Oh, You Never Told Me You Had Anywhere To Be... Ugh!!

[jgcp]

I have this happen alot! And in my contract we put their drop off time (15min before and after work) and it states that they are not to be dropped off any earlier than that time. I had one dcp dropping off a full hour before she had to be to work( live in small town EVERY Thing is within 20min drive) so I just highlighted some important stuff along with that and gave her a copy of it , it worked but she's not the only one *** have some training of parents to do good luck

[coolconfidentme]

I have this happen alot! And in my contract we put their drop off time (15min before and after work) and it states that they are not to be dropped off any earlier than that time. I had one dcp dropping off a full hour before she had to be to work( live in small town EVERY Thing is within 20min drive) so I just highlighted some important stuff along with that and gave her a copy of it , it worked but she's not the only one *** have some training of parents to do good luck

I give my DCPs 30 minutes & if only takes 10 minutes to get to the other side of town. I had a parent try dropping off 45 early. She banged on the door, called & texted me that the door was locked. I told her I would down at 5:30, when we open. I didn't open the door a minute before either. She said she wanted to get something to gas & I told her I was unsure why that meant I had to open early.., that was something she needed to do on her time, not mine.

[Great Beginnings]

Did you charge her a late fee?
Did you explain to her that you don't need to tell her your plans since your closed at 5:00 p.m.?
Will you be re-enforcing your policies?

I am only wondering since I have been struggling with this as well and wondering how others have dealt with it.

Sorry for the late response, crazy day yesterday! I did say well I'm closed at 5 and I didn't think you cared enough about me to know my evening plans and chuckled. I was a little shocked so it came off as I was laughing it off unfortunately. I felt it inappropriate to deal with it after the fact but I am sending out updated contracts. There are technically no updates but I am highlighting that late fees will be strictly enforced from this point on, no excuses. As someone else mentioned the 3 time limit, I think I will be adding this as well.

[Blackcat31]

. As someone else mentioned the 3 time limit, I think I will be adding this as well.

I have a 3 strikes = you are out policy for late pick ups

First time the fee is $1 per minute
Second time the fee is $2 per minute
Third time the fee is "termination"

If I really really like the family and I feel that the late pick ups were handled appropriately and respectfully AND that they really were beyond DCF's control...I won't term but will charge them $3 per minute.

It really depends on the family and their past behaviors.....

For me, I don't want to work after my closing time. I am self-employed so I don't have anyone telling me I have to blow it off or **** it up. I made a policy that I feel compensates me for having to go above and beyond what I normally offer families.

It isn't about the money. It's about respect. When push comes to shove, those families that understand that are the ones who benefit from it the most.

It's those families that I am willing to be a bit more flexible with now and then and not be resentful about it.

[Great Beginnings]

I have a 3 strikes = you are out policy for late pick ups

It isn't about the money. It's about respect. When push comes to shove, those families that understand that are the ones who benefit from it the most.

Exactly!! I could honestly care less about the money after 5pm. It is about respect and the benefits of owning my own business!

[KIDZRMYBIZ]

I think maybe I would start sharing everything, EVERYTHING, with this DCM about my after-hours plans:

"I'm getting my kooter checked at the gyno. Don't be late!"

"Hubbs and I are ready to dance the horizontal mambo. Don't be late!"

"It's shots and chasers for dinner tonight. Don't be late!"

Anyone else?

[My3cents]

I do often tell my parents when I have something going on that requires me to be out of here on time. Often, they'll try to get here early if possible.

Do I HAVE to tell them? No. But, I do because it's a mutually beneficial relationship. Give and take.

Maybe if I had more families to deal with, I'd be more all-business about it. But, I don't, so until it's a problem, I do what works for everyone.

Added:

I really only have one mom who is occasionally late. She is a PT, and sometimes has a patient just takes longer. She usually texts me as she's leaving and apologizes profusely. Since her dh works even later and further away, and their families live out of state, there's really nothing she can do about it. DCM is such a considerate person, I know she means it and would never take advantage. I've never once even considered giving her hard time about it, even though she's my last one of the day by 1/2 hour.

This sounds like my clients and how I work. If it was an ongoing problem then I would have an issue. I also stress at my interviews that I have a life outside of daycare hours. I could have wrote the above exactly.

[coolconfidentme]

I think maybe I would start sharing everything, EVERYTHING, with this DCM about my after-hours plans:

"I'm getting my kooter checked at the gyno. Don't be late!"

"Hubbs and I are ready to dance the horizontal mambo. Don't be late!"

"It's shots and chasers for dinner tonight. Don't be late!"

Anyone else?

::::::::

[MarinaVanessa]

I think maybe I would start sharing everything, EVERYTHING, with this DCM about my after-hours plans:

"I'm getting my kooter checked at the gyno. Don't be late!"

"Hubbs and I are ready to dance the horizontal mambo. Don't be late!"

"It's shots and chasers for dinner tonight. Don't be late!"

Anyone else?

"I need to shower, wax my mustache, shave my hoo-haw and clip my toe nails before CSI tonight. Don't be late!"

"I need to scrub the floor, clean the counters and table, vacuum the carpets, take out the trash, make dinner, clean up after dinner, wash the dishes, put them away, throw in a load of laundry and scrub the toilet before American Idol starts tonight. Don't be late!"

"I need to go shopping for new pants because these ones give me camel toe look! Don't be late!"

"It's that time of the month when Aunt Flo comes to visit and I have to go buy some cooter corks tonight. Don't be late!"

I bet after a few of these they'll be begging for you NOT tell them when you have something to do.

[KIDZRMYBIZ]

"I need to shower, wax my mustache, shave my hoo-haw and clip my toe nails before CSI tonight. Don't be late!"

"I need to scrub the floor, clean the counters and table, vacuum the carpets, take out the trash, make dinner, clean up after dinner, wash the dishes, put them away, throw in a load of laundry and scrub the toilet before American Idol starts tonight. Don't be late!"

"I need to go shopping for new pants because these ones give me camel toe look! Don't be late!"

"It's that time of the month when Aunt Flo comes to visit and I have to go buy some cooter corks tonight. Don't be late!"

I bet after a few of these they'll be begging for you NOT tell them when you have something to do.

I just choked on my sandwich! OMG! Camel toe! Cooter Corks! You are hilarious!!! I was hoping for some chuckles. And note to self, it's cooter with a "c," not a "k." I will remember that!