What is your normal reply...

[coolconfidentme]

...when a parent texts & say/ask if they can make a quick stop at the store before picking up Jr?
Do you say no & explain why? Do you say anything catchy? Do you remind them of the contract/policy? Do you say ok? Do you just say NO!!

[Play Care]

Thankfully no one has ever done that. They know I close at x time and I've made everyone aware that they need to be *leaving* by that time not just getting here.

If it happened, I'd probably reply that I had an appointment or something and would be enforcing late fees. That is usually enough to deter late pick ups due to errands.

[Rachel]

If it means they will be late, I tell them to find someone else to pick up their kid. If it's before I close, I don't care. I am paid to watch the kids until 4:30 and while it would be great to get off early once in a while, I accept that it's not going to happen and deal with it.

[Lil'DinoEggs]

I ignore it. And if they come past closing time, I say what their late fee is. If they say I sent a text, I remind them any overtime needs 24 hour approval.

The only exception was once when I knew a dad was out of town and mom had to start late at work which means late pick up. 15 minutes prior to pick up and closing, DCG has stomach pains followed by diarrhea. I let mom have a few minutes to pick up some medicine before picking her up. This was a family who followed my policies anyway.

[KidGrind]

...when a parent texts & say/ask if they can make a quick stop at the store before picking up Jr?
Do you say no & explain why? Do you say anything catchy? Do you remind them of the contract/policy? Do you say ok? Do you just say NO!!

My reply, “Standard lates fee will be due at pick up, $1 per minute in cash. Thanks for giving me a heads up.”

Also in my contract/handbook it states notification of late pick up will not void appropriate late fees due.

[Cat Herder]

Since this so rarely happens it would depend on how my day went. My late fee is $1 per minute so they'd know they will owe me x dollars before they even texted.

On a good day I'd probably ask them how late, multiply that in my head by dollars and give them my shopping list to that number....

EX: "Oh, cool! 10 minutes late? I"ll trade you a toddler free shopping trip for a bag of that awesome hazelnut coffee you brought me for Valentines last year." The standard response would be "Deal! See you in a few"

On a bad day my response would be "K". The standard reaction to a short text would be on the doorstep "Hi! I decided to just come on, little slugger loves how they give out free popcorn, anyway."

I think they get me..... lovethis

Good luck with what you decide, it can be such a slippery slope and depends so much on your relationship with the parents.

[KidGrind]

On a bad day my response would be "K". The standard reaction to a short text would be on the doorstep "Hi! I decided to just come on, little slugger loves how they give out free popcorn, anyway."

::::::The “K” response is RUTHLESS.

[BumbleBee]

::::::The “K” response is RUTHLESS.

I have one dcm who I just don't get along with. 90% of my texts to her are "k"


OP: It depends. If it's a one time thing and a family who respects me, no problem. If it's a family who is doing it regularly-no. I usually respond with "I close at ****."

[coolconfidentme]

I feel like saying, ""Absolutely. Take your time. At a $1 per minute late fee, I can makeup for the break I gave everyone at Christmas time."

[Cat Herder]

::::::The “K” response is RUTHLESS.

I know, I know.... but they forgive me when they get to the door, see the bags under my eyes, the paint on my clothes, the glue in my hair, spit-up on my shoes, the blank stare and the beaming smile on the kids face as they shove their newest creation at them.

[Meyou]

I say, "Sounds good to me. As long as you can be here by closing time."

[nannyde]

"Oh YAY!!!!! happyfacehappyfacehappyface I LOVE myself some extra money. Take your time"

[mountainside13]

One of my past families did this regularly. Mom was suppose to be here at 4:20 and I would receive at text at 4:19 that dad will be picking up. Dad gets here at 4:45. There has been may excuses as to why. My favorite one is "oh, she went home to go snowblow the driveway because she loves to snowblow" ! I started charging them late fees.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I ignore it. And if they come past closing time, I say what their late fee is. If they say I sent a text, I remind them any overtime needs 24 hour approval.

The only exception was once when I knew a dad was out of town and mom had to start late at work which means late pick up. 15 minutes prior to pick up and closing, DCG has stomach pains followed by diarrhea. I let mom have a few minutes to pick up some medicine before picking her up. This was a family who followed my policies anyway.

I also ignore texts like that. As long as they are here by the time they need to be, then I am fine.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

One of my past families did this regularly. Mom was suppose to be here at 4:20 and I would receive at text at 4:19 that dad will be picking up. Dad gets here at 4:45. There has been may excuses as to why. My favorite one is "oh, she went home to go snowblow the driveway because she loves to snowblow" ! I started charging them late fees.

They would have stopped that quickly with $25.00 late charges over here. That is crazy.