Parents! ARGH!!!

[Unregistered]

I am about at the end of my rope and need to vent!

I open at 7:15.

At 7:02, dc boy and mom start knocking on my door (this child normally is one of the last ones here, close to 8am). I wait a couple of minutes, answer the door and she says they are early because she made every light. SO???? I told her I really wasn't ready and they come in anyways. She says, "he's really good and he had a granola bar so should be ok." Whatever, I try to go on with my morning.

Next one comes in at their regular time and let me know 7 month old has been up for 2 hours and very fussy, but they didn't get a chance to feed him so he is very hungry. WHAT??? Your child is up 2 hours before you leave and you didn't have time to feed them??

A few others arrive and were fine. Thank goodness!

Then to top it off, I normally close at 5, but with my late on vacation another one said she'd pick up at 4:30 so I planned on being done early. Then my one day a week in the summer teacher family comes in and says she will be out of town for the day and picking up at 5. NOOOOOOO!! She normally picks up by 4;30 so now on the one day I thought I might get to get off early, I am here till normal time.

Oh how I am ready for a new job. I love the kids and being home, but so tired of inconsiderate parents! I think parents need to have serious training on day care. We take all these classes and learn how to talk to parents, well I think they need to learn how to treat us with more respect!!

Ok, Thanks, I feel better. Sorry, had to vent to someone!!

[bunnyslippers]

This is something we all struggle with, and can only get better if you get tough.

Do you operate on contracted hours? If not, I would highly suggest the switch!

As for the mom that showed up an hour early - no way! That should never be allowed, and you need to either tell her to come back at her regular time or charge her an early drop-off fee.

As for the mom that is extending her day by 30 minutes..."Sorry, I made plans today at 5:00. According to our pre-arranged schedule, I am done today at 4:30."

It is hard to do, but gets better with practice! Hang in there!

[Angelwings36]

I am about at the end of my rope and need to vent!

I open at 7:15.

At 7:02, dc boy and mom start knocking on my door (this child normally is one of the last ones here, close to 8am). I wait a couple of minutes, answer the door and she says they are early because she made every light. SO???? I told her I really wasn't ready and they come in anyways. She says, "he's really good and he had a granola bar so should be ok." Whatever, I try to go on with my morning.

Next one comes in at their regular time and let me know 7 month old has been up for 2 hours and very fussy, but they didn't get a chance to feed him so he is very hungry. WHAT??? Your child is up 2 hours before you leave and you didn't have time to feed them??

A few others arrive and were fine. Thank goodness!

Then to top it off, I normally close at 5, but with my late on vacation another one said she'd pick up at 4:30 so I planned on being done early. Then my one day a week in the summer teacher family comes in and says she will be out of town for the day and picking up at 5. NOOOOOOO!! She normally picks up by 4;30 so now on the one day I thought I might get to get off early, I am here till normal time.

Oh how I am ready for a new job. I love the kids and being home, but so tired of inconsiderate parents! I think parents need to have serious training on day care. We take all these classes and learn how to talk to parents, well I think they need to learn how to treat us with more respect!!

Ok, Thanks, I feel better. Sorry, had to vent to someone!!

I agree that this won't get better until you get tough. I was once in the same position as yourself but I just don't allow these things anymore.

If you don't open until 7:15am then keep your doors locked right until 7:15am. Dcm can stand there and bang for 13 minutes if she so pleases. Send her the message that no matter how hard she tries to drop off before you open you just won't accept it. If she was contracted to be there at 8:00am (not sure if you do contracted hours??) I would have opened the door to her at 7:15am and said, "DCM you are super early. I can take dcb now but you will be charged x amount for the extra 45 minutes of care."

I do not serve breakfast. Do the children in your care have to come dressed, fed and ready for the day? If so I would have sent the 7 month old right back home with mom to feed him before he would be accepted for the day.

To the family who thought they would TELL (not ask) if you could provide care for them until 5:00pm. I would have said oh sorry I'm not available that late tonight. If you need to extend your hours at any time please ASK me if I can do so within a minimum of x amount of time.

[Blackcat31]

I am about at the end of my rope and need to vent!

I open at 7:15.

At 7:02, dc boy and mom start knocking on my door (this child normally is one of the last ones here, close to 8am). I wait a couple of minutes, answer the door and she says they are early because she made every light. SO???? I told her I really wasn't ready and they come in anyways. She says, "he's really good and he had a granola bar so should be ok." Whatever, I try to go on with my morning.

I would have either not let them in, or let them in but made sure mom knows there is a $1 per minute early drop off fee....let her decide which option she wants... Wait until scheduled drop off or pay the fee.

Next one comes in at their regular time and let me know 7 month old has been up for 2 hours and very fussy, but they didn't get a chance to feed him so he is very hungry. WHAT??? Your child is up 2 hours before you leave and you didn't have time to feed them??

I wouldn't have accepted the child in. Come back after the child is fed and READY for the day as my policies state and the parent agreed to.

A few others arrive and were fine. Thank goodness!

Then to top it off, I normally close at 5, but with my late on vacation another one said she'd pick up at 4:30 so I planned on being done early. Then my one day a week in the summer teacher family comes in and says she will be out of town for the day and picking up at 5. NOOOOOOO!! She normally picks up by 4;30 so now on the one day I thought I might get to get off early, I am here till normal time.

ALL parents are required to give a pick up time and then stick to it. If I knew I had to be somewhere after work, I would never agree to later than normal pick ups.

My teacher families are only allowed to schedule until 3:30 in the summer time.

Oh how I am ready for a new job. I love the kids and being home, but so tired of inconsiderate parents! I think parents need to have serious training on day care. We take all these classes and learn how to talk to parents, well I think they need to learn how to treat us with more respect!!

Ok, Thanks, I feel better. Sorry, had to vent to someone!!

This job is AWESOME if you don't allow parents to take advantage.

This is YOUR business....take charge and make, set and enforce YOUR rules and you will find the joy in this again!

Sorry you are having a rough morning. Hope your day gets better!

[Leigh]

I agree that this won't get better until you get tough. I was once in the same position as yourself but I just don't allow these things anymore.

If you don't open until 7:15am then keep your doors locked right until 7:15am. Dcm can stand there and bang for 13 minutes if she so pleases. Send her the message that no matter how hard she tries to drop off before you open you just won't accept it. If she was contracted to be there at 8:00am (not sure if you do contracted hours??) I would have opened the door to her at 7:15am and said, "DCM you are super early. I can take dcb now but you will be charged x amount for the extra 45 minutes of care."

I do not serve breakfast. Do the children in your care have to come dressed, fed and ready for the day? If so I would have sent the 7 month old right back home with mom to feed him before he would be accepted for the day.

To the family who thought they would TELL (not ask) if you could provide care for them until 5:00pm. I would have said oh sorry I'm not available that late tonight. If you need to extend your hours at any time please ASK me if I can do so within a minimum of x amount of time.

Exactly what SHE said!

[Starburst]

Oh how I am ready for a new job. I love the kids and being home, but so tired of inconsiderate parents! I think parents need to have serious training on day care. We take all these classes and learn how to talk to parents, well I think they need to learn how to treat us with more respect!!

That would be a good idea, having a work shop for parents about daycare manners and respect, you think the policy handbook would be enough! Too bad the referral and resources offices don't hold a workshop for families that use their services to find daycare or for families that require a co-pay/gov program (but it would be kinda hard to do for people that find you word of mouth/advertising and that private pay).

Maybe if someone set up their interviews like open houses they could cover chid care etiquette. You could always put in your policy or contract that frequent lack of disrespect to the provider, provider's family/ neighbors/ assistants, or another daycare child and family from a particular child, legal guardian, or enrolled child's relative (if they pick up or drop off alot) could lead to termination.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

When I first began, I would open the door to those that came early. Now I will not open the door even one minute early. Even though it is daylight out when I officially open, I will turn on my porch light when I am ready to be open. It's a clear indicator that they are welcome to come knock on the door.
It only takes one time (occasionally two) for parents to realize I will not open early without advance notice.

[daycarediva]

This is something we all struggle with, and can only get better if you get tough.

Do you operate on contracted hours? If not, I would highly suggest the switch!

As for the mom that showed up an hour early - no way! That should never be allowed, and you need to either tell her to come back at her regular time or charge her an early drop-off fee.

As for the mom that is extending her day by 30 minutes..."Sorry, I made plans today at 5:00. According to our pre-arranged schedule, I am done today at 4:30."

It is hard to do, but gets better with practice! Hang in there!