Would you send this?

[Play Care]

I have a teacher client that occasionally pushes pick up time, not late late usually (and the one time she was I did charge which helped), but a few minutes here and there. Of all the teachers I've ever had, this is the only one who has ever been late for pick up.

Last year I had another family who was on the later side of pick up, but they have moved on. All my families this year pick up well before my contracted close time. Yesterday she was a few minutes late for pick up (past my close time) which is now blatantly obvious as the other family is no longer here.

I was thinking of emailing her something like this:

"Sue,

You were 10 minutes late for pick up yesterday. Since all my other clients are picking up well before my 4:30 close time this year, late pick up times are more noticeable. On most days B will be the only child here for the last hour of the day. I understand better than most that teachers do not get to leave at 3:00 and understand if you can't pick up until 4:30. That said, I can not allow late pick ups as I have commitments after work that I need to be on time for.

Thank you in advance for your understanding.

Provider"

Some background: This is her last year here. DCG tends to be high maintenance in some ways but is overall a good kid. After having a couple of years where I had a parent picking up late (sometimes well past close time) I swore I'd never put up with it again. At the same time, mom is never more than 5 minutes late here and there and does have days where she picks up early, which makes me feel nitpicky. Would you send this? Let it go?

[rosieteddy]

I would not send it.I would however send a note.I would say Sue, you were 10 minutes late on--------day.After this you will be charged the late fee of whatever you charge. Please bring late fee in cash at pick-up.

[childcaremom]

I would not send it.I would however send a note.I would say Sue, you were 10 minutes late on--------day.After this you will be charged the late fee of whatever you charge. Please bring late fee in cash at pick-up.

[Laurel]

I think what I would do is wait until the next time she is late and say "Oh it's x time. I need you to pick up before 4:30 every day because I sometimes have places to be after work and don't want to be late."

Then, if it happens again, just charge her.

Laurel

[Laurel]

I think what I would do is wait until the next time she is late and say "Oh it's x time. I need you to pick up before 4:30 every day because I sometimes have places to be after work and don't want to be late."

Then, if it happens again, just charge her.

Laurel

Oops sorry for double post. I was getting some message and didn't think it went through.

[Play Care]

I do think it's wordy, but I kind of wanted to highlight that her kid is IT in hopes she'll get that her gig is up

[childcaremom]

So you want her to pick up before 4:30?

Maybe address that with her as a separate issue.

I would make sure to be on top of charging the late fees.

[Thriftylady]

What about putting it in your newsletter or something?

[Play Care]

So you want her to pick up before 4:30?

Maybe address that with her as a separate issue.

I would make sure to be on top of charging the late fees.

I was sort of hoping to shame/guilt her into it

[Cat Herder]

How did you address it at the door, the moment it happened? Face to face. That would have been the appropriate time to handle it, IMHO.

The note sort of reads "I don't mind you being late when I have other families here late, so please be on time until I enroll another late family."

In your shoes, the next time she is late, I'd hit her with the $1 per minute fee followed by awkward silence.

If she asks why, then say "...because it is the policy. I let you get by with it last time and you can see how that worked out for me... ha! (smile, wink). Here is Suzzies art work from today, she was really proud of the aardvark drawing. Have a great night."

[Play Care]

What about putting it in your newsletter or something?

I don't think she gets it unless it's direct...

[Play Care]

How did you address it at the door, the moment it happened? Face to face. That would have been the appropriate time to handle it, IMHO.

The note sort of reads "I don't mind you being late when I have other families here late, so please be on time until I enroll another late family."

In your shoes, the next time she is late, I'd hit her with the $1 per minute fee followed by awkward silence.

If she asks why, then say "...because it is the policy. I let you get by with it last time and you can see how that worked out for me... ha! (smile, wink). Here is Suzzies art work from today, she was really proud of the aardvark drawing. Have a great night."

Yikes! Def not the message I want to send!!

[Rockgirl]

What about putting it in your newsletter or something?

Good idea. A reminder about pickup time being no later than 4:30, so that you are able to meet your obligations.

Oops--some time passed before I hit submit, and didn't see your reply about this.

[littletots]

Gosh, I wouldn't send but so frustrating to deal with for sure.

[Blackcat31]

I'm with Cat Herder on this one too...

Address it immediately AT the door. Apply the appropriate late fee.

Lose the guilt.

She I being disrespectful and it doesn't matter if it's 10 minutes or 60. She IS late. period.

Have DCK get her shoes/coat on and be waiting...when DCM walks in the door I would say something along the lines of "Hi Sue! It's past my closing time again and you've once again held me up. Is there anything going on that I need to be aware of?"

When she says no or that she lost track of time or X then just reply "I understand but I close AT 4:30 and need you to be respectful of that."

If she feels awkward; she SHOULD. I wouldn't feel bad about it one bit.

The words look harsh in print but they are true and need to be said. If you do it professionally (FIRM with a smile) parents almost always get the message loud and clear.