When No One Comes For The Kid...

[ihop]

What do you do and in what time frame? Dcgs parents have been late 3 times in just over a month. This being the third. Dcd works nights and wakes up at 5, comes to get dcg at 530. Mom goes to school until 7pm or later. Dcd keeps over sleeping and picking up past 6.

Dcd says hell be here at 5pm today. Around 540, after all the other kids have left I text dcm to say he isn't here yet. No response. At 6 I call her, then him, then the emergency contact, then her school. No answer or call backs from any. I need the money but am seriously considering terming over this. The are only 5-15 minutes late normally but I closed 35 minutes ago. And had to feed dcg dinner because we were both starving.

If this was a real emergency she'd be screwed!

I know most of you would term but I mean what do I do in the mean time. If its past 7 I guess ill have to call the authorities. Ugh

[childcaremom]

My policy is if there is no contact from parents or backups that after 45 mins I call the authorities.

And this is the third time? I'd be charging some hefty late fees and probably terming.

[Crazy8]

Its never happened to me but if I went down list of emergency contacts and couldn't get a hold of a parent I would be calling CPS. God forbid it was a real emergency involving their child!!!

I would put them on a final warning, this happens again - even 5 minutes - and you will term.

[ihop]

I waived the fee the first time because they had just changed schedules and I was being nice. I charged the 6 dollars a week and a half ago. I get $1/minute and I will be collecting every penny and putting them on probation. May increase my late fee for them because of the multiple offenses. I would term but dcg is 3 and all the older brothers are home with dad for 2 hours while he sleeps. Oldest is 9 and I know she will not be properly cared for if she has to be home instead of here.

[ihop]

Dad just showed up. His kids had to wake him up. Told me the 48 dollar late fee would have to wait until pay day(Thursday) so I told him she couldn't come until it was paid and that I don't work for free. I was shaking mad so I threw in an unprofessional "if this had been an emergency situation she would have bee screwed". I am so mad.

[Heidi]

Dad just showed up. His kids had to wake him up. Told me the 48 dollar late fee would have to wait until pay day(Thursday) so I told him she couldn't come until it was paid and that I don't work for free. I was shaking mad so I threw in an unprofessional "if this had been an emergency situation she would have bee screwed". I am so mad.

[Heidi]

Dad just showed up. His kids had to wake him up. Told me the 48 dollar late fee would have to wait until pay day(Thursday) so I told him she couldn't come until it was paid and that I don't work for free. I was shaking mad so I threw in an unprofessional "if this had been an emergency situation she would have bee screwed". I am so mad.

I sure hope you don't feel guilty about this. This is HIS child, not yours. He needs to quite literally wake up!

[Laurel]

Dad just showed up. His kids had to wake him up. Told me the 48 dollar late fee would have to wait until pay day(Thursday) so I told him she couldn't come until it was paid and that I don't work for free. I was shaking mad so I threw in an unprofessional "if this had been an emergency situation she would have bee screwed". I am so mad.

Good for you for not accepting the child until the late fee was paid.

Laurel

[NightOwl]

Good for you!! Stick to your guns! Don't let them beg and plead you into accepting her back. I know it's so hard when you know the child would be better off in your care, but the parents must be taught to respect you and your business and your personal time.

[tehck_1013]

ALARM CLOCK! No excuse...

[Play Care]

That is terrible!!!!

[DaisyMamma]

ALARM CLOCK! No excuse...

Yep.

If he had to be to work at 6 you know he would have gotten up and been there at 5.

Good for you.

[snbauser]

Dad just showed up. His kids had to wake him up. Told me the 48 dollar late fee would have to wait until pay day(Thursday) so I told him she couldn't come until it was paid and that I don't work for free. I was shaking mad so I threw in an unprofessional "if this had been an emergency situation she would have bee screwed". I am so mad.

Sorry you are dealing with this but I'm glad you put your foot down. If you continue to let them get away with it, the more they are going to take advantage of you. Dad needs to figure out a way to make sure he gets up in time to get there and pick up his kid.

[coolconfidentme]

Do not take the child back unless the late fee is paid. He needs consequences just like a child. Never feel guilty about following policy, HE should feel guilty about not following it.

[daycarediva]

Do not take the child back unless the late fee is paid. He needs consequences just like a child. Never feel guilty about following policy, HE should feel guilty about not following it.

Yup. I would have called CPS. I don't wait until I am closed to call. I wait until 1hr after contracted hours. If he was supposed to be gone at 5, nobody was answering, cps would have been called at 6.

I don't think it was unprofessional, had it been an emergency she WOULD have been screwed, you need to be able to get ahold of SOMEONE immediately in an emergency situation.

I wouldn't accept them back into care until the late fee had been paid, and they agreed to be put on probation, one more late pickup=immediate termination AND they put a plan in place to ensure that this doesn't happen again.