Stop Calling Me After Hours

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  • daycarediva
    Daycare.com Member
    • Jul 2012
    • 11698

    Stop Calling Me After Hours

    (Yes, I'm yelling it!)

    Dcm sent me a text last Saturday, I was outside at the park with my kids and didn't answer it. Then she called, left a message to return her call as soon as possible. I do so.

    "Does dcb have a sweatshirt at your house for when it warms up?"
    "I don't know, I am not at home. We can check Monday."
    "Will you please check as soon as you get home and let me know?"
    "No. You can check Monday. He will need a coat anyway, since it's supposed to be cold."

    WTF! That was soooo urgent it needs to be dealt with NOW? (Yes, I'm swearing now, too.)

    Wednesday of last week I get a phone call from dcm around 8pm asking if dcb bumped his head and where and when he did so since I didn't send home a boo-boo report.
    1. Dcb is VERY VERY fair. White hair, white eyelashes, see through skin. Every single time he rubs against something it's red instantly.
    2. He is NOT a whiner. He is a BRUISER. Falls, jumps, rolls around, flings himself down, runs without looking, etc. He DOES NOT CRY.

    I tell dcm both of those things. She sends me a text/pic. It's VERY LIGHTLY red. Dcd is so concerned he thinks it is an allergic reaction and gives him Benadryl. I say "That looks like it just happened. There is no way it would have been red from 4 hours ago." Dcm drops it.

    I HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH HER AND DCD Thursday at drop off AND pick up about after hours being MY TIME and to PLEASE not call or text me unless it's an emergency.

    Fast forward to last night. She calls right around 8. Dcb has a MASSIVE BRUISE ON HIS HIP! It's HUGE! He says it really hurts! CALL ME BACK ASAP!

    *sigh*

    I call her back. It's SO massive, what happened, no report, did he bump it? blah blah. I say NOTHING HAPPENED. Changed him at 3:30 for 4pm pickup and saw NOTHING. Ask her to send me a picture.

    It's dime sized and YELLOW. I remind her of dcd telling me he fell at grandmas. I remind about MY TIME since she literally interrupted me doing homework for this urgent matter.

    I am over the helicopter parenting. They DO NOT let this child play normally, they follow him EVERYWHERE and step in EVERY TIME he MAY be hurt. He is 3.5 and isn't allowed to walk down the 4 stairs off my front porch alone! It's covered in my handbook that occasional bumps and bruises are a normal part of early childhood.

    Was it ECS that was doing every single bruise documentation? I am going that route with this family this evening. Along with a copy of that section of my handbook. Child is first drop off, so I am going to strip him, document and have Mom sign, then do the reverse before pickup. So over this.
  • Naptime yet?
    Daycare.com Member
    • Dec 2013
    • 443

    #2
    I would be insane. Poor kid.

    I had a mom call me 9am on 4th of July last year to see if dcb liked just peanut butter or peanut butter & jelly better. Really? It's that important??? And you mean you don't know yourself???

    Comment

    • Play Care
      Daycare.com Member
      • Dec 2012
      • 6642

      #3
      I feel your pain!

      Last night I got a call about a hockey stick a child *may* have left here...

      Comment

      • butterfly
        Daycare.com Member
        • Nov 2012
        • 1627

        #4
        Originally posted by daycarediva
        Was it ECS that was doing every single bruise documentation? I am going that route with this family this evening. Along with a copy of that section of my handbook. Child is first drop off, so I am going to strip him, document and have Mom sign, then do the reverse before pickup. So over this.
        I would NOT do this personally. Your business and you need to do what you need to do, but I wouldn't. I feel as though this is a HUGE sign of lack of trust. I would have to term and be done. I wouldn't waste my time documenting everything - what if you miss a bump? The documentation isn't going to stop the ridiculous calls after hours - will it?

        Comment

        • Lianne
          Advanced Daycare.com Member
          • Jun 2010
          • 537

          #5
          Start billing her. For every phone call or text she sends after hours it's $10. If she requires you to return her call/text, it's $15. Whatever the cost, make it hurt their wallet so she stops.
          Doing what I love and loving what I do.

          Comment

          • Shell
            Daycare.com Member
            • Jul 2013
            • 1765

            #6
            That is really annoying. I used to have parents do that. Once I stopped texting, and only answered emails, all the nonsense calls stopped. Do these parents really think this kind of communication is going to continue in elementary school?! No way would that fly, they need a dose of reality!

            Comment

            • coolconfidentme
              Daycare.com Member
              • Oct 2012
              • 1541

              #7
              Originally posted by Lianne
              Start billing her. For every phone call or text she sends after hours it's $10. If she requires you to return her call/text, it's $15. Whatever the cost, make it hurt their wallet so she stops.
              (giggle, snicker, snort)

              I don't answer a text or call until I'm back to work on Monday. Well..., unless they text me at 1am. I then wait until they get comfy in their bed & reply at 4am. ::

              If a parent points out that they called/texted me on Saturday. I reply, "Yeah, I know. That's why I left my cush govt job, I didn't want to be on call 24/7." I follow that up with a big smile.

              Comment

              • Jack Sprat
                New Daycare.com Member
                • Jul 2013
                • 882

                #8
                Originally posted by Lianne
                Start billing her. For every phone call or text she sends after hours it's $10. If she requires you to return her call/text, it's $15. Whatever the cost, make it hurt their wallet so she stops.
                I had a dcm like this. Every night. One night I didn't answer. She called 23 times. When I did finally return her call she needed me to bring over the diaper cream her husband left here at pick up. I asked her to have her hubby come get it. Well, of course he couldn't he was bowling. Thank goodness I termed them.

                Comment

                • Patches
                  Daycare.com Member
                  • Dec 2012
                  • 1154

                  #9
                  Originally posted by Jack Sprat
                  I had a dcm like this. Every night. One night I didn't answer. She called 23 times. When I did finally return her call she needed me to bring over the diaper cream her husband left here at pick up. I asked her to have her hubby come get it. Well, of course he couldn't he was bowling. Thank goodness I termed them.
                  What in the world?!

                  Comment

                  • My3cents
                    Daycare.com Member
                    • Jan 2012
                    • 3387

                    #10
                    Originally posted by daycarediva
                    (Yes, I'm yelling it!)

                    Dcm sent me a text last Saturday, I was outside at the park with my kids and didn't answer it. Then she called, left a message to return her call as soon as possible. I do so.

                    "Does dcb have a sweatshirt at your house for when it warms up?"
                    "I don't know, I am not at home. We can check Monday."
                    "Will you please check as soon as you get home and let me know?"
                    "No. You can check Monday. He will need a coat anyway, since it's supposed to be cold."

                    WTF! That was soooo urgent it needs to be dealt with NOW? (Yes, I'm swearing now, too.)

                    Wednesday of last week I get a phone call from dcm around 8pm asking if dcb bumped his head and where and when he did so since I didn't send home a boo-boo report.
                    1. Dcb is VERY VERY fair. White hair, white eyelashes, see through skin. Every single time he rubs against something it's red instantly.
                    2. He is NOT a whiner. He is a BRUISER. Falls, jumps, rolls around, flings himself down, runs without looking, etc. He DOES NOT CRY.

                    I tell dcm both of those things. She sends me a text/pic. It's VERY LIGHTLY red. Dcd is so concerned he thinks it is an allergic reaction and gives him Benadryl. I say "That looks like it just happened. There is no way it would have been red from 4 hours ago." Dcm drops it.

                    I HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH HER AND DCD Thursday at drop off AND pick up about after hours being MY TIME and to PLEASE not call or text me unless it's an emergency.

                    Fast forward to last night. She calls right around 8. Dcb has a MASSIVE BRUISE ON HIS HIP! It's HUGE! He says it really hurts! CALL ME BACK ASAP!

                    *sigh*

                    I call her back. It's SO massive, what happened, no report, did he bump it? blah blah. I say NOTHING HAPPENED. Changed him at 3:30 for 4pm pickup and saw NOTHING. Ask her to send me a picture.

                    It's dime sized and YELLOW. I remind her of dcd telling me he fell at grandmas. I remind about MY TIME since she literally interrupted me doing homework for this urgent matter.

                    I am over the helicopter parenting. They DO NOT let this child play normally, they follow him EVERYWHERE and step in EVERY TIME he MAY be hurt. He is 3.5 and isn't allowed to walk down the 4 stairs off my front porch alone! It's covered in my handbook that occasional bumps and bruises are a normal part of early childhood.

                    Was it ECS that was doing every single bruise documentation? I am going that route with this family this evening. Along with a copy of that section of my handbook. Child is first drop off, so I am going to strip him, document and have Mom sign, then do the reverse before pickup. So over this.
                    Easy fix........don't answer or reply until monday morning or your opening hours. This will get the hint across. If not and the parent ask you why you didn't answer your phone or text. I don't work after hours unless it is an emergency situation. Stop allowing this. I know its uncomfortable when you have to put it back on the parents this way but when you have tried everything else, sometimes blunt is all that is left.

                    Good luck-

                    Comment

                    • EntropyControlSpecialist
                      Embracing the chaos.
                      • Mar 2012
                      • 7466

                      #11
                      It was me and I may still have my "BRUISE LOG" around somewhere if you need to borrow it to make a fantastic looking bruise log folder for you both to utilize. If she questions you over every bruise, that didn't even happen on your time, then I would REQUIRE her to do it as well.

                      Comment

                      • EntropyControlSpecialist
                        Embracing the chaos.
                        • Mar 2012
                        • 7466

                        #12
                        Originally posted by mrsmichelle
                        That is really annoying. I used to have parents do that. Once I stopped texting, and only answered emails, all the nonsense calls stopped. Do these parents really think this kind of communication is going to continue in elementary school?! No way would that fly, they need a dose of reality!
                        I just started only answering between business hours and it really helps my mental state. My PITA mom loves to call or text every single day because she thinks we are friends????

                        Comment

                        • kitykids3
                          Daycare.com Member
                          • Jan 2012
                          • 581

                          #13
                          Originally posted by Jack Sprat
                          I had a dcm like this. Every night. One night I didn't answer. She called 23 times. When I did finally return her call she needed me to bring over the diaper cream her husband left here at pick up. I asked her to have her hubby come get it. Well, of course he couldn't he was bowling. Thank goodness I termed them.
                          wow, the nerve of some people. She'd be lucky if I even answered the phone let alone allow them to tell me to bring something to them. I get texts usually after hours. Sometimes I answer them and sometimes I don't. If I was a store or other type of business, they wouldn't be expecting an answer during closed hours so if I feel I need my ME time, I will address their text when I see them next during my open hours.

                          With your client I personally would just stop answering or returning her calls after hours. She'll get the hint. You've already told her twice, so now just follow through. Hopefully, she'll get the hint and stop.
                          lovethis daymommy to 7 kiddos - 5 girls and 2 boys

                          Comment

                          • Jack Sprat
                            New Daycare.com Member
                            • Jul 2013
                            • 882

                            #14
                            She was a dandy!

                            And yes, I ignore many calls in the evening. Doesn't matter who. I answer my families calls but that is about it.

                            Comment

                            • Cradle2crayons
                              Daycare.com Member
                              • Apr 2013
                              • 3642

                              #15
                              I agree... She keeps calling because you keep answering... Despite the fact you keep reminding her not to do it.

                              Stop answering the phone.

                              Comment

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