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

[rmc20021]

I get it too that you plan your activities around drop off/pick up times. I do the same. I once had a dck dropped off and had my hands deep into a mess of some sort, so getting to the door when I wasn't expecting them was rather inconvenient.

I probably wouldn't have minded though since you knew for sure dck was coming, they just showed up earlier than expected. I'm sure dcm wanted to get to work asap and the appointment didn't last as long as she had expected it to.

[Angelwings36]

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.

Actually he has another doctor's appointment on May 8th. I don't feel I have made a huge deal out of this? I just asked if people thought I handled it correctly or if I should have done more. I would have never done less than what I did as I want my families to understand my policies and follow my policies which means I have to enforce them. All I did in this situation was mention to dcm that in the future when she requests for a later drop off time and then ends up needed to bring him earlier that she needs to ASK first so I can ensure I can work my schedule around it.

Take these two situations:

What if DCM's normal drop off time was 7:00am and she had requested to drop off at 8:30am. Let's say in this situation my next child wasn't scheduled to come until 8:30am so I didn't need to be up and ready until that time. Now let's say DCM text me at 7:20am and informed me she was on her way with dcb. I would not have been ready for them and maybe not even up yet. Would you not address this situation?

What if my neighbor asked me to take her daugter from 7:30am - 9:45am today and I said yes because dcb wouldn't be here until 10:00am so I had the extra room this morning. Then dcm show's up at 9:10am and expects me to take dcb early. I would be over ratio. Would you not address this situation?

This wasn't a situation of Dcm saying dcb has a doctor's appointment at 8:45am this morning so I will be a little later. Likely sometimes between 9:00am - 10:00am. Dcm asked for an EXACT drop off time of 10:00am (obviously give or take within reason). 50 mins isn't within reason.

[Angelwings36]

When first requesting the later drop off time had DCM said;

"Dcb has a doctor's appointment on April 29th at 8:45am and I would like to drop him off for the day after his appointment time if that's ok?"

I would have responded with,

"No problem. Please just shoot me a text when dcb's appointment is done so I can be ready for you. Thanks."

I think this situation as Blackcat said was a communication break down.

I simply wasn't ready or expecting Dcb until 10:00am

[daycare]

I understand with daycare there are always those what if this or that possibilities all the time. Things happen.

Maybe you should just stop allowing them to text you and this whole problem would go away.

I don't let the parents text me. This way they have to call and talk to me.

You knew dck was coming, they just happened to come a little earlier than expected and mom did try to text you and inform you of this......

[MrsSteinel'sHouse]

The question about what if they said 8:30 and they would be your first....
If they said to me we have a doctor apt and won't be here until 8:30 and I knew they would be my first drop off I would tell them great then I can sleep in until 8 since you will be my first! See you at 8:30. If anything changes be sure to let me know. No in actuality I would not still be snoozing and would be prepared for 8 ish..if I know that I will have all my kids picked up early I be sur I tell all my parents at drop off.. Wow I am going to finish early today so be sure you're not late now since i made plans. Heads up always works for me. Right now my earliest drop off is 7:30 but I am always ready at 7.. Just in case!

[Crazy8]

If you are home with other daycare kids I don't see the big deal, she even gave a text saying she was on her way. I know this isn't the popular opinion here but I think sometimes people get so wrapped up in "not giving special" that everything a dc parent does rubs us the wrong way and we become very inflexible. Personally, I believe parents chose me over other daycares because I CAN be more flexible than a center that has strict times for everything, and I CAN give a little more special to their child because of the small setting. I am not saying throw all the rules out the window or let them walk all over you, but kindness and compassion go a long way. You even say you had another child arriving at 9am, I'd rather this next one come in at 9:15 and then be done till noon, instead of having one come in at 9am, one at 10am and one at noon.

[Angelwings36]

I understand with daycare there are always those what if this or that possibilities all the time. Things happen.

Maybe you should just stop allowing them to text you and this whole problem would go away.

I don't let the parents text me. This way they have to call and talk to me.

You knew dck was coming, they just happened to come a little earlier than expected and mom did try to text you and inform you of this......

Oh I agree the texting part was a problem too. I would rather families text me over calling though because it is easier for me. I just expect them to wait for a response from me rather than assuming no response means I got their message. Kinda the same thing as voicemail. You can't assume just because you leave a voicemail on someone's phone they got it in the time you wanted them too. If she needed to get ahold of me immediately, which obviously this morning was one of those times as she wanted to come right over, she should have called to ensure she got through to me before showing up.

Again it was completely a communication melt down. I can't just have families drop off whenever they please or I would spend my whole day at the door (which you can see from today's schedule and this happens quite often to me). It is important to myself and to benefit my group that I keep my drop off and pick up times organized. I can't do the "show up whenever times" and this is why I have contracted pick up and drop off times.

I'm just hoping the comments I made to dcm this morning will prohibit her from doing this again in the future.

I do what I can to be flexiable I just expect that families respect I can not always flex to them KWIM?

[Angelwings36]

If you are home with other daycare kids I don't see the big deal, she even gave a text saying she was on her way. I know this isn't the popular opinion here but I think sometimes people get so wrapped up in "not giving special" that everything a dc parent does rubs us the wrong way and we become very inflexible. Personally, I believe parents chose me over other daycares because I CAN be more flexible than a center that has strict times for everything, and I CAN give a little more special to their child because of the small setting. I am not saying throw all the rules out the window or let them walk all over you, but kindness and compassion go a long way. You even say you had another child arriving at 9am, I'd rather this next one come in at 9:15 and then be done till noon, instead of having one come in at 9am, one at 10am and one at noon.

Oh I agree. I would have preferred her come at 9:15am but because she wasn't suppose to come until 10:00am I started the children who were already in my care on an activity that wasn't age appropriate (choking hazards) for a 13 month old. I can be flexiable too and work my schedule around families if I am given proper notice. Like I said if she needed a drop off between 9-10am all she had to do was ask me that and I would said sure just text me when you're on your way so I am ready for you. But in this situation she asked for an exact drop off time of 10:00am.

[HomeMADE]

I am open from 6am - 6pm, however I have contract hours. So if someone wants a one off and wants to come later I try to accommodate, especially if I was home anyway.

But I have learned to over communicate, I mean spelling out everything. So if you were going to use that extra time to get other things done I would kindly respond. "Great, I will be sure to be available at 9:45 am." So if she text me before then she has been told that you will be there at 9:45 am.

Just a thought.

[daycare]

Oh I agree the texting part was a problem too. I would rather families text me over calling though because it is easier for me. I just expect them to wait for a response from me rather than assuming no response means I got their message. Kinda the same thing as voicemail. You can't assume just because you leave a voicemail on someone's phone they got it in the time you wanted them too. If she needed to get ahold of me immediately, which obviously this morning was one of those times as she wanted to come right over, she should have called to ensure she got through to me before showing up.

Again it was completely a communication melt down. I can't just have families drop off whenever they please or I would spend my whole day at the door (which you can see from today's schedule and this happens quite often to me). It is important to myself and to benefit my group that I keep my drop off and pick up times organized. I can't do the "show up whenever times" and this is why I have contracted pick up and drop off times.

I'm just hoping the comments I made to dcm this morning will prohibit her from doing this again in the future.

I do what I can to be flexiable I just expect that families respect I can not always flex to them KWIM?

Do you have a cut off time? I implemented a cut off time years ago when parents tried the drop off when you feel like it. I couldn't teach, it was so distracting.

I basically said unless you have prior consent to arrive late, no late arrivals will be accepted after 9am. Children not dropped before this time will not be admitted into care for the day without refund. It got the parents to stop that really quick.

[Blackcat31]

When first requesting the later drop off time had DCM said;

"Dcb has a doctor's appointment on April 29th at 8:45am and I would like to drop him off for the day after his appointment time if that's ok?"

I would have responded with,

"No problem. Please just shoot me a text when dcb's appointment is done so I can be ready for you. Thanks."

I think this situation as Blackcat said was a communication break down.

Yep, I think it was just different interpretations of what was being said. Nothing that cant be remedied easily.

I simply wasn't ready or expecting Dcb until 10:00am.

This ^^^ is a perfect way to explain it for the next time.

Since you weren't expecting DCB until 10:00, what if you had taken all the kids on a walk and weren't home at 9:10?

Sometimes I have a later drop off and sometimes that missing kid allows me to do something like a walk or be outside that we don't normally do depending on the kid/age....etc.

[Angelwings36]

Do you have a cut off time? I implemented a cut off time years ago when parents tried the drop off when you feel like it. I couldn't teach, it was so distracting.

I basically said unless you have prior consent to arrive late, no late arrivals will be accepted after 9am. Children not dropped before this time will not be admitted into care for the day without refund. It got the parents to stop that really quick.

I don't have a cut off drop off time in my contract as of yet. Although I had read on a thread someplace that you did do one and I think it's a great idea.

I think I'm kinda trying to do things the same way as you. I really don't want parent's to drop off after 8:30am as it's disruptive BUT if they ask for a later drop off time and I can make it work that day I will be flexiable for them.

The problem was she didn't ask for a 9:10am drop off time she asked for a 10:00am drop off time so I wasn't ready for her.

In the same way that parent's dropping off after 9:00am without permission ruins your teaching schedule parent's dropping off after 8:30am without permission ruins my activity schedule. I am home but I am still busy "teaching/engaging" with the children in activities that I have spent time to prepare for them and that don't work very well with disruption.

[daycare]

I guess it would just have to be one of those what it out and see type things..

If They showed when you were gone then the parent would be forced to see why they just can't show up when it's convenient for them. Btdt.

Parents were pissed at me but it was them who decided to change the rules not me. They learned their lesson and didn't do it again.

[Angelwings36]

Yep, I think it was just different interpretations of what was being said. Nothing that cant be remedied easily.



This ^^^ is a perfect way to explain it for the next time.

Since you weren't expecting DCB until 10:00, what if you had taken all the kids on a walk and weren't home at 9:10?

Sometimes I have a later drop off and sometimes that missing kid allows me to do something like a walk or be outside that we don't normally do depending on the kid/age....etc.

Thank you Blackcat. This is how I was trying to explain it to DCM. I wasn't trying to be rude or mean I just needed her to know the above. Sometimes a missing kid allows me to do something we don't normally do and I started doing this thing with the children right before her unexpected arrival and simply wasn't ready for her at 9:10am.

[Little Star75]

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.

I really feel you in this one, I have learned a lot from most of the people here that we have to stick to our policies otherwise we are going to be taken advantage of.

On the other hand I can see how a lot of people here are saying "wow for 45 min" we'll...... Sometimes it does make a difference but sometimes it's ok. I guess.
It is what it is and you do what you have to do. I would send her a copy of you HB highlighting your late policy. That way DCP will see that you are strict on your policies.