If You're Running Late...

[DaisyMamma]

Did the mom say they were going to be late or was it more like they are always late so you just thought they would be?
I think how you handled it was fine, though had mom said they were going to be late I probably would have added a "I thought you said you were coming later so I gave myself a well deserved sleep in!" And let her stew on that

Seriously.
I'm not sure I would have even gone down before 8:15.
Truth be told I would have been mad. You did nothing wrong. If someone shows up when they aren't scheduled and someone shows up 15 min early that's their problem. Let them wait.

[JenNJ]

I don't take early arrivals. I had one dad who NEVER dropped off try and drop off at 6:30. I saw him waiting to turn on our street and me and my kids hopped in the car and went to Dunkin' Donuts for breakfast followed by the park for a nice walk. I came back at 8:15 (his normal arrival time) and he was sitting on my porch with dcb looking mad.

I asked why he was so sour and he said he was late for work. He went on to say that if I wasn't going ot be reliable, he would look into other options. I said, "That is the great part about being me -- my work waits for me. But yeah, Center Down the Street opens at 6:30am. They take walk in tours." I walked past him with my kids and shut the door behind me. He knocked but I just said that in light of his new schdule change, I wouldn't mind if he moved dcb to a center. I would even waive the two week notice. He was dunbfounded. I shut the door again and he stood there for a minute tryng to process what happened.

Mom called later to apologize profusly about her dopey husband. He never dropped off again. ::

[MotherNature]

IMHO, you weren't late. The one family was early and the other not suppose to be there.... so YOU did nothing wrong.

[Emsdayhome]

I went out and purchased a 'uniform' for me to wear during daycare hours. yoga pants and tshirts. I keep them ready to go so if that ever happens, I jump up throw them on and down I go. Though I've answered the door in pjs before half asleep and parents giggle and say "I'm sorry...did we wake you? " . never the case...but sometimes you just like to lie there! .

My first dcb arrives as I'm getting my 3 kids ready for school. So if I'm not up...I should be, anyway.

[Crazy8]

just this summer after 12+ years of running my daycare I actually did oversleep and dcm called my cell from outside my house. I was sooo embarrassed, that had really NEVER happened to me before and I apologized but she was great about it.

BUT, in this case YOU were not running late, they all just showed up early. I would have loved to turn them away at the door but I know you don't always think that fast when you just wake up!! Another time this summer I got a text as I was in the shower that dcb would be 15 min. early. I responded that I would not be ready at that time and to please ASK the night before if you would like to request an early drop off. Then 2 weeks ago another dcm asked for an early drop off for 2 days in a row (her first 2 days back to work after summer off) and she showed up late both days without even an apology or mention of the earlier time. I will now refuse any requests for an early drop off, even the night before and will not unlock my door until the minute they are contracted for!!!

[Luna]

To take this conversation slightly off track...what if someone drops off early and you already have children there? I have one family who arrives at 7:15 and a child whose dad sometimes arrives at 7:45 for 8:00 drop off. He knows there is already someone here so I'm up. I've said to him "Geez you're early" and he just says "oh yeah, I guess we're a bit early". One day my 7:15 wasn't coming so I was out on my back porch drinking my tea and 8:00 dad texted me at 7:40 wanting to know why I wasn't answering the door. I didn't answer and he was full out panicking by the time I went to the door at 7:50. Still early, buddy.

To get back on track, I agree with others. You weren't late!

[Blackcat31]

To take this conversation slightly off track...what if someone drops off early and you already have children there? I have one family who arrives at 7:15 and a child whose dad sometimes arrives at 7:45 for 8:00 drop off. He knows there is already someone here so I'm up. I've said to him "Geez you're early" and he just says "oh yeah, I guess we're a bit early". One day my 7:15 wasn't coming so I was out on my back porch drinking my tea and 8:00 dad texted me at 7:40 wanting to know why I wasn't answering the door. I didn't answer and he was full out panicking by the time I went to the door at 7:50. Still early, buddy.

To get back on track, I agree with others. You weren't late!

My families pay according to the hours they schedule their children to be here. If I had a parent drop off earlier than they scheduled to be here, I would add an additional fee to their next invoice for that additional time.

If it happened more than once, I would ask the family if they needed to amend their contract with me to accommodate the additional time they are using.

NONE of my families goes into their work and puts in extra time for free so I certainly won't either....even if I am already caring for kids.

[Willow]

To take this conversation slightly off track...what if someone drops off early and you already have children there? I have one family who arrives at 7:15 and a child whose dad sometimes arrives at 7:45 for 8:00 drop off. He knows there is already someone here so I'm up. I've said to him "Geez you're early" and he just says "oh yeah, I guess we're a bit early". One day my 7:15 wasn't coming so I was out on my back porch drinking my tea and 8:00 dad texted me at 7:40 wanting to know why I wasn't answering the door. I didn't answer and he was full out panicking by the time I went to the door at 7:50. Still early, buddy.

To get back on track, I agree with others. You weren't late!

Either stick to your guns and don't open the door after a frank conversation about early drop offs being unacceptable, or add a policy that from here on out you're going to charge $10/minute a child is dropped off early. $100 would be worth missing out on your morning tea but probably won't be worth it to them

[Crazy8]

To take this conversation slightly off track...what if someone drops off early and you already have children there? I have one family who arrives at 7:15 and a child whose dad sometimes arrives at 7:45 for 8:00 drop off. He knows there is already someone here so I'm up. I've said to him "Geez you're early" and he just says "oh yeah, I guess we're a bit early". One day my 7:15 wasn't coming so I was out on my back porch drinking my tea and 8:00 dad texted me at 7:40 wanting to know why I wasn't answering the door. I didn't answer and he was full out panicking by the time I went to the door at 7:50. Still early, buddy.

To get back on track, I agree with others. You weren't late!

I just redid my handbook this summer and one thing I specified was that each family had their own contracted hours and to never assume other children would be there before them, they don't know when someone else is on vacation, out sick, etc. i also lock the door between arrivals.

[WImom]

One of my families drops off at 9:30 or later everyday. About 2 months after they started here, mom texted me (they all text when on their way) that she was On the way at 8:00. I was out on a run and texted back.

" I'm on a run, I will be ready at 9:30, when DCB is scheduled to be here"

I got home and she was sitting on my porch with him, I walked by said hello, went and took my shower, had my coffee and breakfast, and then answered the door.

Now she texts me the night before asking permission to drop him off early. I open at 7:30, but I often only end up with one kid, so I expect parents to let me know if they are dropping off outside of their scheduled times.

I would have done what PP said and not taken the child who was not scheduled to be there, and I would have waited until 8:15 for the other. I completely get that you were in a tired daze...

Sorry your extra sleep got taken away

LOVE THIS!! That's something I would do. My morning quiet time with just me and the dogs is very importatnt to me.