What Are Your Business Hours? Do You Make Exceptions?

[Springdaze]

Im open 7-6. from now on I am asking what hours they need and those will be my hours. I would never do 5am because I wouldnt be able to get up!

[bunnyslippers]

7:30-4:00. I do not do earlier or later, unless there is an emergency, weather, etc. And those excuses are not taken unless I know it is true.

[Sunnyyy1]

6:30 to 6:30... No exceptions my day is long enough

[DaisyMamma]

I work 8:30-6:00 and I'm in the process of changing my closing to 5:30.

Whenever I allow for earlier drop offs I regret it, regardless of price, however, I might consider 8:00 opening if I need to make up for the 5:30 closing.

I won't allow for later pickups. I have young kids myself.

[momofboys]

I am open 7-4:45 but my current clients typically don't come until 7:30ish & both pick up between 4:30/4:40ish. Just tested on making exceptions - I used to just think if a parent asked I had to oblige::, but that was years ago - used to have a DCM who would make all her personal dr appts for 4:15/4:30 & expect me to keep all 3 of her kids past her 4:45 pick-up time:confused:. I had to set her straight on that, "Judy, if you are going to make your appts that late you need to pick your kids up BEFORE heading to the doctor's" - from them on she scheduled them for 3:30:: So I used to make exceptions but now if I am asked I just say I am not available after closing & I rarely will make an exception. I am trying to firmly adhere to the premise - DCP's problems are not my problems.

[MarinaVanessa]

My hours are 7am-6pm but i have one client that I have a contract with that comes every other Friday and monday from 6:20am to 4pm. I made an exception because it's only every other week. My next client arrives at 7:30am but I'm up by 6am already to get my DD ready for school so I don't mind.

If I already opened at 6am however and a client wanted to bring a kid at 5am I doubt I'd be okay with that. Especially if the client said "occasionally" and it turned out to be frequently. I'd talk to her about it and point out that it was never supposed to be a regular thing and tell her what your definition of "occasionally" means (once a week, twice a month etc). If she needs more early mornings than you are willing to accommodate then suggest she needs to find a daycare that opens earlier than you do.

I just realized that I get to change this answer. I'm giving this family a 2 week notice on Monday and will no longer have clients arriving before my opening time happyfacehappyfacehappyface

[momofboys]

I just realized that I get to change this answer. I'm giving this family a 2 week notice on Monday and will no longer have clients arriving before my opening time happyfacehappyfacehappyface

happyfacehappyfacehappyfacehappyface, KUP on how they take it!

[sahm1225]

Im open from 7-5:30pm.

I USED to make exceptions for earlier drop offs and pick ups. I don't anymore. Every single one that asked for an exception ended up taking advantage and making it an every day thing - it was ridiculous! I changed my hours permanently from 6:15 to 7am and I can see a HUGE difference in me (I am not as tired or worn out, my energy level and moods increased, etc.)

[Candy]

I was going to do 6-6 but then realized that i'm not that much of a morning person. So probably do from 7:30-5:30

[blandino]

We are open from 7 am - 5:30 pm. No exceptions. Twice in the past year I have had parents need me Pre-arranged for a few hours after we close (and they paid additional fees) but those are the only "exceptions" I can think of.

There was a client we were very much interested in working with, but she needed care until 6:15, and I just honestly wasn't up to adding another 45 min to my work day.

[Lyss]

I'm open 7:30 to 5:30.

I did do an exception for one family and opened early at 6:30 for one DCB but I learned my lesson (especially when DCM assumed that she could change her schedule to an even earlier drop off time and I'd just do it)

[frgsonmysox]

I'm different than most. I'm open 24/7. I have one family that drops off at 3:30 am, and another that picks up at 8:30 pm. I'm basically on duty all the time. I'm totally okay with that. My family is military, we live in a military community, and I cater to the military. Their schedules are weird, hard, and change at a moments notice. Thats the type of people I want in my care. They are my family.

[williams2008]

I have opened earlier and closed later for some dcfs and I wouldn't dare do it again!