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I love this thread! I just added a policy like this to my contract. It drives me crazy when parents don't respect my boundaries as a person! It's really not rocket science to think I may have a life :
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I once had a mom call late at night because her daughter forgot her headband and he wanted to be sure I put it in a safe place.
I made sure to mention the head band several times the next day and the location of it in her bag when they left to reassure her fully that it was safe. This from a parent that sent her 3 year old to play at my house in platform flip-flops where she would trip every 5 seconds. (Of course I stopped allowing those!). Your daughter is scraped up from falling but don't worry her headband is safe...jeez. 
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One word answers.
K
Cubby
Yes
No nap
Ex.
I can't fine Sarah's blue ribbon.
Cubby
Jonah is very fussy, was he ok today?
Read sheet. No nap
If you feel the need to give a formal notice about it just say
Notice to all families.
To insure the continued safety of myself and my family, I may not respond to texts or phone calls after hours in the timely manner I do during the day. I refuse to text while driving and routinely leave my phone behind or turned off when I'm not working. Ill respond ASAP but this may be late into the evening or early in the morning when I turn my phone back on. Thanks for understanding
After a few 230am responses they might stop asking you to hold their hand.Comment
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I would say something like this:
This is just a reminder that my business hours are 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Because of the recent drastic increase in non-emergency phone calls and texts outside of those hours I have decided that I will no longer accept any non-emergency phone calls or texts between the hours of 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 a.m.
If you need to let me know that your child will not attend for the day please do so after 6:30 a.m.
Or (If you have a home phone) If you need to let me know that your child will not attend for the day you may call my home phone number (***-***-***X) and leave a detailed message if your call is not answered.
Thank you.
Then I would set their ringtone on my phone to "silent."
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the problem is going to be that you either nix it all together or you allow it. By allowing inbetween your still going to have a problem on hand. My rule is that you cannot call me after daycare hours (5pm) and you can't call me on the weekend either. You need to talk to me, then its only during my hours. I need to have this seperation otherwise its for quick burnout too if all I do is think about daycare. I just don't understand why you just can't tell them no phone calls or texting and if it continues then you need to add money per text and call, money speaks volumes.Comment
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I once had a mom call late at night because her daughter forgot her headband and he wanted to be sure I put it in a safe place. I made sure to mention the head band several times the next day and the location of it in her bag when they left to reassure her fully that it was safe. This from a parent that sent her 3 year old to play at my house in platform flip-flops where she would trip every 5 seconds. (Of course I stopped allowing those!). Your daughter is scraped up from falling but don't worry her headband is safe...jeez. 
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What goes on in some people's heads?Comment
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You teach people how to treat you. I would tell the ones who abuse it that you will not answer texts or phone calls during evening/weeend hours. Period. No sense getting all formal and writing blanket rules for everyone. The people who abuse me get NO answer whatsoever EVER. Train them like a dog....Comment
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I have asked nicely in person. I have demanded in person.
I have sent notices. I have posted notices.
I have sent reminders. I have posted reminders.
I have busted a caps lock in their general direction, repeatedly.
I have used every shade of highlighter and every bold computer font I have access to.
None of that worked.
I stopped responding or acknowledging the off hours (non-emergency) contacts a couple years ago.
Worked like magic. happyface- Unless otherwise stated, all my posts are personal opinion and worth what you paid for them.
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I just tell them. Nicely, rudely, bluntly, in text, in person whatever fits the situation I guess.
I heard though that the new i-phone 5 allows you to make call lists where you can separate your contacts in groups like on FB and then only turn the ringer on or off for specific groups.
I make it VERY VERY clear during the interview that I do NOTHING child care related after business hours. I provide an answering machine so the parents can leave messages if they feel they must but otherwise, when I am not on the clock, I am not taking or replying to anything daycare related.Comment
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I have asked nicely in person. I have demanded in person.
I have sent notices. I have posted notices.
I have sent reminders. I have posted reminders.
I have busted a caps lock in their general direction, repeatedly.
I have used every shade of highlighter and every bold computer font I have access to.
None of that worked.
I stopped responding or acknowledging the off hours (non-emergency) contacts a couple years ago.
Worked like magic. happyface
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Like a pp, if I don't respond QUICKLY, I get
?
?
*repeated text*
If I don't respond at ALL, I get ^ plus the phone calls start! It's driving me INSANE! It wasn't so bad before, and it didn't bother me if I got a text when a parent forgot their take home sheet and said "Sorry to bother you, forgot dcb's sheet, he is cranky this evening, did he nap ok for you?" and I could respond with "Looked at sheet, 1:00-1:45 only." and the dcp would say "Thank you, have a nice evening!" but I have some pretty high needs dcp's at the moment.
I really think my ONLY option to really solve it once and for all, is to get a separate cell for daycare use ONLY and then TURN IT OFF.Comment
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Can you just refer family and friends to another number after hours for a while?
My family knows if I am not responding after closing or on weekends that they should send DH a text. The text usually goes to the effect of "I guess *** has another drama mama. Have her give me a call when she can..."
It won't take too long. I only have to go back to it when I enroll new families for a bit. Now, I give my own family a heads up text when I have a clinger and take the phones off the hook....
Even my kids teachers laugh about it. It happens to them, too, believe it or not...
- Unless otherwise stated, all my posts are personal opinion and worth what you paid for them.Comment
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I would suggest getting a prepaid cell and give the number out as the "AFTER HOURS/EMERGENCY number". I would leave it on silent or turn it off from 5pm to 659am.
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I thought of you all today. This morning I had a DCM text me at 6:13 (I open at 7:00). To ask if it " was okay if she sent apple juice for her son to drink today since milk is upsetting his stomach".
Um just send the apple juice anyway... And if I use it, I use it.
From now on, phone calls and texts will be answered during business hours.Comment
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