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I have always said that since Im getting paid no matter what, I don't care what the parent does while I have the kids. Well now I have a parent that doesn't work until 2 but brings kids in the morning so I can provide lunch. Then the dad gets off at 3 but doesn't pick up until 5 so he can get stuff done. Well now I have another family that I watch there 4 month old and there very bossy 3 year old. At first it was no big deal. But so far in the month I have had them, she has brought them to me and sat at home more then she has actually worked, and everyday its "Oh I feel so bad leaving them". So how do you make it work in your contract that you will not take a child while the parent doesn't work and still get paid? Cause Im not dealing with it anymore.
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OMG this could be me, in fact it is! I'm going though this right now. I just made a policy change that if your child is under 2 if you are home they are home with no change in payment due. I find it doesn't bother me as much with the with the older ones if the parents bring them when they are home. I believe that infants should be with their parents as much as possible. The mom I have currently now who does this did give her 2 weeks but I have a waiting list and the spot is filled already. The other mom that will have a baby in the summer is okay with it. -
I don't think you can. You can't charge a parent for time they aren't allowed to use other than vacation/holidays.
Well, I suppose you could but you probably won't have many parents looking to enroll.
I don't like to care for kids when parents aren't working but there really isn't anything I can do about it other than share my feelings and hope I have like-minded parents in my care.
I bill according to contracted hours. I have a current family who pays for 9-4 Monday through Friday. The mom and dad were both on vacation last week. The child still came to daycare.
Did I like it? No, not really but the family IS paying for the space so it is their space to use as they wish.
The ONLY thing in your situation I would not put up with is the mom making comments to you about leaving her child and how sad it is....I'd have to say something.... "Yeah mom you keep saying how hard it is but yet you bring him on days you aren't working. If you are going to do that, I would appreciate it if you didn't share those types of comments with me. I feel it puts a shadow on how I feel about providing care when parents don't really need it."
Buuuuut, if you do make a comment/remark to her about it, you have to expect that they might pull and find another daycare that doesn't care what they do while the child is in care as long as they pay their bill.
You can either refuse to care for their child when you know they aren't working but I don't think you can morally or ethically restrict their daycare use and still expect payment...kwim?Comment
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one of the main reasons I became a day care was to be a stay home mom and raise my own daughter.....I was and am single too
but that is me
I have had to except that some people are different
and that is what makes the world go around
one thought that might help is
if the parents perferr ( sp ) to send chidlren to day care and do things on their own ...maybe that IS in the best intrest of the child
I am not referring to abuse of any ...just that some people hit burnt out with a house full of children or can't handle the shopping with children ex...
I some times take children shopping ex to show them the world, we of course do the beaches libaries ex too
I have had many say " I dont know how you do it "
I dont know how they do it ...my daughter is my world ....the children are beautifull ...no better way to spend my days ...Comment
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You are right! I have never let it bother me before but for some reason, today it got under my skin. Her reason was she had to get her house cleaned back up. I guess it bothers me when people with 1 or 2 kids think they can't get anything done because of the kids being there when I have 4 of my own (my husband travels during the week and home on weekends) plus 6 DCK's all week during the day. I have been so good about not letting my feelings affect my business. So I bit my lip and said "ok have a nice day"Comment
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It still doesn't "feel" any better though does it?
That's why I usually end up saying something snarky.
It makes me feel better and let's the parent know that although I am not going stop them from dropping their kid off all day everyday, I want them to know that I don't want to hear about their grievances. Especially those, they have complete control over. 
That is probably one of the hardest things I learned while doing this job.
You can't change others. You can only change how you deal with them.
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So these parents only actually need an hour or so of care a day and still pay for a whole week of care for two kids? That would drive me crazy! Just knowing that they prefer to pay someone all week as opposed to spending time with their children! (Of course they wouldn't be able to bring their kids here for only an hour or so, but that's beside the point)
I have parents that consistently bring kids when not working. It bothers me but I don't say anything for two reasons:
1. I am still getting paid and it isn't my place to tell them how to parent
2. I have realized that not every parent values their time with their children the way we do
That being said, sometimes I WANT to tell them how quickly their children are growing and how these years pass by in the blink of an eye! And how one day they will look back and wish they had spent more time when they had the chance but now it's too late!Comment
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I am so lucky to have two moms who often pick up early to spend time w their kids!! Makes up for all the others who do not. As a Mom and Grandparent, just like all of you I am sad at what they are too ignorant to realize is precious time w their children. But you can't make someone feel like you feel. But that doesn't mean It doesn't show in my attitude sometimes
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I learned to charge enough and have hours short enough that I don't care what they do or where they are. When I was paid less for longer hours it consumed me at times. Now I don't even know what time it is half the time because I feel well paid even with a full house open to close.
I also agree with BC on Mom's comments. I would probably say something like, "Why don't you keep them home one day this week then since you aren't working?" or "Snack is over at 3:15 so feel free to pick them up early for a park trip! It's suppose to be lovely today." By putting it back on Mom she can no longer use her words to you to make herself feel better about leaving them.Comment
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agree.
Honestly, we can not micromanage how other parents parent their kids. If there are issues with the child while at daycare you can address those with the parent but to tell them they need to keep their child home with them on their days off but still pay you?? No, I don't think you can do that and keep the clients.
Some parents will do everything they can to spend more time with their child and some will look for every opportunity to get rid of their child. Is it sad for the child? Absolutely. But can we say when they can/can't have time to themselves if they are paying for care? I don't believe so. There is too fine a line there.
I have a parent who does not work and sends her child 2 days a week. I honestly think she needs it for her mental health. Some people can handle more than others can and maybe she is a better parent those other 5 days a week because of it, as long as she pays me on time I am not in a place to pass judgement. I could choose not to take such a family, that is where my choice ends.Comment
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When my DD goes to her old childcare provider on occasion, I am not at work -- when I am at work DD is here obviously. She charges by the day and I often have a couple doctor appointments but then take a few hours in the afternoon to relax/nap/run errands etc.
If you have a parent want you to care for their child for socialization reasons (such as a SAHM), she is not working. Not sure how a policy saying you had to work while childcare was provided would ever work.Comment
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Like others said, unfortunately doing this only creates a situation where the parents are then lying to you to keep their child there or they will pull out and find someone who doesn't care.
It really doesn't bother me as much until it effects MY day. And I recently put a stop to it. Nana was always picking DCB up as late as possible and I finally told mom I need him picked up by 5, 5:30 at the latest and if we have a baseball game he will be at the field with me after 5. Everyone else is gone by 5 and Nana is just "working from home" and admitted this morning she didn't get any work done at all last week! Ha! Well why were you leaving him here til 6 then? So YOU don't have to deal with him? That irritated me. I'm able to go grocery shopping with their child, drs appt with their child, baseball games with their child... Give me a break. Mom is usually working except she goes in late on Mon & Tues (except today, she worked in the morning) so she brings him in the morning and goes home to get ready. Whatever. I'm working in the morning anyway and he should be on a routine but evenings are too much. I have 6 of my own kids and my own house to take care of, I really don't want to work 11hr days so you can have some relax time.Comment
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I provide contracted care only. I get a weekly schedule or biweekly or however they get their schedule. They drop off one hour prior and pick up one hour after. My schedule does change daily and I provide day and afternoon care... But it works for me.
Sometimes I have long hours, sometimes I get a weekday off. But I do sometimes have kids here from 6:00 am until 11:00 pm ( from different families).
I do allow overnights and errand care but with a separate charge.Comment
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because then you would make an exception. The child is here for socialization. I would not allow socialization to be five days a week 11 hours a day!
I highly encourage children to be in my care only if the parent is working or in school. I am a provider not a babysitter. Thing is parents get comfortable and figure other kids are here till five so why not let their kid stay till five. NOOOOOOOooooo not what we agreed on. I do contracted hours....... but I do allow a parent to have a break day I just ask that they let me know where they are going to be so that if I need to contact them in the event of an emergency I am able to. This is what I aim for- doesn't always happen so, because as I said parents get comfortable.
I want the parents to raise their kiddo's as much as they are able to. I work long hours. It benefits both parties, the child being the utmost important but also the provider and the parents because these kids grow up super duper fast!Comment
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