Speaking of Micro-Managing.....

[Greenshadow]

As a parent, I would not want my children being taken to all kinds of places
I don't see anything wrong with either texting her or at least at drop-off mention about going library, park or whatever. What if an emergency happens and she needs to get her child and you are not there? I don't think it's a matter of trust. I think it's just courtsey to tell her if you are going to be leaving the house.

I dont take the kids all over the place. We go to the park daily and to the library once a week. Thats it. There and back.

If an emergency happens, I will deal with it accordingly, just as I would deal with it at home. I carry numbers in my phone. The reaction to an accident in public would be similar to one in my home.

I think it would be different if I were all of a sudden taking them to the zoo or something. But to walk with them across the street? Come on. Especially when I already go there once a week as it is.

[originalkat]

There are so many different opinions on this. That is why each of us runs our own business the way we are comfortable with...and we market it that way. Parents who come to my daycare LOVE the fact that the kids get out of the house and have all kinds of experiences. However, if a parent isnt comfortable with that they will go elsewhere.

[DBug]

Greenshadow, it's YOUR business. I would be annoyed too, if a parent said to me what this mom said to you. I'm busy watching kids, I don't have time to text every time we go somewhere (especially if it were a walk across the street). Do what YOU are comfortable with. If you don't want to text her for future trips, don't. If she doesn't like it, she can go elsewhere .

[professionalmom]

This is such a strange issue for me. I have had clients who didn't like that I didn't go places and that her previous provider just takes all the kids with her to run errands. So, I thought, ok, I'll stop putting my life on hold when I have daycare kids. Then I got pregnant with twins and took a different DCB with me to my DD's ENT appointment and 2 of my OB appointments (meetings, not exams - no clothes came off) and that DCM got upset that I was taking him out "all the time", even though I had a signed permission slip and she knew well in advance. So, some parents like for you to get out and about and others do not.

Since I have them sign a Transportation Permission Slip during enrollment, I just let them know at drop-off it we plan to go anywhere. However, a couple months ago, the tornado sirens went off moments after it started hailing. I got the kids in the basement and then, I texted the mom to let her know that we were in the basement. The reason I did this was because, God forbid, the tornado hit the house and we would need to be dug out, at least someone would know where we were located. Also, if she was hearing the sirens, at least she would know that we had gotten to our "safe" place.

If you have a blanket field trip permission slip, then you don't have to notify her. But, if you don't and this is a big issue for her, she might start looking elsewhere. Tough decision. But it sounds like you already know where you stand, so go with that. Your business, your house, your rules. Period.

[Greenshadow]

Thanks!! I did have her sign a permission slip allowing me to take her child on small field trips. This, to me, being across the street, fit that bill. Apparently not. LOL.

[Daycare Mommy]

For trips on foot, I just put a note on my door and keep my cell on me. I let the parents know in advance this is how I do it. So if they come for early pick up, they see the note and know where we are and they can always get me on my cell. I wouldn't be willing to text her every time I left the house for a walk either. Car trips I would, but for walking, no.

[Janet]

Coming and going

I don't have a cell phone and even if I did, I don't get reception where I live, so a cell phone is pointless. OK, I'll be honest, even if I had a cell phone with good reception, I probably would have it off or I would lose it or I would just not even answer it. I hate talking on the phone as it is! I screen my phone calls big time. A parent couldn't get in touch with me even if they wanted to during the day if I'm outside of my yard. I have a blanket permission slip that I have them sign that covers every outing that we take, planned or unplanned. I may tell them in advance that we'll be doing this or that, but I just let them all know that I tend to change my plans from time to time. I've never had an issue with it because I tell them in advance that sometimes our plans change. During the spring and summer, we go places every single week (we pick up litter from the bike paths and throughout different neighborhoods and we go to garage sales once a week). The only time I ever mention it is if I don't know a kid's schedule and it interferes with our departure or arrival time. It comes down to trusting me enough to do my job and so far, all of my parents have.

[professionalmom]

I don't have a cell phone and even if I did, I don't get reception where I live, so a cell phone is pointless. OK, I'll be honest, even if I had a cell phone with good reception, I probably would have it off or I would lose it or I would just not even answer it. I hate talking on the phone as it is! I screen my phone calls big time. A parent couldn't get in touch with me even if they wanted to during the day if I'm outside of my yard. I have a blanket permission slip that I have them sign that covers every outing that we take, planned or unplanned. I may tell them in advance that we'll be doing this or that, but I just let them all know that I tend to change my plans from time to time. I've never had an issue with it because I tell them in advance that sometimes our plans change. During the spring and summer, we go places every single week (we pick up litter from the bike paths and throughout different neighborhoods and we go to garage sales once a week). The only time I ever mention it is if I don't know a kid's schedule and it interferes with our departure or arrival time. It comes down to trusting me enough to do my job and so far, all of my parents have.

I'm in MI too and I do the blanket permission slip. The thing is that this is MI and if you don't like the weather, just wait 5 minutes - it'll change. So even if I plan to take them out, by the time we're ready, it may be raining. Or it may be raining in the morning so I'm not planning on going out and about. Then it clears up and we change our plans and get out. Plus, this is daycare. No 2 days are exactly the same in this profession. You may not plan on going anywhere because you have too many kids to take in your car (mine only fits 3 car seats/booster seats), then one kid calls off and suddenly you have the option to go somewhere. When that has happened to me, I act like a kid at Christmas. "Oh, where to go, where to go, so many choices, where to go?! The zoo, the park, the big park, the pet store, the exotic pet store, the park with the trails, the beach, the kids/science museum, etc?" The options seem endless.

[Greenshadow]

For trips on foot, I just put a note on my door and keep my cell on me. I let the parents know in advance this is how I do it. So if they come for early pick up, they see the note and know where we are and they can always get me on my cell. I wouldn't be willing to text her every time I left the house for a walk either. Car trips I would, but for walking, no.

Thats exactly what I did, too. I put a note on the door.
Thanks again for everyone's input, once again.

[Janet]

LMAO! MI weather is crazy!

Yep, if you don't like the weather, wait 5 minutes!!!

Today started off rainy and cold, became rainy and muggy, then sunny and warm, then warm and muggy...

Can't make too many plans here!

[sahm2three]

I guess I always let my parents know if we are going somewhere. They did sign a contract saying that they are aware and ok with me taking their kids out. I guess I look at it like my older kids in school. If they aren't going to be in the school, because they are going on a field trip or something, I get a note telling me. I would like to know these things, and I offer my dc parents the same courtesy. Maybe this mom rubs you the wrong way?

[originalkat]

I'm in MI too and I do the blanket permission slip. The thing is that this is MI and if you don't like the weather, just wait 5 minutes - it'll change. So even if I plan to take them out, by the time we're ready, it may be raining. Or it may be raining in the morning so I'm not planning on going out and about. Then it clears up and we change our plans and get out. Plus, this is daycare. No 2 days are exactly the same in this profession. You may not plan on going anywhere because you have too many kids to take in your car (mine only fits 3 car seats/booster seats), then one kid calls off and suddenly you have the option to go somewhere. When that has happened to me, I act like a kid at Christmas. "Oh, where to go, where to go, so many choices, where to go?! The zoo, the park, the big park, the pet store, the exotic pet store, the park with the trails, the beach, the kids/science museum, etc?" The options seem endless.

YIPPEE!!! This happened to me today!!! At the last minute, 2 parents called in sick so now I just have 2 dck and my own two. I asked the 2 parents for their carseats and told them we would be out and about...maybe the park, maybe McDonalds, maybe the museum?!?! Who knows! They thought it sounded like lots of fun. They wished they didnt have to go to work!