Saga Continues- Late DCM, I Wasn't Home..... :) She Wants To End Care...

[countrymom]

but how many chances can one person take. I had a mom like this, every time I schedualed something, she would always say that she would be there in 5 min. The next time, same thing and the next time. Well, what you all don't understand is that by waiting for people and playing the texting game and trying to figure out where everyone is, is the fact that the little kids get to lose out, that means its 5 min less they get to play, 5 min less that they get to eat, 5 min less we do art. Sometimes its ok to play with a schedual but after a while it becomes annoying and disrespectful. I will gaurentee you that were ever she goes they won't put up with her coming and going when she pleases either. Oh, and this is one of those "special" parents, she signed the contract but wanted you to give her special so she can come and go as she please, taking advantage of you.

[Cradle2crayons]

I agree. This is definitely where contracts come in and enforcing them. If we aren't willing to enforce them, then why even go through the effort of typing them, printing them, going over them, having them signed etc. make the rules, follow them, and EXPECT the parents to follow them ONLY if you enforce them. When things like this happen, I type up a conference form, I talk to them I person, write down what was said and we both sign it. If they can't follow the rules I have loads waiting for their spot. End of story.

[countrymom]

I agree. This is definitely where contracts come in and enforcing them. If we aren't willing to enforce them, then why even go through the effort of typing them, printing them, going over them, having them signed etc. make the rules, follow them, and EXPECT the parents to follow them ONLY if you enforce them. When things like this happen, I type up a conference form, I talk to them I person, write down what was said and we both sign it. If they can't follow the rules I have loads waiting for their spot. End of story.

yup, I think if this was nipped right away then we wouldn't be having this discussion.

[LaLa1923]

yup, I think if this was nipped right away then we wouldn't be having this discussion.

We've had several conversations!

[Crystal]

Would her boss call her if she was running late? I'm sure if the school isn't going to wait/call if they are trying to go on a field trip, go into another classroom, library, music, etc.

I know a center wouldn't call if they were needing to leave for a field trip.

How many times do we say "don't wait for parents, just leave!" I have seen that quoted sooooo many times on here. Why would this thread be any different?

The provider is not her boss. The provider is there to care for her child....a service for which the parent pays. If she needs to leave, KNOWING that the parent is going to arrive, then she should let the parent know that she is leaving.

I know many centers that WOULD call....most of them actually.

I have never said "don't wait for parents, just leave" EVER. I wouldn't do that under any circumstances, unless maybe the house was on fire. I think it is rude, unprofessional and, as the OP found out, risks losing clients.

I understand being upset about parents arriving late for pick up, or even for drop off if there is a field trip scheduled, but, IMO, the provider is getting paid for the time the child isn't there when she arrives late and it is the parents perogative to keep their child as late as they want to in the morning....who are we to tell them they cannot keep their child with them for an extra hour? Certainly the parent should let the provider know, but considering this is common and the provider realized the parent would show up, as a professional courtesy, I think she should have called.

I don't blame the parent one bit for terming services, and because the provider was not available to care for her child, I wouldn't pay either.

[Crystal]

[/B]

In this case it was your responsibility to contact her. Your leaving was out of the norm. You should have called her to tell her you had to leave and how long you would be gone. Respect in a 2 way street.

I agree.

[Crystal]

I didn't do it to teach her a lesson. I had an emergency and I had to go. She has called or texted lots of times after 9am to tell me she is not coming. I don't think it's my responsibility to contact her, I've got other littles to care for....

I understand it was an emergency, however it would have taken 30 seconds for you to text her. As a professional courtesy, and to avoid losing clients, you might want to reconsider next time.

[Crystal]

but how many chances can one person take. I had a mom like this, every time I schedualed something, she would always say that she would be there in 5 min. The next time, same thing and the next time. Well, what you all don't understand is that by waiting for people and playing the texting game and trying to figure out where everyone is, is the fact that the little kids get to lose out, that means its 5 min less they get to play, 5 min less that they get to eat, 5 min less we do art. Sometimes its ok to play with a schedual but after a while it becomes annoying and disrespectful. I will gaurentee you that were ever she goes they won't put up with her coming and going when she pleases either. Oh, and this is one of those "special" parents, she signed the contract but wanted you to give her special so she can come and go as she please, taking advantage of you.

See, I don't understand how keeping your child home with you rather than dropping her off at daycare at an earlier time, just because it is a contracted time is asking for "special". Personally, I would consider it AWESOME that a parent would prefer to bring her child later while she spent a little extra time with her , rather than bringing her to daycare at the precise time she is contracted for. Really, what is so wrong with that?

[Country Kids]

See, I don't understand how keeping your child home with you rather than dropping her off at daycare at an earlier time, just because it is a contracted time is asking for "special". Personally, I would consider it AWESOME that a parent would prefer to bring her child later while she spent a little extra time with her , rather than bringing her to daycare at the precise time she is contracted for. Really, what is so wrong with that?

Because it holds the day up!!!!

I have been late more times then not by parents waiting for them. These are parents that have to be to work at a certain time but seem to stroll in when it suits them-I'm not sure how they keep jobs.

Here's how I look at it. When I have an appt.-Dr., Dentist, Ortho, taxes I better be there for it or they move on. I'm also charged for that visit whether I show up or not. They don't wait for me, they have other clients that need to be served, that are paying to be served and I may have just messed their entire day up by being 5 or 10 min late, thus the charges to me. Even if you call that you are running late, they usually make you rebook your appt., they don't wait for you.

Yes, I'm paying them for a service they provide but I've seen it in writing, on the walls, wherever what their policies are. Same with providers, its in our handbooks/contracts!

Also, 9 times out of 10 the child that arrives off schedule is the one that doesn't eat, nap, wants to try and do everything thats been done, and is just off routine. When it keeps happening its a little hard to take the parents seriously about if they really want childcare or not.

[Cradle2crayons]

I think the point is that the way SOME in home care homes are set up, erratic drop offs and pick up interrupt the level of care provided to the entire setting as a whole. I agree with this. I have kids to get on the school bus (and off againetc) and as I mentioned before, driveway concerns etc. everyone has reasons why they either care what time a child is dropped off or doesn't and the reasons are individual. As a parent and a provider, it's important to remember that lack of communications and ongoing resentments between providers and parents really are detrimental to the emotional well being of all involved, even the children. It's important that whatever policy there is, is enforced and communicated so that everyone knows what is expected of them.

[Crystal]

Because it holds the day up!!!!

I have been late more times then not by parents waiting for them. These are parents that have to be to work at a certain time but seem to stroll in when it suits them-I'm not sure how they keep jobs.

Here's how I look at it. When I have an appt.-Dr., Dentist, Ortho, taxes I better be there for it or they move on. I'm also charged for that visit whether I show up or not. They don't wait for me, they have other clients that need to be served, that are paying to be served and I may have just messed their entire day up by being 5 or 10 min late, thus the charges to me. Even if you call that you are running late, they usually make you rebook your appt., they don't wait for you.

Yes, I'm paying them for a service they provide but I've seen it in writing, on the walls, wherever what their policies are. Same with providers, its in our handbooks/contracts!

Also, 9 times out of 10 the child that arrives off schedule is the one that doesn't eat, nap, wants to try and do everything thats been done, and is just off routine. When it keeps happening its a little hard to take the parents seriously about if they really want childcare or not.

I wouldn't allow it to hold the day up.....if I had to leave, I'd call the parent. If it was time for circle time, I'd do circle time. I wouldn't allow it to mess up my plans.

I see your point about dr./ dentist/ etc. BUT the reason for that is because someone else is waiting for thier appointment. I guarantee you if the dentist/dr. etc. had an emergency they would CALL everyone with an appointment and cancel/reschedule. They wouldn't just leave.

My WHOLE point is, it is unprofessional to NOT CALL and JUST LEAVE. Regardless if the parent is to blame, the parent isn't the one who is being held to a PROFESSIONAL standard, the provider is.

Anyway, my opinion doesn't matter, the parents does. As OP found out, the parent's opinion is that it was unprofessional and now she is looking for a new provider.

[LaLa1923]

The provider is not her boss. The provider is there to care for her child....a service for which the parent pays. If she needs to leave, KNOWING that the parent is going to arrive, then she should let the parent know that she is leaving.

I know many centers that WOULD call....most of them actually.

I have never said "don't wait for parents, just leave" EVER. I wouldn't do that under any circumstances, unless maybe the house was on fire. I think it is rude, unprofessional and, as the OP found out, risks losing clients.

I understand being upset about parents arriving late for pick up, or even for drop off if there is a field trip scheduled, but, IMO, the provider is getting paid for the time the child isn't there when she arrives late and it is the parents perogative to keep their child as late as they want to in the morning....who are we to tell them they cannot keep their child with them for an extra hour? Certainly the parent should let the provider know, but considering this is common and the provider realized the parent would show up, as a professional courtesy, I think she should have called.

I don't blame the parent one bit for terming services, and because the provider was not available to care for her child, I wouldn't pay either.

She was supposed to drop off at 8!!!! I did NOT know she was going to be showing up!!

I was available at her CONTRACTED time! She decided not to communicate with me!!! I will simply just pull someone from my waiting list!!!

[momofboys]

See, I don't understand how keeping your child home with you rather than dropping her off at daycare at an earlier time, just because it is a contracted time is asking for "special". Personally, I would consider it AWESOME that a parent would prefer to bring her child later while she spent a little extra time with her , rather than bringing her to daycare at the precise time she is contracted for. Really, what is so wrong with that?

It is awesome if you are home 100% of the time. Not so awesome if you go to activities with the kids & it holds you up. I attend storytime at the library, we frequently go on walks or to the park. I also do school drop-offs so it is very important that parents are timely or notify me if they are late.

[LaLa1923]

I understand it was an emergency, however it would have taken 30 seconds for you to text her. As a professional courtesy, and to avoid losing clients, you might want to reconsider next time.

Honestly, she is obviously did not showing any respect for me or my business or our group schedule. She also decided not to communicate that morning. Her responsibility, not mine.

I was more than professional by sticking around and waiting on her for almost an hour.

[LaLa1923]

See, I don't understand how keeping your child home with you rather than dropping her off at daycare at an earlier time, just because it is a contracted time is asking for "special". Personally, I would consider it AWESOME that a parent would prefer to bring her child later while she spent a little extra time with her , rather than bringing her to daycare at the precise time she is contracted for. Really, what is so wrong with that?

First, she takes her from bed to here.

Second, if this were the case she was to contact me prior to her contracted time. SHe did not contact me at all..........are you missing something??