SOOOO DCM Was Late...WWYD??

[LaLa1923]

Last night I was feeling really bad so I went to bed early. I still had DCB here who would be picked up at 9pm. I left my phone with my hubby.

Prior to laying down I sent DCM a text at 7:15 and let her know my side streets were already getting bad and had not been plowed yet. Please be careful picking up.

She said OK.

Her pickup time is 9pm, she called at 9:04 and said she was on her way...that the roads were bad.......DUH of course they were!!

Hubby missed her call so he tried calling back, NO answer.

She did not show up until 9:25pm!

IMO she had ample notice that she needed to be here on time, and to plan her commute accordingly.

I am not happy that she waited until after her pickup time to call and tell me she'd be late. She knew well before 9pm that she was going to be late.

I will be charging her $25 for being late.

WWYD??

Next time I will close early!!

[mrsnj]

Charge. That's not your problem. Nine is nine. Done

[Heidi]

She was coming from work?

If she was, how could she control the commute? Most people can't leave work early, and sometimes you don't know how bad it is until you get out there on the roads.

Unless this is someone who is chronically late, I would not charge a fee.

[coolconfidentme]

Did she work a little OT & had to deal with bad roads? I charge a set fee for a 4 hour block of time past regular hours. I also have $1 a minute late fee charge. If DCM is always inconsiderate, the $1 tends to make them more punctual. It's judgement call which way to charge, in the end.

[LaLa1923]

She was coming from work?

If she was, how could she control the commute? Most people can't leave work early, and sometimes you don't know how bad it is until you get out there on the roads.

Unless this is someone who is chronically late, I would not charge a fee.

After the last time she was late I told her I would charge her.

Yes, she was coming from work but she could've left early.

If I had closed early she would've obviously had to pick up early.

[mrsnj]

I'm sorry. Closing time is closing time. Even in bad weather. If I know I have to be at work at eight in bad weather I leave early. If I know I have an appointment in bad weather I a lot the time. Closing is closing to me. If a parent doesn't think they will make it, an alternative should be in place. I would charge

[Heidi]

After the last time she was late I told her I would charge her.

Yes, she was coming from work but she could've left early.

If I had closed early she would've obviously had to pick up early.

It's really a judgment call on your part; you know mom better and whether she's one to take advantage, and you know how flexible her job is about when she leaves. If those apply, I'd certainly charge her.

[LaLa1923]

Did she work a little OT & had to deal with bad roads? I charge a set fee for a 4 hour block of time past regular hours. I also have $1 a minute late fee charge. If DCM is always inconsiderate, the $1 tends to make them more punctual. It's judgement call which way to charge, in the end.

No OT, she works 12-8. She works maybe 15-20 from my home.

[Punkin.Butts]

I disagree with the charges.

a ridiculous amount of time would be an extra half hour to me. I know in bad weather I drive more cautious therefor sometimes it takes me an extra half hour to get to places that normally wouldn't.

So I would allow that extra half hour before charging late fees. And with work, yes, you can take off early if the daycare closes OR make other arrangements to pick the child up, however, If the daycare stays open until closing, you don't really have a "reason" to give your employer to get off half an hour early to pick your child up from the daycare that stayed open.

does that make sense? The employer is going to tell her that the conditions weren't bad enough to close the daycare so they aren't bad enough to take off early to alot extra time to get there.. or at least, that's what I was always told when I worked outside the home and had my kid in daycare.

[Punkin.Butts]

and yes I realize she showed up 25 min late, Im just saying I wouldnt charge until exactly 30 minutes late.. to me she made it in a reasonable amount of time considering the conditions of the weather, roads, and other drivers.

[Cat Herder]

I would charge, too. Bravo on the backbone sister!!!

She knows your hours, knew them BEFORE she chose you as her provider.

If she needs more time, she needs to change her contract to pay for more time or find a provider who offers the hours she needs.

Moms life choices should never become your burden.

You got this.

[LaLa1923]

and yes I realize she showed up 25 min late, Im just saying I wouldnt charge until exactly 30 minutes late.. to me she made it in a reasonable amount of time considering the conditions of the weather, roads, and other drivers.

However, she called AFTER her pickup time to tell me she'd be late. Late is late, they need to be on time.


It's not as if it were 5pm, it was 9pm!


She is an adult and must make the accommodations necessary to arrive on time.

[LaLa1923]

I would charge, too. Bravo on the backbone sister!!!

She knows your hours, knew them BEFORE she chose you as her provider.

If she needs more time, she needs to change her contract to pay for more time or find a provider who offers the hours she needs.

Moms life choices should never become your burden.

You got this.

Thank you!!

I agree, when she was late the last time I informed her I will need to start charging her for being late. I let it slide a few times but I have things to do too.

I pre-warned her. I even told her if she needed more time to allow for a grace period, I was more than willing to work something out with her. But I do not work for free.

[Cat Herder]

Thank you!!

I agree, when she was late the last time I informed her I will need to start charging her for being late. I let it slide a few times but I have things to do too.

I pre-warned her. I even told her if she needed more time to allow for a grace period, I was more than willing to work something out with her. But I do not work for free.

Most of the time the late fees go right back into the program anyway, we don't like paying more in taxes either....

Tell Mom that some days we are the dog, others the hydrant, and that today the hydrant will be buying $25 worth of new art supplies for the group.... ::::

[Great Beginnings]

I personally think closing time is closing time. I expect parents to leave early if they know they may have a longer travel time. If I left my house but took longer to get to a store, they aren't going to stay open a half hour later just in case roads are bad and people don't make it by closing. I can see being 10 to 15 mintues late but 25 means she just choose to take advantage and leave late or make a stop.