Parents Sending Kid to Daycare to Go Drink??

[DanceMom]

How would you feel about dcp having the week off and day drinking and "getting drunk" while their child is at daycare?

None of my business what they do on their day off but kinda annoying...I'm with your child while you're out getting drunk!?:dislike:

maybe I'm a little jealous

[Blackcat31]

How would you feel about dcp having the week off and day drinking and "getting drunk" while their child is at daycare?

None of my business what they do on their day off but kinda annoying...I'm with your child while you're out getting drunk!?:dislike:

maybe I'm a little jealous

I pay zero attention to what parents do when their child is in my care.

As long as they are paying on time and following my policies and can be reached at ALL times, I am good.

Also as long as they aren't drunk when picking up.

I serve many many different types of families in many different types of situations and feel as if I've pretty much seen it all so nothing phases me any more.

I had a DCM use me for care once so she could spend the day in a casino. Wouldnt have bothered me so much if she'd have remembered to actually come back and get her child....

Anyhow.... I sell a service. Why they need that service isn't something I choose to worry about. My worry basket is full.

[Thriftylady]

I agree with BC. As long as my policies are being followed I try not to care what parents are doing. I have sold them a service, they are paying me to use it or not use it. Now I would tell them (if they told me they were going drinking), that I wouldn't release a child to anyone under the influence without making a police report with a license plate number.

[Josiegirl]

"My worry basket is full" I like that.
And yep, completely agree with the above posts. It would bother me probably like OP, *I* can't go out to do that today and goodness knows some days dc drives a person to drink. But as long as a sober allowed pick up person picks up on time, it's all good. Hey, if a person wants to waste their days off doing that, it's their choice.

[permanentvacation]

I agree. It doesn't matter what parents do while their child is in my care as long as they adhere to my contract. (pick up on time, pay on time, etc.)

However, I will admit that it does upset me and I 'hurt' for the children of the parents that make it so obvious that they have no desire to interact with their children. But, the kids don't know that their parents aren't at work and that they COULD be spending time with them, but are CHOOSING not to.

I have brought the topic of parents choosing not to spend time with their children on this forum before. I was told and agree that if their parents are going to be like that, then it's better that the child IS with you, the daycare provider who DOES want to interact with the child. At least SOMEONE in their life shows them love, being cared for, wanted, etc.

[lovemydaycare0912]

I was just about to make a thread about this. I know it bothers some buttttt there are so many reasons why people send their kids to daycare. I have a family whose mom works and dad sometimes works. However, their living situation is not ideal at the moment. Sending their child to daycare gives dcb a stable, reliable, and great place to be. Nutritious meals, fun actives, safe place to sleep, fun with friends, etc. I can't be upset if they send him here while dad is off work or mom as well. They pay me on time all the time and are never late picking up. They are an awesome family to have. We never know the background of a family. Everyone has their story right? I have learned to take that out of any emotions I feel towards them.

[Play Care]

I agree with Blackcat. I've said for years I don't care what parents do when they drop off. And mostly, I don't.

I would have concerns here though. IME, parents do NOT do a great job of shoring up their back up pick up/care.
Chances are good they will have no way to safely pick up their child should the need arise (child becomes sick or there is an emergency closing) and they probably will be the ones showing up after a day on the beer bus :: to pick up.

So while I still don't care what they do when they drop off the kids, if they told me they planned on hitting the hooch, I would be asking who I should call in case of emergency and if that person is aware they are "on" as well as asking who is going to be picking up, since they will probably be in no condition to. And I don't think that's asking too much.

And that said, if the drinking thing was an all the time thing, then I would probably look to replace. Clients with addictions aren't usually the most reliable...

[LysesKids]

I agree with Blackcat. I've said for years I don't care what parents do when they drop off. And mostly, I don't.

I would have concerns here though. IME, parents do NOT do a great job of shoring up their back up pick up/care.
Chances are good they will have no way to safely pick up their child should the need arise (child becomes sick or there is an emergency closing) and they probably will be the ones showing up after a day on the beer bus :: to pick up.

So while I still don't care what they do when they drop off the kids, if they told me they planned on hitting the hooch, I would be asking who I should call in case of emergency and if that person is aware they are "on" as well as asking who is going to be picking up, since they will probably be in no condition to. And I don't think that's asking too much.

And that said, if the drinking thing was an all the time thing, then I would probably look to replace. Clients with addictions aren't usually the most reliable...

I actually have this as part of my pick up policy.

... I expect there to be a designated driver for pickups for special events (inc Weekend Drop-in care) that I might offer care for (like Fall football). If I suspect you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol at anytime you arrive to get your child ,regardless of the situation or day, I will request that you either call a cab to take you & the little one home, or call a back-up driver to come pick you up. While I cannot legally stop a parent from leaving with their child, I will call 911 AND Child Protective Services immediately for child endangerment.

I actually had to call the cops on one parent in 16 years... she arrived drunker than a skunk & her dd was special needs. I tried to call them a cab - I offered coffee, a sofa to sleep everything I could & she still took off with the kid. She was arrested a block from my home and care was terminated.

[Unregistered]

Can't blame them

With the way some of their kids act, I would drink too...

[midaycare]

None of my concern.

[sleepinghart]

Here's how I personally feel: As long as I'm being paid, I couldn't care less what the parents are doing while their child is in my care...working, drinking, shopping, sleeping, at the spa, or rallying at some weird underground organization I don't care. I look at it like this- as long as I can get in touch with them when I need to, it's really none of my business what they're doing. I mean, they're paying me, following my policies, picking up on time, etc., so I don't know why I would feel the need to dictate to them what they did on their time or why I would put conditions on my watching their children. The only time it would bother me is if I charged a flat rate for everybody, open to close, and they took advantage of that often by drinking, shopping, whatever, after work but this is one of the main reasons I don't do that and do contracted hours instead. And again, this is just me personally .

ETA- Any yes, I may get a bit jealous at times, but that is not the dc parents fault...And since that is on me, I try to quell that feeling down asap .

[Ariana]

I might not necessarily care and it might annoy me a tad but I am definitely thinking they are idiots. Dropping your kid off to go drinking? WTF?!

Takes all kinds to make the world go 'round

[LindseyA]

I actually have this as part of my pick up policy.

... I expect there to be a designated driver for pickups for special events (inc Weekend Drop-in care) that I might offer care for (like Fall football). If I suspect you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol at anytime you arrive to get your child ,regardless of the situation or day, I will request that you either call a cab to take you & the little one home, or call a back-up driver to come pick you up. While I cannot legally stop a parent from leaving with their child, I will call 911 AND Child Protective Services immediately for child endangerment.

I actually had to call the cops on one parent in 16 years... she arrived drunker than a skunk & her dd was special needs. I tried to call them a cab - I offered coffee, a sofa to sleep everything I could & she still took off with the kid. She was arrested a block from my home and care was terminated.

I also have this in my policy. Only from a past experience though, when I had to call a cab for a DCD. As long as they have a safe way to get their children home, I couldn't care less. I think that being a provider makes me think about a lot more than the average parent going out for drinks. I never go out to get smashed, in case there is an emergency with my own kids.

[My3cents]

I pay zero attention to what parents do when their child is in my care.

As long as they are paying on time and following my policies and can be reached at ALL times, I am good.

Also as long as they aren't drunk when picking up.

I serve many many different types of families in many different types of situations and feel as if I've pretty much seen it all so nothing phases me any more.



I had a DCM use me for care once so she could spend the day in a casino. Wouldnt have bothered me so much if she'd have remembered to actually come back and get her child....




Anyhow.... I sell a service. Why they need that service isn't something I choose to worry about. My worry basket is full.

We all run our business different. I have it my policies that I am providing a service for when the parents are working or in school. That is what I prefer to work with for clients. I want clients that want to spend time with their own children and not just shove them in care all day because they think they are getting the most of their money. I tell them at interviews....everyone needs a break from time to time....if you plan to not be at school or work I need to know how to reach you in the case of an emergency. I don't have a problem with this but I have a problem if it becomes a habitual habit. I have a life outside of daycare too. I don't want to be held up because a parent is napping or off shopping and the last child picked up. I also go on contracted hours not my hours of operation. The first thing I ask is what are your needs, what hours do you work. I am not going to be a good fit for a parent who wants to drop off at 6am and pick up at 6pm. I love what I do and I don't want to burn out from my job. I have to be able to be there for my family and our needs too.

I have good parents....... they get it. I do provide a service but I provide a service for when parents are working or in school or otherwise contracted.

It is also in my policy book.... don't come and pick up your child drunk or on drugs etc... I am a mandated reporter. I will not hesitate to call and report. The safety of the children is my first concern.

3cents-

[finsup]

We all run our business different. I have it my policies that I am providing a service for when the parents are working or in school. That is what I prefer to work with for clients. I want clients that want to spend time with their own children and not just shove them in care all day because they think they are getting the most of their money. I tell them at interviews....everyone needs a break from time to time....if you plan to not be at school or work I need to know how to reach you in the case of an emergency. I don't have a problem with this but I have a problem if it becomes a habitual habit. I have a life outside of daycare too. I don't want to be held up because a parent is napping or off shopping and the last child picked up. I also go on contracted hours not my hours of operation. The first thing I ask is what are your needs, what hours do you work. I am not going to be a good fit for a parent who wants to drop off at 6am and pick up at 6pm. I love what I do and I don't want to burn out from my job. I have to be able to be there for my family and our needs too.

I have good parents....... they get it. I do provide a service but I provide a service for when parents are working or in school or otherwise contracted.

It is also in my policy book.... don't come and pick up your child drunk or on drugs etc... I am a mandated reporter. I will not hesitate to call and report. The safety of the children is my first concern.

3cents-

This is me too. I totally get the other side of it but personally, I would get annoyed and resentment would sink in. It's just something I couldn't get passed. So I changed my program to reflect that