Drug & drop!

[daycarediva]

Dcb wasn't feeling 100% yesterday and I told dcm that dcb was probaby coming down with something. Dcm said that dcb had a decongestant before bed and early am, around 3 when he woke up, she said it was JUST a decongestant. His nose was running like a sieve (sp?) yesterday and other than being a tad whiny, he was participating and acting fine.

So dcm drops off dcb today. Dcb is HYPER. The total opposite of yesterday and I thought (and said) wow, dcb must be feeling better. dcm said he was fine all night. His runny nose was even gone, but she gave him meds this morning-just in case. (RED FLAG, yesterday she specified decongestant, today it was meds)

Well about 9 dcb falls asleep during morning circle. Wake dcb, move to outside. DCB stood on the deck and screamed for 15 minutes before I finally just brought everyone inside. I text dcm and she says "Does he have a fever" I respond "No, he doesn't. Any chance those cold meds had tylenol in them?" She says "Yes". She got a not so nice reply from me about how dcb doesn't have a fever because she medicated him to get through the day.

Dcb fell asleep before lunch, and has been sleeping ever since. I am NOT waking him, we competely adjusted our schedule to accomodate dcb. I have NO IDEA what all she gave him, and I normally am all for the parents giving a little decongestant. I am seriously considering terming her on the spot tonight. She blatantly refused to come get him since he doesn't have a fever and told me not to let him sleep too long or he will be up all night.

I totally understand that they NEED to work, but dcb is a really healthy kid. He has missed 2 days in the past year, both when he broke his leg. Nothing else. Mom takes off time when she is sick, and dcb comes here. I felt so terrible for dcb that I pulled my chaise lounger from the other room and laid him on it in the playroom, right next to my desk and was able to give him some extra TLC. Every few minutes in between TRYING to nap with all the commotion here, dcb would look at me and stick out his lip, and say "I want my Mom" "Is Mommy coming to get me?" "I need to go to the doctor." "Can I have some medicine?"

:confused:

[Play Care]

When I call a client to come pick up their child I am very clear about what needs to happen. "DCMom, your child is ill and needs to be picked up right away. I will see you within the hour!" At that point if they were to get snarky I would ask them if I need to start calling their emergency contacts or CPS?
I do have a clause in my contract which gives me the right to send home any child unable to participate in the day, and this is my "out." I do not let parents tell me they are not picking up a child who is clearly not well enough to be at care

[MamaBearCanada]

Poor boy! If you really feel he should have gone home then when she refused to get him you should have either terminated on the spot or told her you were going to start calling the other emergency contact # and that a late fee would apply 30min from when you hung up the phone with her. She completely undermined you and your decision with that refusal.

Having said that I'm not sure what I would have actually done because I still don't have much of a backbone - but wih the help of this forum I'm getting there!

[Scout]

Unbelievable! I can't stand parents that want their obviously sick kids to go to dc!! I would never take my kids if they were sick enough to want to go to the doctor?!!:confused: What kid(besides my ds) likes to go to the doctor? Poor thing must be really not feeling well to say that. Give him the tlc his mother should be...I would consider terming as well.

[lovemykidstoo]

Poor baby. I can't imagine how heartbreaking it is to hear a little one say he wants his mommy when he's sick and having mommy say no she's not coming to get him. What in the world is wrong with parents? He's lucky to have you!

[cheerfuldom]

I cant believe you let her refuse to come get him. I would have insisted she be there within one hour. I dont care if kids dont have a fever, if they cannot participate in the activities they go home.

[wdmmom]

Tell DCM she needs to pick him up. Its not open for discussion. Rates are $1.00 per minute beyond your notice time. If she cant come, tell her it is her responsibility to find someone to pick him up...now!!!

[daycare]

I cant believe you let her refuse to come get him. I would have insisted she be there within one hour. I dont care if kids dont have a fever, if they cannot participate in the activities they go home.

this..... parents dont get to decide if I can care for their child or not. I decide that.

If I call you and tell you to come and get your ill chld and you told me NO that would be your last day.

I would call mom back and tell her that she either comes to pick up or you will need to call emergency contacts. Tell her that she is already over the requested pick up time so please do not dealy in coming to get him. I would then let her know that he can't come back.

WOW just when I thought that I have heard it all.........

[MyAngels]

She blatantly refused to come get him since he doesn't have a fever and told me not to let him sleep too long or he will be up all night.

Umm, no. When I call a parent to pick up their child, they'd better get themselves here ASAP. I don't make those calls on a whim and what I say goes. I have in my contract language to the effect that I will be the final authority on whether your child attends care for the day, not you or your doctor.

[daycarediva]

I cant believe you let her refuse to come get him. I would have insisted she be there within one hour. I dont care if kids dont have a fever, if they cannot participate in the activities they go home.

She left me NO options. It was "I am not picking up dcb, it's not an emergency."

I called dcd, left a voicemail, no response.

I will be terming them at pickup.


I did NOT make it sound like there was an 'option'. Dcm decided that she was NOT going to follow through. The whole thing was SO RUDE. My dh read the texts (dcm's preffered communication method) and was shocked at her response.

I basically said "dcb is too sick to participate and needs to go home asap" (then got the fever response) we went back and forth for almost an hour this morning and she finally just said NO, It's not enough to come get him. It's not like dcm has a job she cannot leave (she can). I was/am SO PISSED. I feel so disrespected and I honestly feel like she is neglectful of her son through all of this. If she can take a sick day for herself, she can dang sure take one for dcb!


You are all right though, it is MY FAULT. I should have told her that no was not an option and that I would expect her within 30 minutes or she would accrue late fees. But then I know that dcb would have spent his day miserable, at her office/in her cubicle. Instead he got lots of rest here, pedialyte (that my dh bought and brought him on his lunch break), and warm chicken soup for lunch and is now taking a nice long nap!

what's pathetic is dcb is old enough to ask/understand. When I told him that I sent his Mom a text he got up, put his boots on and was getting ready. It broke my heart to tell him that she couldn't come.

[daycarediva]

Oh, and dcb still isn't running a fever. He got up, barely peed/used the potty and then I made him soup. He ate some, drank some pedialyte and went right back to sleep (per his request). He is pathetic, and I will miss this kiddo!

[Blackcat31]

She left me NO options. It was "I am not picking up dcb, it's not an emergency."

My response would have been "Oh ok. But just so you know, I will be calling CPS immediately after this call to let them know you are refusing to

care for your child."
Good for you for deciding to term tonight.

My policy is NO MEDS before daycare. This includes decongestants and anything NOT specificly related to regular medication for non-illness situations.

I also thought they stopped making decongestants and cold meds for kids under 6?

I simply follow the rule that if a child needs ANY type of meds to feel well enough to participate means they shouldn't be at daycare at all.

I don't have any of these rules to be a stickler or make things incnvenient for parents. I have these rules to protect me from parents...well, from parents like this one.

[crazydaycarelady]

That medicine will probably wear off by this afternoon and his fever will come back. I would call her then and tell her to come and get him.

I have had plenty of kids over the years magically feel like crap right around lunchtime when the meds wear off. I am all for giving meds to make the kids feel better but not to pull one over on your dcprovider.

[SunshineMama]

Good for you for terming. Not only is dcm being neglectful of her child, she is also disrespecting you and not following protocol blatantly. Now, instead of her missing 1/2 day of work, she can miss the next week looking for alternative care.

[lovemykidstoo]

This little boy is sooo lucky to have you. It is a shame that his mother is so neglectful. I feel really bad for him. I cannot imagine in my wildest dreams not going to get my child. Not every illness has a fever with it. You and your husband were so sweet with him today. I would have been kissing your feet if I were the mom. Good luck at pickup. I can't wait to hear what mommy dearest has to say.