Any Of You Watch Kids Everyday Even Though A Parent Doesn't Work?

[E Daycare]

Did you tell the parent "I need you to not have your kid here 10hrs a day" if so? Or change anything within your contract?


I'm part time (3x a week) and made a temporary exception for one of my dck. This exception includes a full time rate discount for 5 days and I took it on to help out the parent. Lately the parent (sole cuatody) has been stressed at work and taking time off work. The other parent pays daycare (parents aren't together) so the sole custody dck parent still drops off dck even when sole aren't is at home all day. Now the sole parent is looking to permanently go on leave from work. I know that parent won't want to let go of free daycare so the dck will still be coming.

Would you tell the sole parent that now you go back to the original schedule (we re-signed contracts for full time) or require the parent to do just 8 hrs a day?

I'm more looking for opinions on how you'd handle the situation really. Dcp is playing the "sick" card to make me feel guilty I know, but Im doing part time with the others (and I wanted to do it all the time) so I can spend more time with my kid. This isn't happening as the dck is here 50hrs a week (all day when parent is home too).

So do I say "well I know you other sitter is still down and out but since you'll be home now we can go back to our original agreement" or what?

I think I answered my own question on that .

So how do I go about saying that as the dcp never mentioned we'd go back to the original agreement as she's making it clear she feels soooooo sick? It's awkward now.

I hate this part. Some days I figure it's easier to just close completely and avoid any awkward run ins.

Call me chicken today.

[brookeroo]

I don't understand why some people have kids at all... Gotta wonder how that makes the child feel knowing their parent is at home all day and not spending the time with them.

[E Daycare]

I don't understand why some people have kids at all... Gotta wonder how that makes the child feel knowing their parent is at home all day and not spending the time with them.

I wonder this all the time since the kid asks all day when a parent is coming to get them.

Kids are more of a burden then anything to *some* dcps. Sometimes I feel like I'm part of the small minority that wants to spend time with my kid. It's been that way for 4yrs too and I never say "you know what would be great? Being at work outside the home 55hrs a week!".

I tried that when my kid was born and I was so bitter I gave no cares at work and they gave me the option to leave. I left. Lol

[cheerfuldom]

If the situation is no longer working for you, then change it. You dont have to keep a kid there 50+ hours a week just because a parent is willing to pay for that.

[jokalima]

Some parents just don't like to spend time with kids. I have a single Mom that she will keep her kids at home every time she has a chance, then I have this couple that will complain if they have to stay home with their kid even when they are off from work.

[SquirrellyMama]

I agree that you should change the agreement if it isn't working for you.

I don't understand why some people have kids at all... Gotta wonder how that makes the child feel knowing their parent is at home all day and not spending the time with them.

I would wonder if the sole custody parent is depressed and isn't trying to take advantage or unloving of their children.

K

[canadiancare]

It is hard not to make it personal but the reality is they are paying us to care for their child. It isn't our place to decide whether they should be the ones doing it. Unless it affects us directly it shouldn't matter what they are doing during the hours they pay us. The only time I get resentful is when a parent is late and has a car full of errands (quick trip to Costco on the way to pick up on a Friday night).

We used to get November 11 here as a stat day but they changed that a few years ago. Some workers still get it but I need to stay open for the others. Deep down I know I wish that the parents who do have it off would keep their kids and give me a break while having quality time but in reality they use it as Christmas shopping/date day and I guess that benefits the kids, too.

In the end you are in control of your clients. If you can't work with the current situation you can end the agreement within the terms of your contract.

[littlemissmuffet]

I only provide care to working parents, full time students, or parents on disability/maternity leave. The disability needs to be physical to the point that they cannot tend to their child. If the disibility is classified as emotional/mental, I will decide on a case by case basis and prefer it to be a temporary situation. It becomes very clear very quick which parents are truely sick and which ones are enjoying a free ride without their kiddo.

And to the poster who said they are paying us so it shouldn't matter... actually, it does. I find 99% of the time the children who have severe behavioral problems are the children who spend the least amount of time with their parents. This is my business, so YES, I do get to decide who I will take on/keep as clients Parents who obviously don't like spending time with their children are not parents I want to deal with on a regular basis!

[DaisyMamma]

If the situation is no longer working for you, then change it. You dont have to keep a kid there 50+ hours a week just because a parent is willing to pay for that.

True.
Go back to 8 hours. There is no reason not to.

[Cat Herder]

Personally, I no longer care where the parents are during my open to close times. I don't ask, I just keep cell phone numbers programed in my phone for emergencies.

IMHO, The kids are here and safe. My program is 50 hours a week, for one set price (not attendance based), my group and family benefits from the routine, reliability and consistency of everyone keeping the same schedule.

As for the resentment, by not making exceptions to my policies I find I no longer feel taken advantage of. Simplifying has its rewards.

[daycare]

Currently 4 of my families are stay at home moms and their child attends full time care.

I also have 1 family that has a full time nanny at home and the mom does not work. Their son comes 3 days a week from open to close.


I never question a persons needs. It keeps me in business.
I look at it as their choice.

[Blackcat31]

Personally, I no longer care where the parents are during my open to close times. I don't ask, I just keep cell phone numbers programed in my phone for emergencies.

IMHO, The kids are here and safe. My program is 50 hours a week, for one set price (not attendance based), my group and family benefits from the routine, reliability and consistency of everyone keeping the same schedule.

As for the resentment, by not making exceptions to my policies I find I no longer feel taken advantage of. Simplifying has its rewards.

I have to agree. It is hard enough managing the day let alone trying to manage what parents are or aren't doing outside of daycare while hteir kids are here.

The only difference is I charge a rate based on what parents need rather than just have everyone here all day every day.

How many of my parents are actually at work or at home or at Target, I have NO idea. They buy a certain block of time, pay for it and make sure they are reachable should I need to contact them.

I also don't believe that the children here the longest are the worst behaved children as one of my absolute best kids has been here M-F from open to close for the last 5 years now and one of my worst kids is only here 5 hours a day 3X a week.

I think it has very little to do with the amount of time spent in daycare but rather the quality of care/attention they get from their parents when they are NOT at care.

A kid who spends 3 hours of quality face time with their parents is much better off than the kid who spends 7 hours of time with their parent riding around in the back seat of the car or parked in front of the TV the whole time. kwim?

[E Daycare]

Currently 4 of my families are stay at home moms and their child attends full time care.

I also have 1 family that has a full time nanny at home and the mom does not work. Their son comes 3 days a week from open to close.


I never question a persons needs. It keeps me in business.
I look at it as their choice.

Same here until I went to part time this year and the parents got 3months notice. So as a favor (off day sitter became ill) I said I'd take on the other two days for this child. Ex pays daycare so sole custody parent gets free care. Now sole custody parent will be home and still won't fill in for the off day sitter but will choose to bring the kid here.

I get paid of course but Would rather have two days less pay (and dcp is fully aware of this) to be with my kid.

To each their own but the extent a parent takes to not be with their kid amazes me.

Someone said maybe the parent is depressed. I'm sure this is most of the case. Part of it stems from "leaving my kid boohoohoo ::cry cry cry::". Yet on time off for "stress days" it's "I slept from 8a-3p, boy I must've needed the break!".

Its an issue now. Kid was sick and I called "someone needs to get dck ASAP" as I have to throw out rugs and clean up my house now with other dck in tow and I didn't get one callback and dck was last to leave.

I don't have to do daycare but know my son enjoys the kids and I mostly do too. Until this crap happens.

[Willow]

I only provide care to working parents, full time students, or parents on disability/maternity leave. The disability needs to be physical to the point that they cannot tend to their child. If the disibility is classified as emotional/mental, I will decide on a case by case basis and prefer it to be a temporary situation. It becomes very clear very quick which parents are truely sick and which ones are enjoying a free ride without their kiddo.

And to the poster who said they are paying us so it shouldn't matter... actually, it does. I find 99% of the time the children who have severe behavioral problems are the children who spend the least amount of time with their parents. This is my business, so YES, I do get to decide who I will take on/keep as clients Parents who obviously don't like spending time with their children are not parents I want to deal with on a regular basis!

I agree with this, it's how I operate too.




OP, if you want to change your phb to reflect your feelings on this and start emphasizing it during future interviews.

[canadiancare]

I only provide care to working parents, full time students, or parents on disability/maternity leave. The disability needs to be physical to the point that they cannot tend to their child. If the disibility is classified as emotional/mental, I will decide on a case by case basis and prefer it to be a temporary situation. It becomes very clear very quick which parents are truely sick and which ones are enjoying a free ride without their kiddo.

And to the poster who said they are paying us so it shouldn't matter... actually, it does. I find 99% of the time the children who have severe behavioral problems are the children who spend the least amount of time with their parents. This is my business, so YES, I do get to decide who I will take on/keep as clients Parents who obviously don't like spending time with their children are not parents I want to deal with on a regular basis!

I do understand what you are saying which is why I put the final sentence that says "In the end you are in control of your clients. If you can't work with the current situation you can end the agreement within the terms of your contract." I am open from 06h30-16h30 M-F. My parents pay 35$ a day and I care for 5 FT kids. If I don't like the child's behaviour, that is an issue that is separate from how the parent is spending their time.