Just Say NO

[momofboys]

DCF let me know yesterday that today would be a shorter day - they were having some work done at their home & as a result DCD would be home "supervising" so the kids would come later (not til 7:45) & be picked up at 4:00happyface. Normally they are here 10 hrs so I am liking the sound of this. However what is typical with this DCF is they will shorten the hours for a specific day only to backpedal & try to lengthen them at the last minute, usually at the time they need to pick-up. So I just said to myself - wait for it - it will happen & you need to know how to respond. And sure enough - at 4:04 pm DCD calls & informs me he was going to the store to get some things & would be over after he shops:confused::confused:. I quickly said "You told me this morning you were picking up at 4:00 - I planned to take my boys to get hair cuts (Great Clips has a $5.99 sale this weekhappyface)." I expected a fight. He didn't fight me or anything simply said - I will be right over to get them. What bothers me is that he even felt like he wasn't asking me - just letting me know he was extending his time for the kids to be in care - like it's his choice. Not sure if I will ever understand but I was proud that I stood up for myself & said NO!.

[littlemissmuffet]

DCF let me know yesterday that today would be a shorter day - they were having some work done at their home & as a result DCD would be home "supervising" so the kids would come later (not til 7:45) & be picked up at 4:00happyface. Normally they are here 10 hrs so I am liking the sound of this. However what is typical with this DCF is they will shorten the hours for a specific day only to backpedal & try to lengthen them at the last minute, usually at the time they need to pick-up. So I just said to myself - wait for it - it will happen & you need to know how to respond. And sure enough - at 4:04 pm DCD calls & informs me he was going to the store to get some things & would be over after he shops:confused::confused:. I quickly said "You told me this morning you were picking up at 4:00 - I planned to take my boys to get hair cuts (Great Clips has a $5.99 sale this weekhappyface)." I expected a fight. He didn't fight me or anything simply said - I will be right over to get them. What bothers me is that he even felt like he wasn't asking me - just letting me know he was extending his time for the kids to be in care - like it's his choice. Not sure if I will ever understand but I was proud that I stood up for myself & said NO!.

Good job!

I always tell my parents NOT to tell me they will be picking up early... because I swear in all the time I have been doing daycare and all the times I have been told a parent would be picking up early, not even a quarter of those times have they. This isn't a specific family, but all of them. I think it's sad that parents have no idea how to get anything done these days while their own children are with them. It's actually quite pathetic. I once had to take 5 of my daycare kids with me to the pharmacy (an hour walk both ways) while I was sick with the flu - meanwhile, half of those children's parents were at home in bed sick... the same parents who try to drop their kids off on their days off because they need to wash floors, or go get groceries or some other simple task that most other people can do WITH their kids.

[Country Kids]

I know what you mean! Every once in awhile I think I'm getting off early and make plans. Guess what, someone always shows up late. I missed something very important at my sons school last year because of this. Parent was very late, I was very mad, son was very sad!

Miss Muffett do you not have a car? I can't imagine any of my kids walking for an hour one way then doing it back.

[littlemissmuffet]

I know what you mean! Every once in awhile I think I'm getting off early and make plans. Guess what, someone always shows up late. I missed something very important at my sons school last year because of this. Parent was very late, I was very mad, son was very sad!

Miss Muffett do you not have a car? I can't imagine any of my kids walking for an hour one way then doing it back.

It was an hour walk TOTAL, both ways!
But no, I don't drive We live in a town small enough that walking can be my primary mode of transportation. The kids walk with me everywhere - they are awesome little walkers!! My youngest were in their double stroller at the time though.
Even if I did drive, I would not transport my DCKs in a vehical... insurance is too expensive and the liability is too great.

[Frizzled]

Good job!

I always tell my parents NOT to tell me they will be picking up early... because I swear in all the time I have been doing daycare and all the times I have been told a parent would be picking up early, not even a quarter of those times have they. This isn't a specific family, but all of them. I think it's sad that parents have no idea how to get anything done these days while their own children are with them. It's actually quite pathetic. I once had to take 5 of my daycare kids with me to the pharmacy (an hour walk both ways) while I was sick with the flu - meanwhile, half of those children's parents were at home in bed sick... the same parents who try to drop their kids off on their days off because they need to wash floors, or go get groceries or some other simple task that most other people can do WITH their kids.

I had a parent call and ask if she could drop her child off for a few hours to get some errands done. I said yes knowing I had grocery shopping for the daycare to do that day too. I ran into her at the store with all 4 of the kids I had that day (3 under 2 yr.). She never did that again! LOL::

[Heidi]

I had a parent call and ask if she could drop her child off for a few hours to get some errands done. I said yes knowing I had grocery shopping for the daycare to do that day too. I ran into her at the store with all 4 of the kids I had that day (3 under 2 yr.). She never did that again! LOL::

[e.j.]

However what is typical with this DCF is they will shorten the hours for a specific day only to backpedal & try to lengthen them at the last minute, usually at the time they need to pick-up. So I just said to myself - wait for it - it will happen & you need to know how to respond. And sure enough - at 4:04 pm DCD calls & informs me he was going to the store to get some things & would be over after he shops

I think it's kind of funny that we get to know our dc parents even better than they know themselves!

[Crazy8]

I get this a lot too and never know quite how to respond because TECHNICALLY they are contracted till their normal later time.

[momofboys]

I get this a lot too and never know quite how to respond because TECHNICALLY they are contracted till their normal later time.

True but with this family I have told them numerous times that if THEY change the hours for the day at the last minute they can't revert to their original hours. I will make plans outside of the time their kids are here. It just gets soooo old dealing with it.

[Kiki]

DCF let me know yesterday that today would be a shorter day - they were having some work done at their home & as a result DCD would be home "supervising" so the kids would come later (not til 7:45) & be picked up at 4:00happyface. Normally they are here 10 hrs so I am liking the sound of this. However what is typical with this DCF is they will shorten the hours for a specific day only to backpedal & try to lengthen them at the last minute, usually at the time they need to pick-up. So I just said to myself - wait for it - it will happen & you need to know how to respond. And sure enough - at 4:04 pm DCD calls & informs me he was going to the store to get some things & would be over after he shops:confused::confused:. I quickly said "You told me this morning you were picking up at 4:00 - I planned to take my boys to get hair cuts (Great Clips has a $5.99 sale this weekhappyface)." I expected a fight. He didn't fight me or anything simply said - I will be right over to get them. What bothers me is that he even felt like he wasn't asking me - just letting me know he was extending his time for the kids to be in care - like it's his choice. Not sure if I will ever understand but I was proud that I stood up for myself & said NO!.

happyface

I always tell my parents NOT to tell me they will be picking up early... because I swear in all the time I have been doing daycare and all the times I have been told a parent would be picking up early, not even a quarter of those times have they. This isn't a specific family, but all of them. I think it's sad that parents have no idea how to get anything done these days while their own children are with them. It's actually quite pathetic. I once had to take 5 of my daycare kids with me to the pharmacy (an hour walk both ways) while I was sick with the flu - meanwhile, half of those children's parents were at home in bed sick... the same parents who try to drop their kids off on their days off because they need to wash floors, or go get groceries or some other simple task that most other people can do WITH their kids.

This! I can do everything with my 3 girls, and my 4 DCK that parents claim they can't do with their 1 child. Seriously?! Who can't mop a floor with kids home, or clean up the house, go shopping, go to the post office?!
I think today, it's more a matter of parents don't know how to either get kids involved with what they are doing in some way (Make a game out of it! Give them a wash cloth, tell them to go wash that wall, they think they are helping, and it entertains them long enough for you to get what you're doing done, so forth), or finding something that will keep them entertained while they are completing the task.

Also, bravo on walking that far, with that many kids, WHILE BEING SICK!