Am I Being Unreasonable?

[littlemonkeys]

Sorry, I haven't really had a chance to read all the comments, but i think you got some great advice I agree with the face to face contact and a courtesy text/phone call saying they are going to be late would be nice!

I just had to deal with this same issue about a month ago. Dcm is a teacher, my hours are 7am-5:30pm. She needed dc from 6:30am-3/3:30ish, so I decided to work with her and I changed my hours and contracted her to 6:30am (which is the time I barely get back from taking my 14y/o ds to school) and didn't charge her extra like I normally do because she picked up early. I am up by 5:30am so I can make sure that I am all dressed for the day and gives me time to take my son to school a little early. They started coming later and later and until recently dropped off btwn 6:30-8am and sometimes wouldn't pick up until 4:45-5ish. I was fuming to say the least. I hate being put in that position and being taken advantage of. It started taking time away from my family because I would sit there in the front half of the house waiting and waiting. I finally had to sit them down with the contact and have them re-read portions of it so that we we're clear. I now have them calling/texting me by 6:15am if they are going to be late. Dcm is a little pissy with me now... and this is the family that has CONSTANTLY challenged my contract on many different occasions... and then she tells me that my contract is one of the most well written contracts that she has ever seen and I have really crossed my t's and dotted all my i's. Of course I did!!!! ::::::

[Unregistered]

I have a client who is supposed to arrive by 6:30 every morning. Every eve she texts me early or late. Early means 6:30 late means 7:30. I used to sleep in when she was late but now I get up, work out, get ready for the day regardless.
All my other clients arrive at 7:30-7:40. If they are late I consider it a good thing. Free time without kids while I get paid. Who could complain about that?

And about the dog, ever consider putting the crate in your room or laundry room- somewhere out of the way. We have a small dog and have trained many dogs and have found that like people, dogs need their own space and often feel threatened by kids and strange people coming in and out. Our dog's kennel is in our room and every morning from 6:20-8 he is in his kennel in our room (asleep). Then I dont worry about him being bothered by the kids or vice versa.

[marniewon]

Tuesday I sent home this note:

Taken from LBFDC Handbook p3:

HOURS OF OPERATION

You are required to notify me by 8:00 a.m. if your child will not be coming for the day or if you will be late in arriving. If you do not call by 8:00am, you will be subject to a $10 “no-show” fee, due and payable with your next payment.

I plan my day and schedule around drop off times and I need to know if they will vary greatly from day to day.
Recently Preston has been arriving between 8:20 and 8:45. I appreciate the text messages when he will not be attending, but would also appreciate a text/call if he will be late arriving.
Please let me know if you would like to change your contracted drop-off time back to 8:15.

Thank you,

Bolded part is what's in my handbook. Italics is the total note that I sent home.

Wednesday they arrived at 8:07. No call. Fine, I'm not going to go crazy over 7 minutes. In fact, if they arrive by 8:15 that's fine. Today however, got a text from mom at 8:08am: J is running late today. That's it. She didn't text before 8am like I requested, and didn't really tell me anything that I hadn't already guessed. Would have been nice if she could have given me a time frame.

I really don't want this to be such a huge issue, but it IS in my contract, and they are still blatantly ignoring it. And, you know, I was thinking about this today. I had stated that they are a good family. But they have been slipping. They never bring outdoor clothes. I have to get down to the last diaper before they bring more. Dcb is supposed to be in a onesie every day, and more times than not he isn't now. Drop off time is all over the place. Okay, so they pay on time. Does this make them a good family? I think that makes them a normal dcf. Paying on time is expected, it isn't what qualifies someone as a good family. I do like them. And I do hate charging this fee. But, they are clearly doing what they want anyway, and what good is having policies if I don't enforce them?

Any thoughts?

I will be making up a form type invoice (one where you check off the offense and there will be a place to write in what is owed) today and will be sending it home.