sigh Just Venting.......

**Breezy** · 10-03-2012, 07:30 AM

Ugh I hate having to chase people for payment!

DCM brings dcb in pajamas or just in a diaper usually every day. drives me crazy. I always make a comment about it and she says oh I just was running so late this morning and I just put him in his car seat.

She doesn't feed him before he comes either.. must be rough to only feed your child one meal in the evening and whine to me when you pick up that you don't want to take care of him when you pick him up after I have taken care of more than just her kid for the last 10 hours!

**HappyHearts** · 10-03-2012, 07:53 AM

Ugh! I sympathize with you about the payment. Fortunately I don't have a problem with late payments, but the pajama thing, oh yes, been there before!

I had a mom that always brought her 18 month old in her pj's, and would carry her in and hand her to me, and that is when I would end up soaked from a soggy night-time diaper! So, not only changing her, I also would have to go change my clothes. It was frustrating.

Took me several months to get through to her. Everyday I would tell her, and she would say she didn't notice!

That was a long time ago, haven't had anyone like that since.

**crazydaycarelady** · 10-03-2012, 08:33 AM

Fortunately she DOES change the diaper, but then I think "You're halfway there already, just put clothes on her!"

**cheerfuldom** · 10-03-2012, 08:44 AM

yeah it is very annoying to have to say things like this. I think parents just get busy and get in their own world and do what is easiest for them....which is let the daycare lady take care of it. They start doing less and less and dont really care that their kid is in a sopping wet diaper.

as for payment, yeah you really need to refuse them at the door on Monday morning to get thru to some parents.

**littlemissmuffet** · 10-03-2012, 09:52 AM

Payment: My policy is $25-$30/day late fee for the first day, second day is charged the same fee and no care until payment is made, third day is termination and brought to court for full payment plus late fees (continues to build up until paid in full), court/lawyer fees, and any days missed from work due to court appearances. I've always been paid by the second day.

PJs: That's fine but the child will remain in jammies the whole day. I will not dress a child for the day, that's a parent's job, not mine.

Still in night-time diaper: The second time this happens, I feel the child as soon as they come in and if their wet/dirty, I require the parents comes in and changes child before work. I tell them "I don't send home baby dirty, so please don't send them to me dirty". Usually one or two times of the parent having to come in, take their shoes off, get a diaper, get wipes and change the child while I am doing other stuff - they won't do it again.

Good luck.

**canadiancare** · 10-03-2012, 10:04 AM

That is one of my biggest weaknesses even after 21 years. I HATE chasing after people for fees. I tell them at the interview that I plan my budget (mortgage, car payments etc) according to when I get paid and I don't care how you pay (cash, cheque instant transfer) or how often, weekly, biweekly or monthly as long as you pay me when you are supposed to consistently.

I have one mum who has an excuse every time as to why my pay is late....I don't even particularly enjoy her child and yet I still keep my mouth shut and wait. I think to myself that I shouldn't have to have the anxiety of asking people for money and yet I do. EVERY time I also find myself making sure she isn't going to be tight by paying me as if her debts are more important than mine.

I recognise that this attitude devalues my service but I always feel bad as if I am taking food out of the kid's mouth or something.

**DBug** · 10-03-2012, 10:25 AM

Originally posted by canadiancare

I recognise that this attitude devalues my service but I always feel bad as if I am taking food out of the kid's mouth or something.

If you provide meals and snacks, you're using that money to put food into the child's mouth.

**canadiancare** · 10-03-2012, 10:27 AM

Originally posted by DBug

If you provide meals and snacks, you're using that money to put food into the child's mouth.

ha I know it

My husband calls me a bleeding heart. I do have to wonder why she keeps banking with an institution that screws up so often....rolls eyes.

**Blackcat31** · 10-03-2012, 10:29 AM

Originally posted by canadiancare

That is one of my biggest weaknesses even after 21 years. I HATE chasing after people for fees. I tell them at the interview that I plan my budget (mortgage, car payments etc) according to when I get paid and I don't care how you pay (cash, cheque instant transfer) or how often, weekly, biweekly or monthly as long as you pay me when you are supposed to consistently.

I have one mum who has an excuse every time as to why my pay is late....I don't even particularly enjoy her child and yet I still keep my mouth shut and wait. I think to myself that I shouldn't have to have the anxiety of asking people for money and yet I do. EVERY time I also find myself making sure she isn't going to be tight by paying me as if her debts are more important than mine.

I recognise that this attitude devalues my service but I always feel bad as if I am taking food out of the kid's mouth or something.

But aren't the non-paying parents taking food out of your kids' mouths?

I don't chase my paycheck either. I charge a $10 late fee per day for 1st late payment, $20 per day for second late payment and the 3rd late payment is immediate termination.

NO SERVICES are ever provided if ANY payment is late.

Child care is NOT a charity.

I work hard and expect to be paid in a timely manner. DCF's can give me all sorts of excuses and sob stories but I simply listen and NEVER let it control or impact their payment obligations. I have my own excuses and sob stories if they would like to hear them.

Timely payments are non-negotiable and this is stressed at the interview so that it is never something a parent ever feels they can change or negotiate with me about.

**mrsp'slilpeeps** · 10-03-2012, 10:37 AM

I just put a white board sign on my front door that says Payments are due today
Solves my problem the first of every month!

**crazydaycarelady** · 10-03-2012, 11:43 AM

That is one of my biggest weaknesses even after 21 years. I HATE chasing after people for fees. I tell them at the interview that I plan my budget (mortgage, car payments etc) according to when I get paid and I don't care how you pay (cash, cheque instant transfer) or how often, weekly, biweekly or monthly as long as you pay me when you are supposed to consistently.

I recognise that this attitude devalues my service but I always feel bad as if I am taking food out of the kid's mouth or something.

I feel the same as you. 21 in business also and I am still W~E~A~K!

I also allow them to pick their own paydate so I am flexible that way, but once you pick it you stick with it!

Payment: My policy is $25-$30/day late fee for the first day, second day is charged the same fee and no care until payment is made, third day is termination and brought to court for full payment plus late fees (continues to build up until paid in full), court/lawyer fees, and any days missed from work due to court appearances. I've always been paid by the second day.
Dcm DID pay me today when she dropped off preschool boy. Yeah - if you date it for the 1st but don't give it to me until the 3rd - it's still late!

This is GOOD! I might have to implement. I don't have a big problem with late payers but this would probably eliminate it altogether.

Dcm DID pay me today when she dropped off preschool boy. Yeah - if you date it for the 1st but don't give it to me until the 3rd - it's still late!

**Mommy2One** · 10-03-2012, 12:52 PM

Maybe this should be it's own thread, but if anyone wants to expand on WHY they don't like to have kiddos show up in pajamas I'd love to have it for reference, especially the ones that have low enrollment (our provider just takes care of 1-2 kids besides her own, our included so the argument that it'd be disruptive to dress 6-8 kids every morning wouldn't help)

I have to argue with not just my 3 year old, but frequently my HUSBAND as well and insist that DD must be dressed, fed and have her hair fixed before I drop her off at our provider's house and yes she does need to be wearing comfortable play clothes and closed toes shoes with traction (not dresses or tutus) because they play outside most days. (My daughter can dress herself for the most part, she just doesn't want to get out of her warm comfy pajamas some days - which I can I totally relate to!) My husband suggests that our provider won't mind, that we're paying her to care for our child for 9 hours/day and part of caring for a child is changing her clothes. I've even told him that I visit a daycare forum and it drives the ladies on there nuts but then he just tells me to stay off the Internet :

:

**Lucy** · 10-03-2012, 01:27 PM

Originally posted by crazydaycarelady

Also all this week she has brought dcbaby in PJ's. I am sure she has seen the other baby in pj's and thinks she can do it too - only thing is the other baby comes at 6:30am and goes back to bed. When you have regular work hours you can dress your own kid!

I've had this happen. A young mom was bringing 18 mo old in pajamas and said "his clothes are in the bag". Guess what? He went home in pajamas. Yep. Not my job. If it happened very rarely where they honestly were late and didn't have time... and ASKED instead of telling me... I would do it. But just to be lazy and have me do it, nope. Also, when they have to completely unsnap them and take their legs out of the pj's to change diapers, why not change their dang clothes at the same time??? I just don't get it. Anyway, this happened 3 or 4 times and she finally got the hint and never brought him in pj's again.

**Lucy** · 10-03-2012, 01:29 PM

Originally posted by crazydaycarelady

Fortunately she DOES change the diaper, but then I think "You're halfway there already, just put clothes on her!"

EXACTLY! (Didn't see this before I posted above

)

sigh Just Venting.......