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I don't mind if they are phoning to say "hey I just took them to emerge and they have an ear infection so we won't be in tomorrow" or "did we forget her snow pants?" so they know if they need to find them at home or can get them here the next day but all my parents know I check my email last thing before going to bed and first thing after I am ready in the morning so if they need to give me an attendance message that is the most efficient way.
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I have not had the chance to read all of the replies, but I wanted to share with you that I too had this issue for sometime.
Here is how I dealt with it.
I told everyone our hours are operation are M-F from 6am to 6pm. Any phone calls or emails placed during those hours will be returned the same day.
Should you need to contact me after hours or on weekends, your emails and phone calls will be returned the next business day.
No text, phone calls or emails will be returned outside our normal business hours.
If it is an emergency, please leave me a message and I will get back to you as soon as I can.
Thank you for respecting this policy.
Believe it or not it worked. I do get irritated sometimes when I still see them calling, but then realize that maybe it is on their mind at that time and if they don't call me at that time they will otherwise forget.
Or you can always attach money to it. Before or after hours calls will be considered overtime at the rate of $5,000 a minute.....
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I actually use a service called Callture that I LOVE. I thought the website was mediocre but took my chances anyway. I'm so glad I did. I have an automated greeting "Thank you for calling "My Daycare" where "My Motto". We currently accept children from 6 months - 5 years old. Please leave a message and your call will be returned as soon as possible. If you are a parent, please hang up and dial the Parent Direct Line. Thanks again for choosing "My Daycare". I think it makes me sound professional and although it might sound fancy, the "Parent Direct Line" is simply my cell phone :-D
It immediately sends me an email (which also goes to my phone) so I can listen to the message and it has a place where I can see the phone number, date and time I received the call as well as an option to add notes and contact information. It helps me keep up with prospective clients and label telemarketers. For example, if the message says "I'm Sally White and I'm looking for care for my 2 year old daughter who will be ready to start in 2 weeks". I then add her name and put any phone call notes as well as anticipated start dates into her file. I get to check my openings before I call and I have EVERY SINGLE phone number whether or not they actually leave a message. Nice, right? It's not free though. I pay $9.95 flat monthly but I think it is SO worth it. I know this doesn't exactly answer your question but it does filter calls from other providers asking about rates, parents of SA children and companies trying to sell me something. To get back on topic: I think you are 100% correct; if it were a center, there wouldn't be anyone answering the phone at 10 PM! I believe you should invest in a separate line if your budget allows it.Comment
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I allow parents to text me if necessary after business hours but only until 8 PM.
For every text sent after 8 PM, I charge a fee of $5 per text.
The texts all have the times on them so the parent can't really argue with me.
I just show them my phone the next morning and add the fee to their next invoice.
I have an answering machine at daycare, they are welcome to use it 24 hours a day.
Problem solved.
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Wow, have you actually had to enforce that fee??I allow parents to text me if necessary after business hours but only until 8 PM.
For every text sent after 8 PM, I charge a fee of $5 per text.
The texts all have the times on them so the parent can't really argue with me.
I just show them my phone the next morning and add the fee to their next invoice.
I have an answering machine at daycare, they are welcome to use it 24 hours a day.
Problem solved.Comment
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Google Voice does this for free:- Text messaging (no photo or video, just plain text)
- Free phone number (the number that I give out to my clients, businesses etc.)
- Free voicemail box that records voicemails. You can play them through their smart phone app or have them transcribed.
- Customized greetings for certain numbers. My clients hear "Thank you for calling [daycare name] ...", my DD's father (not my DH) hears a generic "You have called [phone number] ... " etc. Or send certain numbers (like a hovering parent) straight to voicemail or screen/block blocked callers.
- Completely free for or all uniformed military personnel with valid United States Military (.mil) email addresses to call the United States using Google Voice.
- Free transcription of voicemail messages that are left (sends them either as email or as a text, whichever you prefer).
- You can block phone numbers for free such as pesky past clients, abnoxious exes or uncolisited business calls). Blocked numbers hear "Neer, neer, neeeer. The number which you have called is no longer in service ... "
- You can set whichever phone you want to receive the calls. Have to have at least one connected at all times but can have as many as you want and they ALL ring at the same time.
- Send calls from Santa to whoever you want. You can fill out some simple info and a call is placed to anyone you want with a cute call from Santa. I send calls to my daycare kids that says "Ho ho ho. Hello [child's name]. This is Santa Clause. I just spoke with your daycare provider Vanessa. She told me you have been a very good girl and that this year you would like [toy]. Well, my first stop is your house in [State]. So don't forget to leave me some milk and cookies and be sure to go to bed early so I can bring you a surprise! But no peeking! All right little girl. Santa has to pack up the sled with presents and comb my beard. Merry Christmas!". I send the calls after making a craft of what they want most for Christmas.
It's great that you found something that works for you!! If you or others are thinking about a free option, Google Voice does the job
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I would have been tempted to send her a text after her normal arrival time: "Hi there PITA DCM, I thought you guys would be in today? Enjoy your day with the kids!"
OK, so I wouldn't actually do it, but I'd be tempted, for sure ::
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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!!!
LOVE THIS!
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I use a program called textfree on my iPad... It's free and you get a local number just for texts... And you can pictures through it too.. It's great and I just cut the ****er off after hours
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This is such a phobia of mine!!! :: For this reason I always lock my door (sometimes I forget at night 
but always double check in the am) and let the dog out into the DC area in the am. She's got a loud scary bark if anyone tries to open it (even though she's hiding behind the couch like a chicken :
Google Voice does this for free:- Text messaging (no photo or video, just plain text)
- Free phone number (the number that I give out to my clients, businesses etc.)
- Free voicemail box that records voicemails. You can play them through their smart phone app or have them transcribed.
- Customized greetings for certain numbers. My clients hear "Thank you for calling [daycare name] ...", my DD's father (not my DH) hears a generic "You have called [phone number] ... " etc. Or send certain numbers (like a hovering parent) straight to voicemail or screen/block blocked callers.
- Completely free for or all uniformed military personnel with valid United States Military (.mil) email addresses to call the United States using Google Voice.
- Free transcription of voicemail messages that are left (sends them either as email or as a text, whichever you prefer).
- You can block phone numbers for free such as pesky past clients, abnoxious exes or uncolisited business calls). Blocked numbers hear "Neer, neer, neeeer. The number which you have called is no longer in service ... "
- You can set whichever phone you want to receive the calls. Have to have at least one connected at all times but can have as many as you want and they ALL ring at the same time.
- Send calls from Santa to whoever you want. You can fill out some simple info and a call is placed to anyone you want with a cute call from Santa. I send calls to my daycare kids that says "Ho ho ho. Hello [child's name]. This is Santa Clause. I just spoke with your daycare provider Vanessa. She told me you have been a very good girl and that this year you would like [toy]. Well, my first stop is your house in [State]. So don't forget to leave me some milk and cookies and be sure to go to bed early so I can bring you a surprise! But no peeking! All right little girl. Santa has to pack up the sled with presents and comb my beard. Merry Christmas!". I send the calls after making a craft of what they want most for Christmas.
It's great that you found something that works for you!! If you or others are thinking about a free option, Google Voice does the job Beyond the Santa call, I didn't even realize they had all this!
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So I'm curious what happened when you spoke to mom...?Comment
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When I said the kids were in my living room, I forgot to specify that DCKs are not allowed in my living room. Lol but the door was open and I'm sure DCM left them in the playroom.
Despite the early arrival, the only thing I was upset about was her leaving them unattended. She comes two mornings a week early and left 3 messages when calling the night before - for some reason my phone didn't let me know she had left any messages. So obviously she didn't have confirmation that is was OK, but she does know I'm ok with it.
Anyway I called her immediately when I got out of the shower. I said did you tell me you were coming early and I forgot because I was in the shower. She said she left messages. I basically told her she cant assume its ok and that she certainly can't leave children unattended in my home, that some areas are off limits for a reason and that's where I found them, how did she know iI was even home, etc etc etc.
Long story short the door will now be locked.
Believe it or not I wasn't that upset about it. So our conversion wasn't heated. Had she been a client who wasn't leaving there would have been some more significant consequences. I'm just so glad those kids are leaving as they are off the wall crazy, but need the last week's check, so whatever.
I'm going to look into the Google phone# now and either do that, or get another cell today
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Well, I'm glad it worked out for you! have a nice weekend, only a few more days with them, right?! happyfacehappyfaceWhen I said the kids were in my living room, I forgot to specify that DCKs are not allowed in my living room. Lol but the door was open and I'm sure DCM left them in the playroom.
Despite the early arrival, the only thing I was upset about was her leaving them unattended. She comes two mornings a week early and left 3 messages when calling the night before - for some reason my phone didn't let me know she had left any messages. So obviously she didn't have confirmation that is was OK, but she does know I'm ok with it.
Anyway I called her immediately when I got out of the shower. I said did you tell me you were coming early and I forgot because I was in the shower. She said she left messages. I basically told her she cant assume its ok and that she certainly can't leave children unattended in my home, that some areas are off limits for a reason and that's where I found them, how did she know iI was even home, etc etc etc.
Long story short the door will now be locked.
Believe it or not I wasn't that upset about it. So our conversion wasn't heated. Had she been a client who wasn't leaving there would have been some more significant consequences. I'm just so glad those kids are leaving as they are off the wall crazy, but need the last week's check, so whatever.
I'm going to look into the Google phone# now and either do that, or get another cell todayComment
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