It Happened in TWO Seconds!

[Josiegirl]

It's hard to know exactly how we'd react if we're not the ones going through it. I'd like to think I would've done exactly as you did. Then depending on the dcf's history of actions, I'd decide if I'd want to keep them or give them notice. While I have nothing in my policies about picking up within a certain amount of time(yet another thing to add!) what they did and how they treated their dd/gdd was ridiculous. All I can say is Thank God you were there with her.

I've been lucky in that refusal to pick up right away has never been a problem for me. The worst case I did have was when my dad was taken by ambulance to the hospital(he was in his final days), I called all my dcps and told them to come pick up their child asap. I was still waiting on 1 when the next to last pick-up offered to stay and wait. I said YES(Regulations be damned at that point) and later I found out it took them 45 minutes to pick up their ds.

[MyAngels]

What would YOU have done?

I would not have taken her to the ER for a busted lip. As the ER doc pointed out they have time to stitch it up, so that's not an emergency.

Then I would have begun calling emergency contacts. If no one is reachable I will call my town's police department for assistance in reaching the parents. This is what my licensing body has suggested in this case. Apparently it's not all that unusual for child care providers to be unable to reach a parent (hard to believe, I know ) but the police seem to have better luck getting info if they call.

If no one showed up until Dad picked up at the end of the day, I would have sat him down right then and had a very serious discussion about how this was handled on his part.

Accidents happen to every provider at some point. While I understand why you might feel guilty, please don't beat yourself up over this.

Awesome that you got paid, though happyface. It might be better for you if they don't come back

[hope]

If it wasn't life threatening I would not have taken her in. I would have called everyone on the contact list and left a message with each one that I planned on calling everyone or CPS. If no one called back within an hour I would have called CPS. In this case if I knew she needed stitches I would have waited less time. I don't care what this man's job is....nothing is more important than your child's health. You called to say you were taking his child to the hospital and he didn't show up immediately? ??? I really hope he is ashamed of himself.

[AuntTami]

While I completely agree with you, I can't help but sit here and think "he should be GLAD I didn't think of calling the police!" He's currently in a custody battle with DCG's mom, and me calling CPS or the police to track him down would look MUCH worse to a judge than an accident at daycare! I don't know that I could ever actually do that, although it sounds great in theory. I guess maybe I would if I hadn't been able to get ahold of ANYONE.

Cradle2Crayons-- Thank you. You made me tear up. I needed that.

I know this whole thing is very crazy, and I'm very worked up about it and I truly appreciate all the kind words from everyone. I'm an overly emotional person, and I struggle with anxiety problems, so things like this REALLY get me worked up, and I just can't let the go until I've answered every single question that pops into my head about a situation. I've sat up all night researching things before just to answer a question because I felt I *needed* to know! SO I tend to talk things to death. Thanks for listening to me and giving kind words. It means more to me than you guys know.

[Josiegirl]

I do that too, churn things over and over in my head, let the guilt worm it's way into my very core, second guessing every single thing I should've could've would've done. After awhile, I feel better, it all blows over and life goes on.

I just don't understand why was he so unreachable?? If they do stay I'd certainly get that changed, whether it's non-communication between him and bosses at work or whatever, that just cannot be allowed.

[KSDC]

I don't transport anywhere, including the hospital. My policies state this. For non-life threatening emergencies I call parents for pick up and they take the child to the hospital. For life threatening emergencies (which I have thankfully never had), I will call 911 for an ambulance.

As for not being able to contact anyone for immediate pickup? I am in the same opinion as PP. I go down my contact list. Until I find someone who can pick up. If it ever happened that I couldn't get anyone, then I would call the police/CPS. I am very blessed in that I have never had a family like this.