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I don't understand why parents think its ok to show up early. Last Friday, I only had 1 kid. (everyone was out sick) They told me drop of would be at 11 everyday last week since I get a schedule on Sundays. Well at 10 I made my preschooler get in the tub to get ready for school, and sure enough the mom pulls in at 10:05. So I mad her knock a few times then I let her in and said "well you are early and Im in the middle of baths. You can eaither come back or hang out while I finish up. Yes my 5 year old can bath herself, but I sat in the bath room with her for 15 min just to prove a point that I do have a life out side of watching kids! Well then this morning, the girls that get here at 630 am show up at 620. Ok not a big deal. but I sleep until 615 and get up long enough to get coffee going and put the dog up. Well when you show up 10 min early, that doesn't give me much time. Why do these parents think we just sit around for waiting for them
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I would just stop sitting around waiting for them....LOCK your door. Unlock it when they are SUPPOSED to drop off, not when they show up. It's hard to do, but after encountering a locked door a few times, they start showing up at drop off time, rather than an hour early (so they can do some relaxing/shopping/grab a coffee). Don't give YOUR leisure time to them to use as THEIR leisure time-their kids, their problem until drop off. -
Because you didn't say no.
I mean that nicely since I made the mistake of letting my first couple of families come early here and there and then suddenly they were showing up a half hour early! I learned quickly to simply tell them that like any business, I open only when scheduled and if they want to drop off earlier than their scheduled time then they must pay an additional fee...if I allow the early drop off to begin with. Haven't had a problem with unexpected early drop offs since...they either wait quietly in their car or arrive on time. 
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Yep, charge a fee for early drop offs. Tell them you have family obligations but if you need to work overtime then you'll do it (if you will) for an additional fee.Because you didn't say no. I mean that nicely since I made the mistake of letting my first couple of families come early here and there and then suddenly they were showing up a half hour early! I learned quickly to simply tell them that like any business, I open only when scheduled and if they want to drop off earlier than their scheduled time then they must pay an additional fee...if I allow the early drop off to begin with. Haven't had a problem with unexpected early drop offs since...they either wait quietly in their car or arrive on time.
Or, in my case, I walk for exercise every morning. If they come early, I'm not there.
I have one that asked to drop off at 7 a.m. but is rarely there before 7:15 and most days 7:20/25. So that happened for a long time and I figured that he'd never get here at 7:00 so sometimes my walks ran over by 5 minutes or so.
Well he has had to wait for me a time or two but he did apologize. He said that he knew he was never here at 7:00 and appreciated that I was still available at 7:00 because on a rare occasion he does come then. I saw him from about 8 houses away and just walked VERY leisurely from that point. You know, bringing my heartbeat down and all....:
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LaurelComment
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This bugs me a lot, too. I have mentioned it before, but I used to have a mom that would park in my driveway and stare at the house. As soon as she noticed movement, she would come up to the doorbell. I would literally have to dodge my windows and keep lights off so she couldn't see in.
After several talks with her about being early to no avail, I just stopped answering the door, and let her wait outside if she was early. I kind of got a kick out of making her wait, since she had this entitled attitude.
Many parents think that since we are home anyway, what's the big deal?! The big deal to me is that those 5 minutes a parent is early means the difference between me being in a towel, or being dressed, having the kids ready or still in pj's, etc. I am not a morning person
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Yep, charge a fee for early drop offs. Tell them you have family obligations but if you need to work overtime then you'll do it (if you will) for an additional fee.
Or, in my case, I walk for exercise every morning. If they come early, I'm not there. I have one that asked to drop off at 7 a.m. but is rarely there before 7:15 and most days 7:20/25. So that happened for a long time and I figured that he'd never get here at 7:00 so sometimes my walks ran over by 5 minutes or so.
Well he has had to wait for me a time or two but he did apologize. He said that he knew he was never here at 7:00 and appreciated that I was still available at 7:00 because on a rare occasion he does come then. I saw him from about 8 houses away and just walked VERY leisurely from that point. You know, bringing my heartbeat down and all....::
Laurel
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Ok ladies. The not answering the door would work for the mom at 630. How do I handle the one that comes right before lunch since she knows Im here with kids? Her kid being the only one on Friday was because the other kids was sick. (had a bug go through here). Do I still make her sit outside? I want to get it under controlComment
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I had a mom do this to me, for an entire week straight. I told her EACH time that I wanted her to drop off on time. She didn't listen. I finally locked the door for the week after and yet again, she showed up. She called and called that day and I did not answer til her start time AS I was walking to the door. She said "I'm here and I've been waiting 30 minutes" very angry and I said "I told you before that you need to come at your scheduled time" She NEVER came early again and learned to ask me first AND PAY for any early time. She thought because she didn't drop off at 6am like the other parents, that a drop off at noon meant she could come at 11:30. I gave her a week to sort herself out, and the only way she learned was to do what I told her to as according to our agreement. I even told her that she was welcome to ASK for a schedule change if 12 wouldn't work. She just never bothered and figured I would do it her way.
Wrong.
I would lock the door at all times, regardless of if you have other kids or not. That is irrelavent. Your contract with this family is what matters.Comment
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Lock the door until she's supposed to be dropping off. I assume you get a schedule. If so, then if she's before drop off just don't answer the door. When it's time, open the door, and remind them about drop off and scheduled times.
I have families contracted all throughout the day. But they aren't just allowed to drop off when they feel like it.
"Mom, I wasn't aware you were scheduled before x, however, in the future if you want to drop off early, payment in the amount of y is due at drop off for overtime. I know you understand!! " then big
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Lock the door-go take a bath or do some laundry or take nap. Go in the basement. Take the dog for a walk. Leave the house and pull into the drive 3 minutes before drop off time. Whatever you feel comfortable with. If she complains, let her know that you weren't expecting her until her drop off time. Just tell her that you count on parents dropping at their agreed upon time and that you schedule things according to that.
I have an 11 AM drop off every morning. I schedule around that. If the parents showed up at even 10:45, it would throw my morning and my lunch schedule off. With a house full of kids, timing is everything.Comment
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Answer the door wearing only a towel?Comment
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Keep the door locked. It should be anyway if you are alone in a house full of other people's kids.
Do not answer for AT LEAST 5 full minutes (feels like an eternity for both of you), or longer if you can stand it, any time she is early. Have a running list of totally excusable excuses: helping child with toilet, in the john yourself, changing a diaper, feeding a bottle, calming a crying baby, etc.
When I had this problem with a family about 2 years ago, I took the kids for a little neighborhood walk so they'd either have to wait or track us down. So worth it, even if I did have to rearrange our schedule a bit.::
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Lock the door until she's supposed to be dropping off. I assume you get a schedule. If so, then if she's before drop off just don't answer the door. When it's time, open the door, and remind them about drop off and scheduled times.
I have families contracted all throughout the day. But they aren't just allowed to drop off when they feel like it.
"Mom, I wasn't aware you were scheduled before x, however, in the future if you want to drop off early, payment in the amount of y is due at drop off for overtime. I know you understand!! " then big
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I'm embarrassed to say.....I haven't been as nice.
Told a mom who was 20 minutes early in the morn at 6:20 a.m. I could let her in, but I'd have to charge her my early arrival fee, (which is $1. a minute). She chose to sit in the car, and wait for her scheduled time.
That same mom was a habitual, did it again, and my own kids waved from the windows. ::
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