Mom Wants to Work Out ?!

[AfterSchoolMom]

What would you do?

I had an interview recently and the Mom flat out told me that she wanted to go to the gym after work and would pick up after that. My contract states work and commute times only, and she'd be off work around 4, but wants to pick up at 5. I don't have any other "prospects" currently, and since I only do care for SA's, I'll be getting to the point soon where it will be too late to get more kids since school will be starting.

Should I allow this, or tell Mom no way?

[tmcp2001]

I guess it would depend on if you are okay with the hours she's requesting and if you are bothered by her working out while you watch her child. I personally wouldn't care as long as she sticks to the contracted times and is generally a good dcp.

Question though, most gyms offer childcare - why can't she bring her child there? I go several times a week - mostly because I have 2 hours of childcare everyday. And it's the only childcare I get, ! ::

[emosks]

If it's in your contract then you should stick to it.

Our contract isn't like that and we do have a mom who is done with work earlier in the summer and instead of working out at lunch she will sometimes go after work. Not a big deal to us because we usually have kids until closing time and she still picks up by her normal school year time. She works at a college and there is no childcare in the gym.

[momma2girls]

What would you do?

I had an interview recently and the Mom flat out told me that she wanted to go to the gym after work and would pick up after that. My contract states work and commute times only, and she'd be off work around 4, but wants to pick up at 5. I don't have any other "prospects" currently, and since I only do care for SA's, I'll be getting to the point soon where it will be too late to get more kids since school will be starting.

Should I allow this, or tell Mom no way?

DO you have a closing time? I have a closing time at 4:30- I already provide a 9 hr. day. Maybe she should work out after her husband arrives home- I had a prospect tell me her husband woke up at 3:00 and couldn't pick up at 4:30- I said fine- so she left for another daycare that was going to be open 6-6- good luck!!!

[SunflowerMama]

I have a mom that does that. She works from home most of the time and when she does go to the office she works out on the way home. She's always here by 4:45p even after the gym so I'm fine with it.

[AfterSchoolMom]

Well, the other two that will be in my care will be leaving by 4:30, so I'd essentially be staying open an extra half hour just for this Mom.

[Former Teacher]

What would you do?

I had an interview recently and the Mom flat out told me that she wanted to go to the gym after work and would pick up after that. My contract states work and commute times only, and she'd be off work around 4, but wants to pick up at 5. I don't have any other "prospects" currently, and since I only do care for SA's, I'll be getting to the point soon where it will be too late to get more kids since school will be starting.

Should I allow this, or tell Mom no way?

I dont mean ANY disrespect or being rude but why do you even care? What would have happened if she lied to you and said she worked until 5:00 p.m.? I totally understand the contract blah blah etc etc..but if the parent is paying for the service then why should it matter? I guess that is what is so confusing to me with all these home providers ::

On the flip side, if you do indeed close at 4:30 then would just tell this parent no. But is it worth losing the income?

[QualiTcare]

I dont mean ANY disrespect or being rude but why do you even care? What would have happened if she lied to you and said she worked until 5:00 p.m.? I totally understand the contract blah blah etc etc..but if the parent is paying for the service then why should it matter? I guess that is what is so confusing to me with all these home providers ::

On the flip side, if you do indeed close at 4:30 then would just tell this parent no. But is it worth losing the income?

i agree 100%.

i used to go home and get on the treadmill before i picked up my daughter. it's not like i was out partying and having a blast - i was working out! as she got older, it wasn't a big deal - but when she was a baby, she'd be trying to climb up on it or i'd have to stop and chase her down cus i didn't use a playpen.

i worked at a center before that had lots of moms on assistance who got free childcare and they didn't even have jobs. they'd drop their kids off in their PJs and TELL US they were going home and going back to bed. now THAT is annoying, but a mom who works hard and takes good care of their child should be able to take an hour to work out without feeling guilty.

[MyAngels]

What would you do?

I had an interview recently and the Mom flat out told me that she wanted to go to the gym after work and would pick up after that. My contract states work and commute times only, and she'd be off work around 4, but wants to pick up at 5. I don't have any other "prospects" currently, and since I only do care for SA's, I'll be getting to the point soon where it will be too late to get more kids since school will be starting.

Should I allow this, or tell Mom no way?

It sounds like you've already thought of this situation when you wrote commute times only into your contract, and based on that you probably should not allow it.

I, personally, wouldn't have a problem with it as long as 5:00 didn't become 5:15, then 5:30, etc. I have always had a 5:00 p.m. closing time, and am very, very clear when I interview parents that this time is not negotiable. I actually have it written into my contract that I do not charge a late fee, simply because I don't want anybody to think that it's okay to be late as long as they are willing to pay a fee. I've had excellent results from this policy.

I think I'm getting off topic here, sorry!

[mncare]

If your contracted hours are for 4:30 then, no I would not do it. I have a closing time of 5 pm and made an exception for my neighbors and it backfired on me. I will not longer make any exceptions. I have it at that time so I can be with my child. She already hates that I do daycare, I need to dedicate my entire evenings to time with her!

But if your contracted hours are until 5 then I would go ahead. I agree, if they are a good family what does it matter as long as she is picking up on time. She may not have free childcare and doesn't want to pay extra at the gym?

[alyssyn]

If it was me in my area, I would definately do it. With the way jobs are around here where I live, another hour wouldn't make any difference. If you needed the income.
If you don't need the income, that's a different story.

[Abigail]

What time is your closing time? I know a lot of people have asked already, but I didn't see the response. I would be offended and switch daycare if I was told that picking up at 5:00 was unacceptable if I wanted to go to the gym after work. Her gym is probably on the way to your place and it's not like she is receiving free child care. Do you have anything else in your specific policy about your contract on times: maximum hours per day is 8 or 9 or 10? I personally just don't like the idea of "I'll only take your children if you are at work too". If I was taking a personal day, I would still want to bring my child to daycare to relax. You're still getting paid. JMHO, 5:00 is not late at all, especially around here!

[melskids]

for me personally, i dont care where they are or what theyre doing as long as they pick up on time and pay me on time. thats just me. so for me, the question would be, do i want to change my business hours and stay open later to accomodate just her?

[AfterSchoolMom]

Thanks everyone for your replies!

I can see both sides here. You're all right in that as long as I'm getting paid on time, I don't really care what she's doing with that time. I know how important it is to carve out time from a busy schedule to fit in exercise!

I changed my contract for the new school year from opening and closing times to work and commute times only because I've been burned. I had one family that never picked up at the same time of day (it varied by as much as two hours) each day, and another who constantly pushed my closing time. We have a busy schedule during the school year with our children and their activities, and last year my contract stated that 5:30 was the latest pickup time allowable - this particular family would pick up five or ten minutes late on a regular basis, and we'd have to race to get places on time. Not only that, but I was giving them a hefty discount. It's because of that family (who won't be coming back!) that I'm hesitant to start conceding things right at the beginning.

[momofboys]

Thanks everyone for your replies!

I can see both sides here. You're all right in that as long as I'm getting paid on time, I don't really care what she's doing with that time. I know how important it is to carve out time from a busy schedule to fit in exercise!

I changed my contract for the new school year from opening and closing times to work and commute times only because I've been burned. I had one family that never picked up at the same time of day (it varied by as much as two hours) each day, and another who constantly pushed my closing time. We have a busy schedule during the school year with our children and their activities, and last year my contract stated that 5:30 was the latest pickup time allowable - this particular family would pick up five or ten minutes late on a regular basis, and we'd have to race to get places on time. Not only that, but I was giving them a hefty discount. It's because of that family (who won't be coming back!) that I'm hesitant to start conceding things right at the beginning.

I would let her do it but I totally understand your point of view. For me I also had a family that constantly pushed my closing time of 5:00. They'd run late 10-15 min on a frequent basis. And part of the time it was b/c mom said she was home doing laundry & lost her keys or was late from running to Wal-Mart. Now I had NO problem with her doing laundry/running to the store,e tc but not if she was going to be 15 min late. How many hours will the child be in your care? Because everyone says, oh you are getting paid so what difference does it make? It does make a big difference if it pushes your work hurs from 9 or 9 1/2 to 10 or more. That is a long day. Since you have contracted hours only I would make an exception (if you want to) & say since your hours technically end at 4:30 on the days you go to the gym & pick up at 5:00 I will charge an extra fee of ***X. Or at least this is what I think I would do.