What a Week!

[melissa ann]

Okay, Monday I got up expecting the kids by 6:15. By 6:30 no show. I called g-pa. he said he had to go in overnight and daughter's b-friend will be dropping off the kids. He always tells g-pa he will be there right after 6. What time did they arrive? 10 till 8! Almost 2 hours later. I was furious. Yesterday and today it was quarter till 7. G-pa still picks up the kids. He goes home and sleeps. Monday he was here like quarter till 5. Heaven forbid he picks them up earlier when he's home. Yesterday he was late. I called at 5 after 5 and my phone call woke him up. he got here by quarter after. He said he woke up 2 but then laid back down. I really wanted to scream and say then pick up the kids. Today, from 5-6 we had meet the teacher for my daughter's kindy class. At 4:30 I was going to call to make sure he was up, but he showed up.
And today, 17 month old came w/o shoes. B-friend (dad of this one) said he couldn't find his shoes. now, I have in the handbook that if walking age kids do not have shoes, when we go out to play they have to sit. I sent a reminder home about this and a reminder that starting monday we will havet to walk my dd to/from the bus stop and everyone must have shoes. If a child arrives w/o shoes they can not stay. period. I will not have them walk on the sidewalk barefoot.
Is that a little harsh? I would never take my kids anywhere without being dress appropiately.

[Lilbutterflie]

I feel your pain! It is soooo frustrating when they say they will be here at a certain time and show up way later; and also when they show up late. I can understand being late sometimes, things happen. But when it's consistent it's just a lack of consideration.
No, you are not being too harsh about your shoes rule. It is ridiculous to think that a parent would think it's ok to drop them off without shoes!! I would never take my child to daycare without shoes. I never take my kids out of the house without shoes. If you can't find their regular shoes, find a different pair. They need more than just one pair of shoes! They cannot be in daycare without shoes. period.

[MarinaVanessa]

I don't think that's harsh at all. Would this fly at a school? Nope. No one would even think to take their kid to school without shoes ... um, hello?!

[QualiTcare]

i think this is one of the many reasons that daycares are so popular compared to home care.

daycares are typically open during certain hours (6:30-6) or whatever. a parent can drop their child off at 6:30 or they can drop them off at 9:30 and it doesn't matter. they don't have to give notice, explain, or apologize.

providers always say, "this is a business." well, the parents also think of it as a business and if they show up during operating hours - it shouldn't matter when they arrive because it's during business hours - as long as they're out by closing time.

i guess you could always have it in your contract that if they are supposed to arrive at 7 then they must be there at 7. i just see it as - if they're supposed to be there at 7, and they show up at 8 or 9 - that's an hour or two that you're getting paid for and not havng to work. yeah, it would be nice to be able to sleep later if you had known. it would be nice for a banker to know that they wouldn't have anyone walk into the bank until two hours after they opened so they could sleep in - but it doesn't work that way. the hours are 9-5 and they're there from 9-5. they're getting paid to be there from 9-5 whether or not they have 100 customers in the first hour or one customer all day.

i guess i'm on my own, but that's how i see it.

[misol]

i think this is one of the many reasons that daycares are so popular compared to home care.

daycares are typically open during certain hours (6:30-6) or whatever. a parent can drop their child off at 6:30 or they can drop them off at 9:30 and it doesn't matter. they don't have to give notice, explain, or apologize.

providers always say, "this is a business." well, the parents also think of it as a business and if they show up during operating hours - it shouldn't matter when they arrive because it's during business hours - as long as they're out by closing time.

i guess you could always have it in your contract that if they are supposed to arrive at 7 then they must be there at 7. i just see it as - if they're supposed to be there at 7, and they show up at 8 or 9 - that's an hour or two that you're getting paid for and not havng to work. yeah, it would be nice to be able to sleep later if you had known. it would be nice for a banker to know that they wouldn't have anyone walk into the bank until two hours after they opened so they could sleep in - but it doesn't work that way. the hours are 9-5 and they're there from 9-5. they're getting paid to be there from 9-5 whether or not they have 100 customers in the first hour or one customer all day.

i guess i'm on my own, but that's how i see it.

I understand your point and it is very valid - for providers who run their businesses according to opening and closing hours (like banks do). For providers like me who operate based on contracted hours, the parents are, in essence, breeching the contract. You also have to look at the fact that bankers serve one client at a time and providers serve a group. So if one person is too early or too late, it has the potential to throw off the whole day for the entire group. Many daycares follow a daily schedule and base their meals, activities, field trips, etc. on the arrival and departure times of all the children in care. Having kids show up at all hours of the day is VERY disruptive to the schedule.