I just sit around all day doing waiting for you!?!?

[Angelwings36]

So DCM who is contracted to drop her 13 month old son off at 8:00am informed me that he son had a doctor's appointment on this day two weeks ago and asked if she could drop him off at 10:00am. I agreed that I could make that work.

She then shoots me a text at 9:00am to inform me that they were done at the doctor and were on their way. I get the text at 9:09am and DCM pulls up at 9:10am. I had literally no time to react to the text.

I answered the door to DCM and dcb who was crying. The family is new here and the little boy still cries at drop offs. Today was much worse though. The first thing I said to her aside from good morning is that when she asks to drop off at a later time and then ends up needing to drop off earlier she needs to ASK me if that works for me first because I am sometimes in the middle of things. I told her I wouldn't have even accepted dcb at 9:10am this morning but I didn't have time to respond to her text before she pulled up. Dcb is still screaming through this whole conversation and DCM seems to be put off by what I said acting somewhat different than normal. I honestly thought she was going to grab dcb back from me and leave crying at any moment. I wasn't mean in what I said I was just to the point with her. I honestly think I shouldn't have even answered the door at 9:10am when she came.

Do you think I handled this right? Would you have opened the door for her? Could I have done something differently? Do I need to follow this morning up with a letter to DCM highlighting my policy on early/late drop offs?

Thanks.

[daycare]

For me if this was just a one time thing I wouldn't mind it.
They had a good reason why, so I think.

Now if this were happening all the time because they couldn't get their act together that would be entirely different.

I think you did fine mentioning that the next time she is going to arrive earlier than previously planned she should have called you.

That's why I hate texting.

[Blackcat31]

My guess is DCM said 10:00 thinking that was the LATEST she would be done at the doctor's but since she was done earlier, she figured she would just drop off...kwim?

Technically, she probably should have texted you that she wanted to drop off as soon as her apt was over rather than giving you a specific time.

I would have taken him in with no issue. I would however, tried to make drop off as swift as possible since the DCB was already off his normal schedule.

Maybe you should just clarify with DCM the "language" used in a text DOES make a difference.

She wanted to drop off "later than her normal scheduled time" NOT at 10:00.

I can see DCM's perspective though.

[Laurel]

So DCM who is contracted to drop her 13 month old son off at 8:00am informed me that he son had a doctor's appointment on this day two weeks ago and asked if she could drop him off at 10:00am. I agreed that I could make that work.

She then shoots me a text at 9:00am to inform me that they were done at the doctor and were on their way. I get the text at 9:09am and DCM pulls up at 9:10am. I had literally no time to react to the text.

I answered the door to DCM and dcb who was crying. The family is new here and the little boy still cries at drop offs. Today was much worse though. The first thing I said to her aside from good morning is that when she asks to drop off at a later time and then ends up needing to drop off earlier she needs to ASK me if that works for me first because I am sometimes in the middle of things. I told her I wouldn't have even accepted dcb at 9:10am this morning but I didn't have time to respond to her text before she pulled up. Dcb is still screaming through this whole conversation and DCM seems to be put off by what I said acting somewhat different than normal. I honestly thought she was going to grab dcb back from me and leave crying at any moment. I wasn't mean in what I said I was just to the point with her. I honestly think I shouldn't have even answered the door at 9:10am when she came.

Do you think I handled this right? Would you have opened the door for her? Could I have done something differently? Do I need to follow this morning up with a letter to DCM highlighting my policy on early/late drop offs?

Thanks.

Honestly, I would have taken him and said it was fine. I'm home anyway and things come up for parents. My parents pay a flat rate for the day. As long as they don't come before I open or after I close then anytime is okay. I do think she could have called sooner though.

That would be a non issue for me.

Well you asked....

Laurel

[Angelwings36]

My guess is DCM said 10:00 thinking that was the LATEST she would be done at the doctor's but since she was done earlier, she figured she would just drop off...kwim?

Technically, she probably should have texted you that she wanted to drop off as soon as her apt was over rather than giving you a specific time.

I would have taken him in with no issue. I would however, tried to make drop off as swift as possible since the DCB was already off his normal schedule.

Maybe you should just clarify with DCM the "language" used in a text DOES make a difference.

She wanted to drop off "later than her normal scheduled time" NOT at 10:00.

I can see DCM's perspective though.

The request she sent me for this day was through email and was worded:

***** has a doctor's appointment on Monday, April 29 at 8:45am. So is it alright if we drop him off at daycare at 10am?

I totally understand what you mean about her wanting to drop off later than her normal scheduled time rather than exactly at 10:00am. That seems to be the case here. Obviously it was communicated badly though.

[Blackcat31]

The request she sent me for this day was through email and was worded:

***** has a doctor's appointment on Monday, April 29 at 8:45am. So is it alright if we drop him off at daycare at 10am?

I totally understand what you mean about her wanting to drop off later than her normal scheduled time rather than exactly at 10:00am. That seems to be the case here. Obviously it was communicated badly though.

Yeah, sounds like she was just trying to be more exact and her assumed time line didn't go as planned so she probably didn't see it as an issue.

I would chalk it up to a miscommunication and let her know how to handle these types of things in the future.

A lot of times parents simply think we are just standing around with our thumbs "you-know-where" waiting for them to show up.

They often have zero clue how much planning, time and supervision goes into just setting up an activity in GROUP care.

[Rachel]

My guess is DCM said 10:00 thinking that was the LATEST she would be done at the doctor's but since she was done earlier, she figured she would just drop off...kwim?

Technically, she probably should have texted you that she wanted to drop off as soon as her apt was over rather than giving you a specific time.

I would have taken him in with no issue. I would however, tried to make drop off as swift as possible since the DCB was already off his normal schedule.

Maybe you should just clarify with DCM the "language" used in a text DOES make a difference.

She wanted to drop off "later than her normal scheduled time" NOT at 10:00.

I can see DCM's perspective though.

I agree. She texted you at 9 saying she was coming. These things happen sometimes. She was probably giving you the worst case scenario. In her mind it was probably I will be there BY 10.

I would have taken him no problem, but then again I thought I was strict about policy before I "met" some of you guys here

[earlystart]

So DCM who is contracted to drop her 13 month old son off at 8:00am informed me that he son had a doctor's appointment on this day two weeks ago and asked if she could drop him off at 10:00am. I agreed that I could make that work.

She then shoots me a text at 9:00am to inform me that they were done at the doctor and were on their way. I get the text at 9:09am and DCM pulls up at 9:10am. I had literally no time to react to the text.

I answered the door to DCM and dcb who was crying. The family is new here and the little boy still cries at drop offs. Today was much worse though. The first thing I said to her aside from good morning is that when she asks to drop off at a later time and then ends up needing to drop off earlier she needs to ASK me if that works for me first because I am sometimes in the middle of things. I told her I wouldn't have even accepted dcb at 9:10am this morning but I didn't have time to respond to her text before she pulled up. Dcb is still screaming through this whole conversation and DCM seems to be put off by what I said acting somewhat different than normal. I honestly thought she was going to grab dcb back from me and leave crying at any moment. I wasn't mean in what I said I was just to the point with her. I honestly think I shouldn't have even answered the door at 9:10am when she came.

Do you think I handled this right? Would you have opened the door for her? Could I have done something differently? Do I need to follow this morning up with a letter to DCM highlighting my policy on early/late drop offs?

Thanks.

It seems you have a strict policy regarding drop off times that is not very flexible for circumstances such as dr. appointments. If that's your policy, fine. It seems the parent didn't know it was this strict, and from her perspective I can understand why she would be acting "different" after what you said. I think it would be a good idea for you to explain why you were surprised by her arrival (because your policy is such-and-such, and you thought she knew), and print out your policy on this and go over it once again. I personally can't relate to having such a strict policy, so it's my opinion that you overreacted, but of course every provider can create their own policies based on what works for them.

About not wanting to open the door - I would think that would be unfair because they are paying for their spot, even if you didn't expect them until 10, their contracted time is still 8am.

[canadiancare]

My policy is to make an effort to be accommodating for drs appointments, however if the request had been for ten I would have clarified that if I was out with the group I would make sure to be home for ten. If she texted that she was ready at nine and I wasn't home it would be her problem to either meet me elsewhere or wait until I got back. If I was home anyway it wouldn't be an issue.

[countrymom]

really it was only 45min. and she didn't know how long she was going to be at the drs (ours range from 5 min to 1 hour) so I wouldn't have said anything. She texted you so that was nice of her.

[Angelwings36]

I can understand why some of you think my policy is strict, however, I have it in place to benefit the group as a whole. I run by contracted hours which means that each family has a specific drop off time and pick up time. If a family needs to change their drop off or pick up time for the day I will allow it ONLY if it works with my schedule. I typically only take families that need a drop off time between 7:30am - 8:30am so I am done with the parents and can focus on the children after 8:30am.

Today was a special day:

- I had some regular drop offs between 7:30am - 8:30am
- I had a special request drop off between 8:45am - 9:00am
- I had a special request drop off at 10:00am
- I had a special request drop off at 12:00pm

This is a crazy day for me. I had to totally schedule all activities around several drop offs. I actually would have preferred that DCM come earlier (at 9:10am) if I had been given advance notice because that meant I didn't have to open the door again until 12:00pm and could focus on the children. However, I had just began to start the children on an activity that was not age appropriate for a 13 month old. Which meant I had to scrap the whole activity when she showed up with no notice (I got her text 1 min before she pulled up). As you can see this was an inconviencience for me and for the group.

I try to work with my families on drop off and pick up changes but I need to know what's going on in order to run my day smoothly as well if you kwim?

[DaisyMamma]

I can understand why some of you think my policy is strict, however, I have it in place to benefit the group as a whole. I run by contracted hours which means that each family has a specific drop off time and pick up time. If a family needs to change their drop off or pick up time for the day I will allow it ONLY if it works with my schedule. I typically only take families that need a drop off time between 7:30am - 8:30am so I am done with the parents and can focus on the children after 8:30am.

Today was a special day:

- I had some regular drop offs between 7:30am - 8:30am
- I had a special request drop off between 8:45am - 9:00am
- I had a special request drop off at 10:00am
- I had a special request drop off at 12:00pm

This is a crazy day for me. I had to totally schedule all activities around several drop offs. I actually would have preferred that DCM come earlier (at 9:10am) if I had been given advance notice because that meant I didn't have to open the door again until 12:00pm and could focus on the children. However, I had just began to start the children on an activity that was not age appropriate for a 13 month old. Which meant I had to scrap the whole activity when she showed up with no notice (I got her text 1 min before she pulled up). As you can see this was an inconviencience for me and for the group.

I try to work with my families on drop off and pick up changes but I need to know what's going on in order to run my day smoothly as well if you kwim?

I can see where this is completely unfair to the group.
Is this parent aware of your strict drop off and pick up times? Hopefully you go over this at interview.
I can see where she would think it is ok and might be a little confused. So it's good that you let her know that it won't be allowed in the future. Did you explain to her about the activity?

[Angelwings36]

I can see where this is completely unfair to the group.
Is this parent aware of your strict drop off and pick up times? Hopefully you go over this at interview.
I can see where she would think it is ok and might be a little confused. So it's good that you let her know that it won't be allowed in the future. Did you explain to her about the activity?

Yes she is aware of my drop off and pick up rules. I also address drop offs and picks up in my newsletter every 3 months. She just got one of those recently. She likely "over looked" the policy here on mistake. I'm not mad. I get that things happen. I just wanted to make sure I addressed the issue properly so that I hopefully don't have to address it again in the future. I did explain to her about the activity yes.

[daycare]

I look at it like this. Will this situation be a problem again tomorrow or any other day in the future. Doesn't sound like it.

If that's the case let it go and move on from it.

Sorry to sound rude, but it seems like your making a huge deal over a one
thing.

[crazydaycarelady]

I am open 7:30 - 5:30 so I am really flexible on drop off and pick up times. As long as it is after 7:30 and before 5:30 I am fine. This was a one time situation and dcm gave you plenty of warning. It is hard to predict the length of a doctor visit with the waiting times. I just think a little flexibility would be appreciated by the parents.