DCPs Calling After Hours?

[DaisyMamma]

It's even in my policies to contact me only during business hours. One parent called me 3 times last night (and of course it was my birthday so this irritated me even more - especially since this same parent called me while I was away in Disney world last month!)
No, I did not answer the phone, but my problem is that even though I know to ignore it to teach them to leave me alone, it still bothers me all night and obviously I'm stilling thinking about it this morning.
This parent is leaving in 6 days, so I'm mostly venting here, but I had another parent recently get texting privileges on her phone and was texting me at night a couple times. Again I ignored it and didn't respond until the right time the next morning. One of the texts was at 10pm!! She actually did get the hint rather quickly.

What are your thoughts?

I feel that if I had a daycare center they wouldn't try to call because I would be closed.
I wonder if it is partially my fault for giving out my cell#? BUT I really prefer simple communications through text. AND it's in my policies to not call/text after hours.
Does anyone have a separate "personal" cell phone? I'm considering getting one and turning off my work phone at closing time since I can't handle seeing business calls come through without getting annoyed. After all, it's only another $10/month for another line. I wonder if I can have my "personal" calls/texts forwarded to my work line during business hours? That might be worth it for $10!! hmmmm

[blandino]

Yes, I have found myself irritated with the same thing. I especially have a problem with calls/texts while I am still getting ready in the morning. Those I have started answering at 7:00, and I think my clients may have gotten the drift, since they seem to have stopped.

I have also thought about adding a line to have a seperate line for the daycare. Also, Marinavanessa has posted about a Service that google has that can give you a number for a business, that still rings through your phone. I believe it is called Google Voice.

[DaisyMamma]

OMG
I just got out of the shower to find her children in my livingroom! DCM nowhere to be found - she left!

[DaisyMamma]

Yes, I have found myself irritated with the same thing. I especially have a problem with calls/texts while I am still getting ready in the morning. Those I have started answering at 7:00, and I think my clients may have gotten the drift, since they seem to have stopped.

I have also thought about adding a line to have a seperate line for the daycare. Also, Marinavanessa has posted about a Service that google has that can give you a number for a business, that still rings through your phone. I believe it is called Google Voice.

I actually have something like that already but really need the text option. Phone calls take too much time. Texts you can respond to to when you have time.
I currently have an in town *home* number that I advertise with since its local and It rings on my cell. I could probably change my cell # to that home number, get rid of the cell# I have and get another phone. It will end up costing the same since I can cancel the *home* service.

[Ups_and-downs]

That's crazy and inconsiderate. How could you leave your child alone. How did they get in in the first place? This is why my door is locked at all times. Parents are allowed to come into the dayhome whenever they want, but they need to let me know they are coming.

[e.j.]

Assuming you're not running late (and there's no excuse for leaving her kids without your knowledge even if you are!), I'd be on the phone to her immediately. I would tell her she has 30 minutes to pick her kids up and that a termination letter would be waiting for her. I've never termed anyone and don't make the suggestion lightly. With only 6 more days to go anyway....I'd be done with her now. Unbelievable.

[DaisyMamma]

That's crazy and inconsiderate. How could you leave your child alone. How did they get in in the first place? This is why my door is locked at all times. Parents are allowed to come into the dayhome whenever they want, but they need to let me know they are coming.

Funny. I almost locked the door before I showered. Oh well. Like I said, 6 more days.

[Patches]

I actually have something like that already but really need the text option. Phone calls take too much time. Texts you can respond to to when you have time.
I currently have an in town *home* number that I advertise with since its local and It rings on my cell. I could probably change my cell # to that home number, get rid of the cell# I have and get another phone. It will end up costing the same since I can cancel the *home* service.

I'm pretty sure you can text through google voice. I had it for awhile on another phone but I can't remember for sure. I have Talkatone on my cell now and you can text through it and it gives you a seperate #. The call quality it sometimes really bad but if you don't use the phone part, it shouldn't be a problem

[DaisyMamma]

I'm pretty sure you can text through google voice. I had it for awhile on another phone but I can't remember for sure. I have Talkatone on my cell now and you can text through it and it gives you a seperate #. The call quality it sometimes really bad but if you don't use the phone part, it shouldn't be a problem

I'm going to do some research later.

Assuming you're not running late (and there's no excuse for leaving her kids without your knowledge even if you are!), I'd be on the phone to her immediately. I would tell her she has 30 minutes to pick her kids up and that a termination letter would be waiting for her. I've never termed anyone and don't make the suggestion lightly. With only 6 more days to go anyway....I'd be done with her now. Unbelievable.

She was 50 minutes early.
Yes, ridiculous!

[MarinaVanessa]

I'm pretty sure you can text through google voice. I had it for awhile on another phone but I can't remember for sure. I have Talkatone on my cell now and you can text through it and it gives you a seperate #. The call quality it sometimes really bad but if you don't use the phone part, it shouldn't be a problem

I use google voice. I love it and its free. It gives you.a separate phone number which really just transfers your calls to whatever phone number(s) you want It also allows texting but not MMS (no picture or video messaging, which suits me just fine).

I give out my google number and print that number on my advertisements (ads, flyers, business cards etc). Parents call and text that number and I have them transferred to both my house and cell number at the same time (both ring when the number is called) so even if I'm away from home like at the park with the kids I have me cell phone with me and get their calls/texts. If I go out of town or evenings and weekends I can just temporarily disable my cell phone from alerting me of calls and texts.

It works for me and I love it. I don't always turn the alerts off but I don't mind just not answering the calls or texts, they can wait. I don't think I've ever had a client call or text me and then assume that a missed call or unanswered text meant that they could just drop off their kids and then just leave though ???

[TheGoodLife]

Assuming you're not running late (and there's no excuse for leaving her kids without your knowledge even if you are!), I'd be on the phone to her immediately. I would tell her she has 30 minutes to pick her kids up and that a termination letter would be waiting for her. I've never termed anyone and don't make the suggestion lightly. With only 6 more days to go anyway....I'd be done with her now. Unbelievable.

WHAT?! I agree- IMMEDIATE termination! What if something happened to a child, you'd be liable! Not to mention the fact that she entered your home w/o permission! I am so angry on your behalf I'd record the situation, terminate, and call your licensing agent to let them know what happened!!!

[allsmiles]

i have a separate line but so far no problems with them calling after hours.. i had one parent that constantly wanted to PAY after hours..the father picked up the child and she would come 7 or 8 to pay when she got off from work..and TALK..umm dont u wanna get home to ur kids?? i am so glad she had to get family to watch the kids.. i hate that because its our home they can come or call when they want to.. when she asked to pick up her childrens things i said SURE!..between the hours of 6:30am-6:30pm please.. she texted back .. like i was being rude or something.. :confused:..never came and got the stuff either.. WHATEVER..

[Laurel]

I have never termed anyone in 16 years but if a parent brought their child in 50 minutes early and left them there by themselves they wouldn't be coming back the next day. I would keep them that day though just to save the hassle of getting them to come right away.

I would be giving them an earful as well as a written statement. Of course, I would do it in a professional way.

Wow, just wow!

I know you are closing but if parents want to bring children early, I would be charging them for that extra time. That usually nips early/late problems.

Laurel

[crazydaycarelady]

I have given all of my dcparents my cell number and I LIKE texting, but like you said: during dc hours, but still texts are better than phone calls.

I have recently started getting about 3 texts from different parents on Sundays. I also got a text on Saturday at 6:39 from a dcmom!

I suppose it is my fault for leaving my phone on but I like it on in case one of my kids needs me.

[MaritimeMummy]

I just wonder what the heck the DCP's thought process was when they dropped their kids off.

"Helloooo? Oh well, in you go, kids".

What the heck? Who does that? You could have been tied up in the next room being robbed...okay stretch ,I know, but still. Wow.

I have parents emailing me, texting and calling past my hours. I mean, it's my fault and I'm pretty casual about it, but nothing irks me more than to be out after supper with my kids to come in and have a voice mail from a DCP asking me to "call them right away" and then have it be about something stupid like "oh did you forget to pack DCG's container back in her bag?"

I even have one parent who is so freaked out about her business that she flip flops between withdrawing her daughter, keeping her with me, increasing her hours, reducing her hours that I get an "intense' phone call from her at least once a month right at my kid's bedtime. One phone call lasted an hour of her threatening to take her daughter out come fall because my daughter will be going to preschool then, and her DD will miss my daughter too much and be "too bored" at my place without her. Okay, fine. So do what you want, but why tell me now? Why do you NEED to call me at 8pm on a Wednesday night??! We're talking about September, and it's April now!

Just recently I've stopped returning calls. I answer long, drawn-out texts with a one or two word answer. Emails...unfortunately I can't avoid answering them because it's sent through Facebook and they can always tell when I have read the message. ;