Approaching A Situation With New Client

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

Sometimes, I get so stunned by a client's response that I am speechless or don't address something properly.

New client began today. Begins ringing and knock 4 minutes prior to our official opening time. I have a certain number of children I take early each morning, so at this point (5 minutes prior to) I am waking them up off their cots, putting away their cots, pottying them/changing diapers, changing my own daughter who woke up, and putting breakfast on the table for the kids. I have a great routine down but any interruption leaves me not ready to open.

The parent was told that we open at 8:00 and the porch light will come on at that point, because we are still finishing what needs to be done in here. He said, "It's only like 1 minute..." to which he was told we are finishing things up. But, the fact is it wasn't just 1 minute. He was ringing the bell and knocking for a full 4 minutes which really frustrated me. Their contract says 8:00. My handbook says 8:00 UNLESS you have pre-arranged an early drop-off. If you only have one child I can see how 4 minutes isn't that important, but when you have to care for a group of 11 total children that 4 minutes is VERY valuable. Even ONE minute is valuable and I cannot give it up.

How do you approach this? Do you cushion it nicely since they just began or do you say WHY you do things the way you do hoping that they "get it" and won't do it anymore? Mom is picking up this evening so no the original offender. I've had issues with the 3yo truly brilliant child today, too, so that may be effecting my thinking of resolutions as well. One of which (showing boobs even after being told not to) will be addressed and the rest will be added to a list of things that might be brought up at the end of the week.

I think I am too frustrated at this to think clearly. This child is replacing a child that I termed due to bad behavior and bad parental behavior. I think I just replaced one bad apple with another...

[Unregistered]

You have already addressed it correctly. Like an adult.

Next time, just ignore the ringing and knocking. Say nothing, just turn on the light and open the door at the determined time with no comment. Like you would a child who has already has the warning.

And much like with a child, expect the behavior to escalate at first. Keep ignoring. Eventually they give up and sit in the car until the correct time.

At least, that's what mine did.

[Unregistered]

Sorry, meant to say "directly" not correctly!

[Sugar Magnolia]

:hug:

"The light on the porch indicates when I'm open. If the light is not on,, I'm not ready to receive your child. If you need an earlier drop off time, let me figure out your new rate, as your current rate does not apply before 8 am. If 8 am is ok, please refrain from knocking until then."

Or just ignore the door until 8am. Every. Single. Time.

Our both. Issue verbal warning, then ignore. He'll get the idea.

I have an electronic keypad entry. I don't turn it on until I'm open. Kinda like your porch light.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I do typically ignore but figured since it was a NEW parent that I would address it head on since I have actually NEVER had someone just knockknockknockknockdingdongdingdongdingdong. Usually there is a break in there but after that many minutes of that I was going INSANE! My early kids were looking at me and one said, "They making some BAD choices!" :: Yes indeed, young sir. Ugh. Heavy door bell ringers or knockers usually get told, "Oh my, no need to ring more than once. THANKS!"

So, no need to address this with Mom tonight then? Or, just reiterate that once the porch light comes ON then we are OPEN?

[SignMeUp]

It wouldn't hurt to say it one more time, IMO.
"Remember, the light turns on at X:00 - that's when I'll open the door for you."

But seriously, in the a.m. say N-o-t-h-i-n-g!! Blank face, turn on light, open door, step away.

Whenever I can't figure out what to do, I ask myself, "What would I do for a two-year-old?" ::

[daycare]

I think that this is one subject only us DCP can really understand. I recently lost a client over this argument, I should not say lost, I should say I termed them.

I would say something like I know you are new and learning the ropes, however, please note that we open at 8:00am sharp daily. Should you arrive before that time, please patiently wait in your car. We will be happy to greet you right at 8am...... thank you for your cooperation.

[Josiegirl]

I go grocery shopping Sunday mornings. The store opens at 8:00. I wait. I went to Rite Aid after I did my groceries. They opened at 9:00. I had to wait. You are a business and your hours are 8:00. Can you disconnect your door bell?
Wow, laying on the bell and continuous knocking on the door for 4 minutes isn't the best way to start a Monday a.m. He would've gotten a rude welcome in my daycare.

If you reminded him today and he does it again tomorrow, I'd tell him point blank his hours start at 8:00 on the dot and not a minute before. Hope his wife reads him the riot act.

[daycarediva]

I have the same issue, except it's 7am, and I CAN'T keep the door shut because my daughters bus arrives between 6:50-7.

This dcm walks RIGHT PAST dd to come in 5-10 minutes early. It's driving me NUTS. I ALWAYS say something, so it's not like she can claim ignorance, although she's newer. Today it was BEFORE 6:50. DD opened the door and they were standing on the porch! I turn off my doorbell and lock my screen, so we couldn't hear if they had been knocking. When they came in, dd called to me that they were there. Dd even said "She's not ready yet, it's like not 7." (yay teenagers! LOL!) and dcm started this big speech about why she was early.

I came out, big 'are you serious' raised eyebrows and told her I would be back when I was ready. I just refused to accept the kid. Wouldn't get out my sign out sheet and went back to finishing getting my own younger two kids ready for the day.

I came back in, a good 7-8 minutes later and she was obviously annoyed. :: I smiled big and started getting everything ready for the day and handed her the sign in sheet.

That is the ONLY quiet time my family gets in the morning. I go over school stuff with my kids, we do their math facts and talk while we eat breakfast, etc. If I schedule a dck before 7, they MUST go to their cots until 7.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

So, I didn't address that issue. The child defied me two times while Mom was present, which she had been doing all day, and I corrected the behavior. I told Mom, "We are working REALLY hard on listening to Ms.___ today..." and she said, "Good luck!"

It was a really, really awful day. I've never had a defiant child quite like this who just WILL NOT listen and will tell me, "Nope, not going to." We'll see how she is in 30 days. Otherwise, she'll be like this someplace else.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I have the same issue, except it's 7am, and I CAN'T keep the door shut because my daughters bus arrives between 6:50-7.

This dcm walks RIGHT PAST dd to come in 5-10 minutes early. It's driving me NUTS. I ALWAYS say something, so it's not like she can claim ignorance, although she's newer. Today it was BEFORE 6:50. DD opened the door and they were standing on the porch! I turn off my doorbell and lock my screen, so we couldn't hear if they had been knocking. When they came in, dd called to me that they were there. Dd even said "She's not ready yet, it's like not 7." (yay teenagers! LOL!) and dcm started this big speech about why she was early.

I came out, big 'are you serious' raised eyebrows and told her I would be back when I was ready. I just refused to accept the kid. Wouldn't get out my sign out sheet and went back to finishing getting my own younger two kids ready for the day.

I came back in, a good 7-8 minutes later and she was obviously annoyed. :: I smiled big and started getting everything ready for the day and handed her the sign in sheet.

That is the ONLY quiet time my family gets in the morning. I go over school stuff with my kids, we do their math facts and talk while we eat breakfast, etc. If I schedule a dck before 7, they MUST go to their cots until 7.

See, if someone came in before I was open I would tell them, "You need to go wait in your car until x:xx." I would repeat that forever if I had to and say nothing else. SO not an option.

[Sugar Magnolia]

So, I didn't address that issue. The child defied me two times while Mom was present, which she had been doing all day, and I corrected the behavior. I told Mom, "We are working REALLY hard on listening to Ms.___ today..." and she said, "Good luck!"

It was a really, really awful day. I've never had a defiant child quite like this who just WILL NOT listen and will tell me, "Nope, not going to." We'll see how she is in 30 days. Otherwise, she'll be like this someplace else.

Oh no I'm so sorry you had such a rough day. :hug::hug::hug:

[Shell]

Oh my! The constant knocking is a big issue to me- I just can't stand when people view their time as that much more important than whatever you have going on- you told them you are caring for other kids, that's beyond rude! About the behavior, I personally would give it a two week trial, I couldn't do 30 days unless it was strictly for the income.

[daycarediva]

So, I didn't address that issue. The child defied me two times while Mom was present, which she had been doing all day, and I corrected the behavior. I told Mom, "We are working REALLY hard on listening to Ms.___ today..." and she said, "Good luck!"

It was a really, really awful day. I've never had a defiant child quite like this who just WILL NOT listen and will tell me, "Nope, not going to." We'll see how she is in 30 days. Otherwise, she'll be like this someplace else.

I bet she got "Nope, not going to listen to you." from her mother.

Mine came 5 minutes early, this time I had the door still locked and dd went out the garage door/side of the house. Sneaky, but I am not going to stand in my entry babysitting this dcm. It's also not dd's responsibility to turn them away, and by the time she calls me that they are there, they're in the house.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

Our day is going better here. She may just be the type that needs a STRONG leader. No 3-year-old is equipped to be a good boss so there ya have it. I can tell it is because of DAD that she is like this. She keeps telling me, "Well my Dad...." and I just say, "My name is Ms.___. THIS is how we do things at preschool, honey."

Oh, and Dad came in with a whole different attitude today.

I bet she got "Nope, not going to listen to you." from her mother.

Mine came 5 minutes early, this time I had the door still locked and dd went out the garage door/side of the house. Sneaky, but I am not going to stand in my entry babysitting this dcm. It's also not dd's responsibility to turn them away, and by the time she calls me that they are there, they're in the house.

SMART!!! They'll get bored of waiting outside at some point and cut it out.