UGH,.. Parent Ugh

[laundryduchess@yahoo.com]

I have a parent that will sometimes drop off around 1030am. No issue for me except that our outside time is from 830-10. They get here after we are out, parent proceeds to tell child that they missed park time, and will go out after nap,.... And our outdoor afternoon time is 4-530. Child is picked up by 330. So child whines all afternoon that dad says he can go out,... Then throws a huge fit that they dont get to go. I have began telling them they can go out as soon at home, to ask Dad. Well Dad is angry at me for making him look bad. Im so frustrated. Ive told them that our schedule is posted and doesnt change. That if a child misses an activity it is not "made up" at a later time. Its simply missed. Dad is clueless and today came in late, had told kid in car that if we were inside he would make sure to let me know he needed to go out to play while here. I stood my ground, told him that our day is very structured and planned and that we have things to do inside that dictates our outside time. He was mad,.. muttered something under his breath, walked out. I get a call from mom wondering why I dont let johnny play outside, that she is reporting me to licensing because every child deserves to go out. I reassure her that had johnny shown up earlier he would have gone out,.. or if he stayed later,.... so she says,... well we will start leaving him later then, we only pick up learly to give you a break,.We will pick up at 530. I said, that is fine,.. I will draw up the new contracts with the new times and fees. WHAT!?!?! new fees? what do you mean? well over 9 hours is an additional fee. So for him to stay 2 extra hours you will be charged 20 more per week for extended care,..... oh,.. well,..... I think we can just let him play outside at home,......

ugh.

[marniewon]

Just goes to show that every parent thinks their child is the only child that matters in the world. It's funny how quickly she backed down when it came to her paying more money!

[thatgagirl]

wow, that would be a family I would be looking to term asap if they are willing to call licensing because they can't get thru their skull the day is structured...sheesh

[TGT09]

GET.OVER.YOURSELF! Good grief, where do these parents think their "you know what doesn't stink"?! And, that their child is the only one that matters in care!

[tmcp2001]

Oh dear lord - that's just nuts. No advice, just commiserating! Hope the parents will settle down for you!

[momofsix]

A family that would threaten to call licensing. they would be gone as soon as possible. There is no way I could live with that threat hanging over my head-unbelievable!

[DCMomOf3]

I agree they took it very far.

Just an FYI though, in my state if I have a child for more than 3 hours I have to get them outside weather permitting of course.

[MarinaVanessa]

I'd be careful with this family and I would call licensing myself to report the issue right away just in case something else happens. Call them and just tell them that they the family is contracted for certain hours and they bring their child late and you have explained to them on several occasions that they need to arrive during these times to participate in scheduled activities and then explain the whole incident as you did here.

I'm just glad that you stuck to your guns. I totally agree about how funny it is that as soon as you start talking about extra fees and such that their attitude completely changes ::.

[DanceMom]

Oh My God. I would definately terminate also. No one is going to threaten reporting me...oh no no no no !! These parents...wow....all parents...are insane. haha::

[MommyMuffin]

When my licensor came out to license me he told me that I should call and report any such comments. In my opinion I would not have a client that did not trust me enough to know that I would not operate under anything less than my license dictates. I would tell the client that as well....and then I would tell them good bye!
Good luck!

[Lucy]

I respect your stringent schedule (I don't have one, but I understand that some do). That being said, I think it's odd that they are inside at the best times of the day - 10:00 to 4:00. Seems like you'd want your outside time to be DURING part of those hours, not first thing in the morning when it's cool out (obviously depending on time of year and where you live), and in the late afternoon when it's also getting cooler out. But that's just me.

I would never change a schedule to suit ONE family though. Do what's best for you and your program.

[missnikki]

I'd be careful with this family and I would call licensing myself to report the issue right away just in case something else happens. Call them and just tell them that they the family is contracted for certain hours and they bring their child late and you have explained to them on several occasions that they need to arrive during these times to participate in scheduled activities and then explain the whole incident as you did here.

I'm just glad that you stuck to your guns. I totally agree about how funny it is that as soon as you start talking about extra fees and such that their attitude completely changes ::.

MY advice to the tee.

[legomom922]

Some states do require that each child has so much time outdoors. I agree though that those are very strange times to be out side. I would make it like 10-1130 or 2-330 or something like that.

[laundryduchess@yahoo.com]

10 - 4 is preschool, lunch, play and nap. Its best not to have them out in the sun at that time here anyway. We go out of an early morning and of a late afternoon. Ive done it this way for 21 yrs. Im not changing because some dad cant get it together in the mornings. .

I respect your stringent schedule (I don't have one, but I understand that some do). That being said, I think it's odd that they are inside at the best times of the day - 10:00 to 4:00. Seems like you'd want your outside time to be DURING part of those hours, not first thing in the morning when it's cool out (obviously depending on time of year and where you live), and in the late afternoon when it's also getting cooler out. But that's just me.

I would never change a schedule to suit ONE family though. Do what's best for you and your program.

[My4SunshineGirlsNY]

I would think if a parent was unhappy with their child's day, they would seek care elsewhere. If I upset a parent regaurding care I give their child, I wouldn't expect them to stay in my daycare, know what I mean?

When you have a group of daycare kids, you really do need to stick to a schedule and I don't think parents think that way. They really don't know what it is like. Their only focus is their own child(ren) and don't realize how much work it is to drag everyone else outside for one child or rearrange your schedule.