Answering the Door Lickety Split

[spud912]

We have a large house. The doorbell has been permanently disabled to prevent the onslaught of marketers and church people from ringing the door bells at all hours. We have a screen/security door on the front. The house has bad acoustics.

This doesn't factor in that I run this show alone (no assistant to stand by the door). I also get caught up sometimes going to the bathroom or something else.

I feel like some parents get peeved that they have to knock twice or that it takes a minute for me to get to the door. One family in particular has had a lot of issues with it. I've told them multiple times to text me or call if I don't answer right away (ideally they should call). But they don't. And then they act all irritated when I do get to the door.

Am I being unreasonable? Does everyone else answer the door in 2 seconds flat? God forbid I'm in the bathroom or I'm in the middle of cooking something....I can almost feel their irritance building.

And I really don't feel comfortable with leaving the front door unlocked. I also don't like parents feeling like they have free reign to walk into my house. What if I am going to the bathroom and the kids are in the playroom...can you imagine the audacity ?

I guess this is more of a vent. But what do you all do about the door situation? Do your parents get peeved it takes slightly longer to answer the door? How should I handle this at interviews to make sure they know I'm not a center with front desk staff waiting to greet people?

[sharlan]

Have you considered a wireless door bell?

We used to have one that had one part at the front door and I carried the other part out to the backyard with me.

I need to go to Lowes and get another one before summer.

[Snowmom]

Do you have pick ups that vary quite a bit or are these parents picking up unexpectedly?

[Blackcat31]

Have you considered a wireless door bell?

We used to have one that had one part at the front door and I carried the other part out to the backyard with me.

I need to go to Lowes and get another one before summer.

You can also talk through them so you can easily say "Hang on a minute, I'll be right there"

Try Ring

You can visually see and reply via your smart phone

[nanglgrl]

You can also talk through them so you can easily say "Hang on a minute, I'll be right there"

Try Ring

You can visually see and reply via your smart phone

I'm picturing myself replying with the bathroom in the background. Um....

[AmyKidsCo]

I'm picturing myself replying with the bathroom in the background. Um....

::::::

I just leave the childcare entrance open at drop off and pick up times. It's in the way back of the house so I don't worry about strangers walking in from the street.

[Baby Beluga]

I don't think you are being unreasonable.

I have clients who do the same. The best is I have two families who think I have x-ray vision. They NEVER knock. They just stand by the door and wait for me to open it. Kid you not.

[spud912]

Have you considered a wireless door bell?

We used to have one that had one part at the front door and I carried the other part out to the backyard with me.

I need to go to Lowes and get another one before summer.

You can also talk through them so you can easily say "Hang on a minute, I'll be right there"

Try Ring

You can visually see and reply via your smart phone

I'm seriously sold! Dh will be getting it today happyfacehappyface

[NoMoreJuice!]

I was playing with a Ring at Costco the other day. They look so handy! I definitely want one!

[Annalee]

We have a large house. The doorbell has been permanently disabled to prevent the onslaught of marketers and church people from ringing the door bells at all hours. We have a screen/security door on the front. The house has bad acoustics.

This doesn't factor in that I run this show alone (no assistant to stand by the door). I also get caught up sometimes going to the bathroom or something else.

I feel like some parents get peeved that they have to knock twice or that it takes a minute for me to get to the door. One family in particular has had a lot of issues with it. I've told them multiple times to text me or call if I don't answer right away (ideally they should call). But they don't. And then they act all irritated when I do get to the door.

Am I being unreasonable? Does everyone else answer the door in 2 seconds flat? God forbid I'm in the bathroom or I'm in the middle of cooking something....I can almost feel their irritance building.

And I really don't feel comfortable with leaving the front door unlocked. I also don't like parents feeling like they have free reign to walk into my house. What if I am going to the bathroom and the kids are in the playroom...can you imagine the audacity ?

I guess this is more of a vent. But what do you all do about the door situation? Do your parents get peeved it takes slightly longer to answer the door? How should I handle this at interviews to make sure they know I'm not a center with front desk staff waiting to greet people?

I have a sign up by the front door asking persons to call/text upon arrival.

[Mad_Pistachio]

the only reason for irritation I see (and even that is not enough to pick a fight) is rain and no cover at the front door. some rains can be heavy enough to leave you soaking within 2 minutes... but then again, umbrellas have been invented already.
and a parent may not call or text because s/he left the phone in the car (I know I do). but it still doesn't justify inability to walk 5 feet back to use it.
just speculating with my own pickup routine in mind...

[Unregistered]

I answer pretty quickly but that's only because my main daycare area is right at the front of my house otherwise it would take me awhile to answer the door.

[spud912]

the only reason for irritation I see (and even that is not enough to pick a fight) is rain and no cover at the front door. some rains can be heavy enough to leave you soaking within 2 minutes... but then again, umbrellas have been invented already.
and a parent may not call or text because s/he left the phone in the car (I know I do). but it still doesn't justify inability to walk 5 feet back to use it.
just speculating with my own pickup routine in mind...

We live in Arizona so definitely no rain haha! I have a covered patio too. And I do have a note to call or text. But this one family....they don't seem to want to try that avenue. If they do, it seems to bug them that it had to get to that point.

[Ariana]

My playspace is on my top floor so when a parent comes we have to walk down the hall and then down two flights of stairs. I let my parents know that if I don't get to the door in a timely fashion it is because it takes a while for kids to walk that far (I don't carry them) or I am changing a diaper. They don't like it, they can lump it! I tell them the same thing when we are out back. I have never had attitude at my door over this thankfully.

[Ariana]

We live in Arizona so definitely no rain haha! I have a covered patio too. And I do have a note to call or text. But this one family....they don't seem to want to try that avenue. If they do, it seems to bug them that it had to get to that point.

I would literally never answer the door on time for them on purpose. This is not your problem. You run a daycare for cripes sakes. They are the ones being unreasonable and I certainly wouldn't be jumping through hoops to appease their attitudes!

Open the door with a big cheery smiley face "oh sorry to keep you waiting..johnny had a great day, we made this and that and played with this and that" and just keep talking over their crappy facial expressions.