Parents Being Late..

[DanceMom]

I have one family that is anywhere from 2-5 minutes late every single day. and while I feel petty saying anything because big deal its two minutes but those TWO minutes are a lifetime to me. Its been a long day, Ive already worked over 10 hours, I just want these kids GONE at 5:00. Don't get me wrong, I love the kids, love my job ( most days ) but 5:00 I want to be able to be done.

Would you say something to this lady for being late..she lives within a mile from me..so no excuse due to traffic etc.

Would you say something to her and if so what ? Or big deal its only a couple minutes and I should be thankful it isnt more....

[AmandasFCC]

Late is late, whether it's 2 minutes or 20. I do feel the same way though, and never make a big deal about it either. As such I have a parent who's always saying "we'll pick up at 4", then showing up closer to 4:20-4:30. I've never said anything to her either . If it's making YOU late for something (even it's just your date with a bottle of wine) then say something.

[katie]

Uhh I would kill for 2 minutes late. I have a friend's baby. I have done a very bad job of boundaries. She gets off at 6. So 6:30 is a bad time to come in the door anyway...but she has no regard for my family or family time. Every day she calls me at 6:45 and says she is running late b/c of...... fill in the blank. So I don't get her out of here until 6:50 or later. Meanwhile dinner is cold. Backbone..where are you??? . :: The good news.....FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[missnikki]

What I did was get an atomic clock (the kind that sets itself and is always right) and hung it right above the parent clipboard. On their sign in/ out sheet, I required parents to write the actual time from the clock that they p/u or dropped off. I would 'hover' around those that I saw rounding off and ask them to please cross out, initial, and fix the time written. I told them it was a state regulation to have the actual time on the sheet and that I would get in trouble for incorrect entries. I made a big deal about it.
When I had late parents, they knew that clock was what mattered to me. I would say "Oh, it's five-oh-two. Please make sure you write five-oh-two." After a couple of late pick ups, I could have a paper trail to point to, and give a notice that reminded of policies. 'It can get pretty expensive in my program to run late often.

[missnikki]

I have one family that is anywhere from 2-5 minutes late every single day. and while I feel petty saying anything because big deal its two minutes but those TWO minutes are a lifetime to me. Its been a long day, Ive already worked over 10 hours, I just want these kids GONE at 5:00. Don't get me wrong, I love the kids, love my job ( most days ) but 5:00 I want to be able to be done.

Would you say something to this lady for being late..she lives within a mile from me..so no excuse due to traffic etc.

Would you say something to her and if so what ? Or big deal its only a couple minutes and I should be thankful it isnt more....

And by the way- it's not just any 2 minutes- it's YOUR 2 minutes that you set aside for you and your family. Out of a whole day, the amount of time you devote to other people's families way outnumbers the number of minutes you have for yourself. Protect them.

[legomom922]

Same problem here....so what I did was print up a newsletter so it wouldnt look like I was pointing someone out, and it there I reminded everyone that this is the time of yr where my family has many extra cirricular activies at night and that they must be on time picking up. Then I put down again what the late fee is. Now granted I did give them a 5 minute grace period, so I wrote 6-30 minutes $5 and 31-60 $15. I only gave them the 5 min grace period because I did not want to look like tyrant, and wanted them to see I did understand and have "some" compassion, but after 5 min, they owe me!

[MARSTELAC]

What I did was get an atomic clock (the kind that sets itself and is always right) and hung it right above the parent clipboard. On their sign in/ out sheet, I required parents to write the actual time from the clock that they p/u or dropped off. I would 'hover' around those that I saw rounding off and ask them to please cross out, initial, and fix the time written. I told them it was a state regulation to have the actual time on the sheet and that I would get in trouble for incorrect entries. I made a big deal about it.
When I had late parents, they knew that clock was what mattered to me. I would say "Oh, it's five-oh-two. Please make sure you write five-oh-two." After a couple of late pick ups, I could have a paper trail to point to, and give a notice that reminded of policies. 'It can get pretty expensive in my program to run late often.

Does anyone know if that is a nationwide law (having parents sign in/out) or if it is applicable in MN? I would LOVE it!!!

[DBug]

I'm not licensed so I don't know about regs, but I have parents do the same thing with writing in the time of drop-off and pick-up. My excuse is that I need to have an accurate record for my insurance company, so that i can prove i haven't gone over my legal limit of kids. Truth is, my insurance company has never mentioned anything like that, but the parents don't know that . As well, if there were ever any other kinds of disputes, i'd have the attendance recorded in their own handwriting.

[MarinaVanessa]

It's like I always say, if you're late you're late. 2 minutes or 2 hours, you are late! You can't be "a little bit late" you are late. You can't be "a little bit pregnant" you either are or you aren't. It's one of my pet peeves too . I charge for that time when they are late. I close my DC at 6pm and if they aren't out my door by then they are late and I charge.

For any other time I give a 15 minute grace period but after 6pm that's where I draw the line. It's actually worded like that in my handbook "After 6pm YOU ARE LATE!" .

[Lucy]

I have one family that is anywhere from 2-5 minutes late every single day. and while I feel petty saying anything because big deal its two minutes but those TWO minutes are a lifetime to me. Its been a long day, Ive already worked over 10 hours, I just want these kids GONE at 5:00. Don't get me wrong, I love the kids, love my job ( most days ) but 5:00 I want to be able to be done.

Would you say something to this lady for being late..she lives within a mile from me..so no excuse due to traffic etc.

Would you say something to her and if so what ? Or big deal its only a couple minutes and I should be thankful it isnt more....

I totally get what you mean. I close at 5:30, and even 2 minutes bugs the s**t outta me. Pardon me, but it does. What I would do may seem passive-aggressive, but that's what I am!! LOL. I would have them ready with shoes & coats, bags packed or whatever they have, and be waiting on the porch, grass, driveway, etc. with your keys and purse and mumble something about "I hope I'm not late for my appointment." Do that a few times and she'll think twice. I've even had my car running just to drive the point home. Either that or you can send a note or put it in your newsletter if you do one... saying something about this is a reminder of late fees, and that you have to get dinner done, kids' homework help, your own appointments or errands, or whatever you want to say. Make it general and hopefully she'll catch on. Good luck!!

[legomom922]

Well the family that is usually late 2-3 minutes, texted me at 525 when they are suppose to be here by 530 and told me they were going to be late, so I texted her back and said ok I will add the late fee to nexts week bill...She paid it today anyway, but she knows now I will add that fee!

[tenderhearts]

I hate them being late as well. I don't mind before closing if their pick up time is normally 4 and they come 4:30, no problem but after 5 it annoys the heck out of me, 2 min makes a HUGE difference. It also annoys me even though I don't say anything but 2 of my parents one now, the other family left, will say oh I'm going to pick up early tonight at 3:30 for them to only show up at their normal 5:00 time, so annoying, all day you're like oh cool they'll go home early then to just be disappointed. I've learned that if they say that they wont be early.

[Unregistered]

If having to work for two minutes later than you are supposed to ( especially in this economy) is a major concern of yours than you are doing pretty well. My wife is a provider and I'm on this forum researching an unrelated topic to help her out when I stumbled across this thread. The majority of the working class in America right now is sacrificing a little for the sanctity of having a job and maintaining steady income. I know how hard providers work and I'm in no way trying to downplay that, however, it is in my opinion very petty to complain about two minutes. I work in the software industry as an Engineer and since this recession hit I've worked countless hours beyond a traditional 40 hr. work week. I had to work 17 days in a row this past April and most days were a minimum of 11 hours. Since I'm salaried I don't get paid for that additional time. My wife is an exceptional provider with a strong reputation in our area and she doesn't have families lined up waiting for a spot to open. She values each and every client and makes small sacrifices often to appease her clients. My advice is not to take clients for granted and be a tad grateful that you actually have clients to put food on your table.

[DanceMom]

I hate them being late as well. I don't mind before closing if their pick up time is normally 4 and they come 4:30, no problem but after 5 it annoys the heck out of me, 2 min makes a HUGE difference. It also annoys me even though I don't say anything but 2 of my parents one now, the other family left, will say oh I'm going to pick up early tonight at 3:30 for them to only show up at their normal 5:00 time, so annoying, all day you're like oh cool they'll go home early then to just be disappointed. I've learned that if they say that they wont be early.

That happens all the time..esp with one family..oh I will be there about 2:00 to pick up "sally" ahh yep...1-2 hours later...SO annoying ! DO what your say your going to do !! Esp because I sit ( used to ) tell "Sally" That mommy is picking you up early today and she gets so excited and then only to sit and wait. So of course I dont even tell the child if their parents are picking up early anymore.


I was thinking of getting an alarm...set it for 5:00 - so if it is going off when they walk in they know they are late..haha..kidding..but it would be funny !!

[marniewon]

I hate them being late as well. I don't mind before closing if their pick up time is normally 4 and they come 4:30, no problem but after 5 it annoys the heck out of me, 2 min makes a HUGE difference. It also annoys me even though I don't say anything but 2 of my parents one now, the other family left, will say oh I'm going to pick up early tonight at 3:30 for them to only show up at their normal 5:00 time, so annoying, all day you're like oh cool they'll go home early then to just be disappointed. I've learned that if they say that they wont be early.

I'm a bit different - whatever time they tell me they are picking up is the time I go by, and count on! I would be very angry if they said they are picking up early but don't come until regular time. I don't really have a "closing" time, since I try to cater to what my families need, so I go by what they say they will be picking up at.