to make a long story short. On Thursday afternoon dcb was EXTREMELY ill and having severe difficulty breathing. I called dcm and she told me to give him his puffer every hour and double the dose so I did. He continued to struggle really bad and the more he coughed the more upset he got and the more upset he got the more he struggled to breath. I called dcm about 50 times at work and on cell with NO ANSWER. Same as dcd....Customer you are calling is out of the service area!
I was so panicked that I called hubby to come home from work and help me because I could not take care of my other dcks. Dcb even peed on my couch because he was coughing so badly. When his fingers and lips turned blue I called 911. Ambulance arrived just as dcm showed up...thank god!
She was very apologetic and in a conversation later on said she would pay to have my couch cleaned and she was so sorry.....I told her I wasn't worried about the couch but more about the fact that I could not contact her. She said she had forgotten her cell at home that morning.
Turns out dcb has pneumonia and will be spending the week with grandma near where dcm works but she wants to send him back the following week.
I don't know what to do..I want to tell her I think it would be better if she found care elsewhere...not to mention she still hasn't come to pay me. I know dcb is in hospital but she could have dcd pop in after all I went through.
Kids get sick, I get that but not being able to get ahold of her in an emergency especially with a child who has a severe egg allergy got me so worked up that I was physically sick to my stomach after he left and was shaking for over an hour. My husband had to close up the daycare because I was such an emotional wreck. I thought this little boy was going to die on my couch....
Do you think I should term or would you try again when dcb is feeling better? -
I would give him one more trial week when he is feeling better and you can get a more accurate idea of how a "typical" week is with him. From this point on, I would insist getting paid BEFORE he receives care.Comment
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I would absolutely terminate them. I would do it because the parents both need the life lesson that if they are unavailable to the provider that it's too much risk to the provider to provide the service.
Illness aside... medical treatment aside... risk to the child.. the horrible position you were in caring for a child beyond your skillset ..... the MOST important thing here is that the adult caring for the child HAS to be able to have immediate access at ALL times to the parents or their designee AND that adult HAS to be able to get to the child immediately.
They are telling you they need that life lesson so give it to them. It will offer them the opportunity to understand the gravity of their job as parent. In turn, it will benefit the child.Comment
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I hope Mom comes to pay you. I would get the money and then insist upfront payment!
This sounds very scary. Did the ambulance have to transport the boy to the hospital?
Man I don't know. I believe I would be so scared to have him in my care.
Sounds like you know what you want to do. This is your life and your business. You owe the mom nothing. Do what is best for you.
If I didn't term I would not go under contract yet. If you decide not to term stay on a trial basis. But I would probably let grandma keep him till she found someone else.
I am sorry you had to go thru that. It sounds absoluty terrifying. But if you term wait till she brings you your payment so she cannot stick you if you can. You should at least get paid for that awful experience.Not Clueless anymore
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Sometimes you can't right the situation you have with parents but you CAN make a difference for the future of the child. The parents are learning as they go along too and sometimes they need to be shook up so they GET what they must do.
Being available at all times to the person who is caring for your kid is a MUST do.
At the very very least, if I was considering giving them a second shot, I would demand to have the name and phone number of previous non related providers. Finding out the parents history of noncompliance in picking up the child for illness or bringing the child ill to care is something you would need to find out.
I don't believe the mom forgot the phone. I believe that she knew the kid was sick and so did the dad. I think they have had a history of being able to pick their sick kid up at the end of the daycare day by avoiding the provider calls. They have most likely been able to pull that off many times so they tried it on the OP. My guess is that the previous caregiver most likely got into it with them over it and they know the drill of what to say and what to do when they don't want to be bothered.
The biggest hint is the Mom showing up without returning the providers call to come get the kid. If she wasn't avoiding the call she would have CALLED on the way to pick up the kid. She had 50 missed calls from the provider and didn't call on the way? That's the biggest tell.Comment
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Term. I am sorry but daycare providers have enough to juggle in one day and having that poor child in care would freak me out and I am NOT a newbie. That poor child has too many liabilities that the mother really should hire a nanny so he can get one on one consistent care.
The fact that you could not reach her when she clearly knew you were having trouble is simply unexcusable in my book. I got heart palpitations just reading your post!!!
Terming isn't always the best answer but in this case, I think it is really the only way to go if you want to protect not only yourself but the other kids in care and most importantly that little boy.
Whew....I am so glad that the situation wasn't any worse than it already was. Good job and thumbs up to you for doing a good job!!
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