How Many Phone Calls From DCM During The Day Is Too Many?

[Blackcat31]

Here's why I don't like calls EVERY day I had a dcm with 2 boys here last year, she would call every day on her lunch and wanted details, not just they are having a good day or bad day. Then when I did tell her honestly (her kids were maniacs and it did not end well at all) she got so defensive. So I went back to general answers, she would pry for details and again get defensive and give me excuses for their behavior, mostly being "oh they're brothers give them a break" Well the simple fact of them being bothers was a huge disturbance in my daycare with their "brotherly" behavior. Over time mom's calls and my honesty about their behavior led to lots of tension and frustration on both ends, mom frustrated with me telling her the kids were behaving a certain way, me frustrated because if she doesn't really want to know she should stop asking, and if she does ask then don't get upset when I tell her! She would say "I want to know EVERYTHING so I can correct their behavior." Her idea of correcting was time out in their room from after supper until bedtime. Or having a 3 year old write over and over I am sorry. When this didn't work she started getting upset with me and I stopped answering her calls.

Needless to say I no longer answer calls every day. Text only and I answer when I can and I do not give details unless I find there to be a problem.

Besides the above reason (Which is an EXCELLENT explanation of how daily phone calls can go bad) I just don't have the time.

I have 10-12 kids each day. If every parent called me to check up on their child's day I would have to devote a minimum of 30-40 minutes PER day or 2-3 HOURS PER week giving updates and daily reports.

Add that to the little bit of "reporting" and chit chat that gets done at drop off and pick up and I have now devoted up wards of 10+ hours per week to pacifying parents as to how their child is doing each minute of the day.

I simply do not have that kind of time outside of the other services I provide.

Texting is similar. It may only take a few seconds but those few seconds/minutes I have to take to reply is time I am not spending providing the rest of my services which includes interacting and supervising the kids.

Bottom line for me is once parents settle in here after the two week trial period, our relationship HAS to be based on trust. If a parent can't understand and respect that, then I am not the right fit for them.

[My3cents]

one- I am too busy to be on the phone. If there is a problem I will call you. If it is a baby under one, I will give you a paper of the babies day when you pick up so you can know what your little ones day was like.

lovethis

[TwinKristi]

I have moms text me and they can usually see if I've read the msg or not, so if I haven't they know I'm busy. I usually can reply pretty quickly and let them know everything's fine. I have one mom who checks in almost daily, I assume on her lunch, just saying "hey, how's it going?" and its usually nap time. I send her a pic of something we did and say he's fine, was grumpy before nap but seems fine now, ate well, etc. I've never had anyone call me because they usually know I'm busy!

[Blackcat31]

I have moms text me and they can usually see if I've read the msg or not, so if I haven't they know I'm busy. I usually can reply pretty quickly and let them know everything's fine. I have one mom who checks in almost daily, I assume on her lunch, just saying "hey, how's it going?" and its usually nap time. I send her a pic of something we did and say he's fine, was grumpy before nap but seems fine now, ate well, etc. I've never had anyone call me because they usually know I'm busy!

If you are using an i-phone, you can turn that off. (NO clue if other smart phones have that feature or not)

I don't like people knowing if I have read their texts or not.

I feel obligated to HAVE to reply then and they expect it.

[TwinKristi]

If you are using an i-phone, you can turn that off. (NO clue if other smart phones have that feature or not)

I don't like people knowing if I have read their texts or not.

I feel obligated to HAVE to reply then and they expect it.

I don't know how to turn it off, and I really don't mind... It's more for my dh, mom, etc. I used to feel the pressure to reply immediately, but I've gotten much better about it.

[Blackcat31]

I don't know how to turn it off, and I really don't mind... It's more for my dh, mom, etc. I used to feel the pressure to reply immediately, but I've gotten much better about it.

Well for future reference if you ever do want to turn it off

• go to settings
• scroll down to "messages"
• then turn on or off the "send read receipts"

HTH

[TwinKristi]

Well for future reference if you ever do want to turn it off

• go to settings
• scroll down to "messages"
• then turn on or off the "send read receipts"

HTH

[DaisyMamma]

Dcbaby is 4-5 months old and has been here for 2 months now. Everyday I fill out a "report card" detailing everything baby does all day. Also if there were to be any problems I would call or text mom right away.

So considering those things, plus the fact that I have a very busy demanding job, how many phone calls/texts would you consider to be too many?



Additional FYI - dcm works in a center.

I did not review the other responses.
My answer is one.

[crazydaycarelady]

one- I am too busy to be on the phone. If there is a problem I will call you. If it is a baby under one, I will give you a paper of the babies day when you pick up so you can know what your little ones day was like.

Exactly!