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

[sharlan]

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.

I do a lot with my kids. I have 4 grandkids in school and sometimes have to go pick one up sick. If a child is not there, I send a text to the parent - LEAVING IN 15 MINS. Me personally, I would not have left without texting the parent. That is just how I do it and don't expect others to do the same.

I have one father that routinely shows up anywhere from 7:30 to 2:30. I just send him a quick text and go about my business. I don't let him slow me down.

[LaLa1923]

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.

We go out in the mornings! She has come before and I was not home. But this time she didn't message me or call or communicate. I told her in advance what our schedule is , she has it. She still chooses to show up when we are on a walk or park. However, this time I got even lesss communication than I do any other time. I'm not their parent, this is my business.


I am PROFESSIONAL! thank you!!

[Willow]

If you didn't require compliance before I think you should have texted to let her know you wouldn't be there.

Whether or not she was a no-show before, or called in super late before, fact is there were times she also showed up late before and you knew this was a pattern with her. It was obviously her expectation that the free for all would continue.

I understand your frustration, but I understand hers as well.

[LaLa1923]

If you didn't require compliance before I think you should have texted to let her know you wouldn't be there.

Whether or not she was a no-show before, or called in super late before, fact is there were times she also showed up late before and you knew this was a pattern with her. It was obviously her expectation that the free for all would continue.

I understand your frustration, but I understand hers as well.

Yes, but generally if she were coming i would hear from her. We had a talk on friday about the drop-off time and what not. She said she would text me.......didn't happen

[Willow]

Yes, but generally if she were coming i would hear from her. We had a talk on friday about the drop-off time and what not. She said she would text me.......didn't happen

Did you warn her in very clear terms (in writing and signed via an acknowledgement form of sorts) that from now on non-compliance can result in your unannounced absence?

Seems stupid but she's obviously a thick one.

Those are the steps I would have taken. If I hadn't then I would assume it's on me to notify her that I was headed out in case she was banking on me being there.

Broken policy + consequence. You threw a consequence at her it sounds like she had no idea was on the table.

[sharlan]

double post

[Hunni Bee]

Another poster said it before - what good is there having a contract if you continually let people run over it? What good is having contracted drop off times if the parent is going to be allowed to show up whenever and not call?

This is not a case where the parent was running five minutes behind and the provider just left. The parent was being her normal rude self, decided she was not going to honor the agreement and she got a consequence. She was banking on the provider "just sitting around with nothing to do" as some of us are so often accused of, and this time she wasn't. I don't think the parent deserved a text, she was an hour late with no notice and was on warning. She chose to not to make it a learning experience, she blamed the provider. Let her find other care. I'm glad the OP has a waiting list.

[countrymom]

Another poster said it before - what good is there having a contract if you continually let people run over it? What good is having contracted drop off times if the parent is going to be allowed to show up whenever and not call?

This is not a case where the parent was running five minutes behind and the provider just left. The parent was being her normal rude self, decided she was not going to honor the agreement and she got a consequence. She was banking on the provider "just sitting around with nothing to do" as some of us are so often accused of, and this time she wasn't. I don't think the parent deserved a text, she was an hour late with no notice and was on warning. She chose to not to make it a learning experience, she blamed the provider. Let her find other care. I'm glad the OP has a waiting list.

your absolutely right. The parent was taking advantage of the provider. And why is it our responsibility to call and see where parents are when parents can't do it themselves. Seriously, since when did I become the provider for the parents too, do I have to ask if you pooped today too.

[Bookworm]

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.

Speaking as a center employee, there are times when we call a parent late for a field trip. That parent is usually always on time so we assume they've had something going on that morning. As a general rule, I do not call late parents because I give notice that the children must be at DC 30 min before departure because several of our trips require us to be there and seated 10-15 min before start. Notice is given one week before trip and the day before. If they aren't there, I leave my cell number and ask them to meet us there. After being 30-45 min late to work a few times, every problem parent now comes on time.

It's my understanding that OP said she waited almost an hour for mom to call/text. When she didnt, she went about her business. I don't blame her. She just had the same talk with mom days ago and apparently it didn't sink in. Personally, I agree with OP.

[nanglgrl]

I agree with the original poster. My job is to take care of children not parents.
I have it in my contract that parents can not drop after 9 am. I still have one grandmother that drops off anywhere from 8:15-8:59. I swear she comes at 8:59 just to annoy me. My space is set up in the basement and once the kids get to playing it is hard for me to hear the door (no doorbell because of abuse of it and my hearings not spectacular) so we have to sit and look out the window upstairs until she arrives and then we can go downstairs and start our day. I was also frustrated because I would buy food for him for breakfast but since he comes so late some days I can't serve him within my allotted time so I can't claim it.

[Patches]

your absolutely right. The parent was taking advantage of the provider. And why is it our responsibility to call and see where parents are when parents can't do it themselves. Agree with thisSeriously, since when did I become the provider for the parents too, do I have to ask if you pooped today too.::::Love to see the look on a parent's face if you did::

^

[LaLa1923]

I let DCM know we would miss DCG but that I still require a months termination notice with payment. ALso, that I have no ill feelings towards any of them and that I hope they are all welll...



She then responds back with- "I'm still upset over everything, I'd like to meet up so we can talk. Please let me know if you are available this weekend.":confused:


WTH??

[LittleD]

It's bad enough she runs over you during regular hours, now she wants to cut into your personal time? Isn't she a peach!
I wonder what there is to talk about, she gave notice, now its just a waiting game to til she leaves. Good luck!

[momofboys]

Speaking as a center employee, there are times when we call a parent late for a field trip. That parent is usually always on time so we assume they've had something going on that morning. As a general rule, I do not call late parents because I give notice that the children must be at DC 30 min before departure because several of our trips require us to be there and seated 10-15 min before start. Notice is given one week before trip and the day before. If they aren't there, I leave my cell number and ask them to meet us there. After being 30-45 min late to work a few times, every problem parent now comes on time.

It's my understanding that OP said she waited almost an hour for mom to call/text. When she didnt, she went about her business. I don't blame her. She just had the same talk with mom days ago and apparently it didn't sink in. Personally, I agree with OP.

[LaLa1923]

It's bad enough she runs over you during regular hours, now she wants to cut into your personal time? Isn't she a peach!
I wonder what there is to talk about, she gave notice, now its just a waiting game to til she leaves. Good luck!

I don't think she expected me to be nice and ok with her wanting to terminate care. I think now she just wants everything to be ok and DCG to come back....