Inconsistent Pickups and Drop Offs

[Lilbutterflie]

I always tell my parents that I am flexible but I need them to communicate with me; if you are dropping off late- let me know. If you are picking up early- let me know. We are not always here because we go on walks around the neighborhood and to the park. So if a parent is not consistent with pickup/drop off times & does not communicate with me; I make sure to tell myself I WILL NOT plan my day around them!! We get out of the house and go for our walks according to everyone's contracted times; and if they come early/late and we are not home -it's their fault.

[DBug]

I must be the odd one out ::. I guess I just don't see what the issue is with dropping off late/picking up early?

I give parents a copy of our schedule with bus runs, outdoor time, etc. If we're going out and I'm still expecting someone to show up I leave a note with where (approximately) we'll be. For example: "out in the back field", "walking around the block", etc. They come find us where ever we are, or wait for us in the driveway at the house. If the parent would rather drop off or pick up when we're at the house, they have the schedule -- they can do it when we're scheduled to be at home. I'm not going to let one family's random schedule dictate my daily routine, kwim? And I don't need the stress of worrying about it. I've got enough stress in my life as it is ::

And I welcome early pick-ups! I would rather the parents spend as much time with their kiddos as possible. If they get picked up before pm snack, I'll let the parent know they might be hungry. If I've already gotten their snack ready, I'll put it in a bag or container to take with them.

I don't know, I guess I figure it's their kid and they're paying for the time. If they want LESS time for their money, I'm more than willing to oblige!

[azdemi]

Lately having the same problem

I have a client I have had for 3 years. Recently the mom got remarried and every since then she has been unreliable. Says she will be here and not show up and not call while we sit and wait to go on a field trip. She finally calls me and assures me that she will be here on Monday then texts me she got cancelled to work that day. I said ok at least she let me know. Then she assures me they will be here yesturday. No call, no show.. I try to contact her and no answer. Still havent heard anything from them. I just dont know what to do, they never behaved like this before. She tells me they only have the one phone and her hubby takes it so I thought maybe shes not getting my messages. But then I think No, shes the one who assured me she would be here yesturday. I know they are having money problems too. Then I have another client who said she needed me everyday this week and has yet to bring kids over. She said her friend wanted to visit them today and then she was sick on Monday and yesturday she had her bf watch them. I am just frustrated since I depend on them to pay our bills. And when they say they will be here and they are not I dont know what to say for fear I will loose them for good. Which may or may not be a good thing. After 13 years of doing this I dont know why I am suddenly hitting this period, My hubby says it will be ok and maybe its the economy and it being summer doesnt help with people vacationing. I just needed to vent..Thanks everyone for reading.

[Blackcat31]

I have a client I have had for 3 years. Recently the mom got remarried and every since then she has been unreliable. Says she will be here and not show up and not call while we sit and wait to go on a field trip. She finally calls me and assures me that she will be here on Monday then texts me she got cancelled to work that day. I said ok at least she let me know. Then she assures me they will be here yesturday. No call, no show.. I try to contact her and no answer. Still havent heard anything from them. I just dont know what to do, they never behaved like this before. She tells me they only have the one phone and her hubby takes it so I thought maybe shes not getting my messages. But then I think No, shes the one who assured me she would be here yesturday. I know they are having money problems too.


You need to have this mom give you a written schedule for the week WITH payment in advance. Then do NOT wait for her to do any field trips, activities or anything else. Go about your day as normal. She will have paid for her space and if she chooses to not use it then that will be her problem not yours.

I don't do refunds or credit for time not used. I charge to reserve the space and if you use it, great! If not..then NOT my problem.

Then I have another client who said she needed me everyday this week and has yet to bring kids over. She said her friend wanted to visit them today and then she was sick on Monday and yesturday she had her bf watch them. I am just frustrated since I depend on them to pay our bills. And when they say they will be here and they are not I dont know what to say for fear I will loose them for good. Which may or may not be a good thing. After 13 years of doing this I dont know why I am suddenly hitting this period, My hubby says it will be ok and maybe its the economy and it being summer doesnt help with people vacationing. I just needed to vent..Thanks everyone for reading.

Same goes for this mom. Written schedule and payment in advance. You do your thing and don't worry about them. If they don't give you a schedule when you require it to be in, then there should not be space available to them. If they dont give you payment in advance then there should be NO services for them.

NO pay=No stay.

I answered in bold above.

Another thing is to add a late fee for late payments. I also charge a higher iialy rate for families who give me their schedules late.

[Rachel]

I must be the odd one out ::. I guess I just don't see what the issue is with dropping off late/picking up early?

I give parents a copy of our schedule with bus runs, outdoor time, etc. If we're going out and I'm still expecting someone to show up I leave a note with where (approximately) we'll be. For example: "out in the back field", "walking around the block", etc. They come find us where ever we are, or wait for us in the driveway at the house. If the parent would rather drop off or pick up when we're at the house, they have the schedule -- they can do it when we're scheduled to be at home. I'm not going to let one family's random schedule dictate my daily routine, kwim? And I don't need the stress of worrying about it. I've got enough stress in my life as it is ::

And I welcome early pick-ups! I would rather the parents spend as much time with their kiddos as possible. If they get picked up before pm snack, I'll let the parent know they might be hungry. If I've already gotten their snack ready, I'll put it in a bag or container to take with them.

I don't know, I guess I figure it's their kid and they're paying for the time. If they want LESS time for their money, I'm more than willing to oblige!

Nope, I was starting to think I was nuts. Sometimes it's aggrevating after the fact (today my first kid came at 8, I could have done a load of laundry in that time or run to the local store quick), but really I just enjoy it. If a parent knocks and I'm in the toilet or changing a diaper, I tell them I'll be right there and come. So they wait 2 minutes. It could happen if they came at the same time every day too. I'm not going to leave a kid in a dirty diaper because I am expecting a parent, the parent will wait a minute. If they need to run to work, they will get up a few minutes earlier to give themselves time (none of mine drop off when I open).