Parent Issue on Last Week- WWYD

[spedmommy4]

A dck projectile vomited all over my classroom this morning. I was alone. I had a parent dropping off at the time. Every single thing that could go wrong when a child is sick, went wrong.

The parent that was there dropping off stayed to help supervise until I could get kids out of the general hazard zone. I called my assistant to work so I could clean up the horror and I called the parent of the sick child at 8:55 am.

Parent of the sick child ignored my calls for an hour. My assistant was able to reach her directly at her job and asked her to call me. (My assistant works at the same place she does in the afternoon) After an hour, I was able to reach her and it took her another hour and five minutes to pick up. (2 HR,5 min total) In the meantime, the child had thrown up three times on the carpet and all over a bunch of toys. I'm spending nap time sanitizing and stewing over this.

I also have to have the carpets professionally cleaned now. (And I just had them cleaned two weeks ago) If I wasn't closing next week I would hand her a term letter. I'm that upset. This is the dck's last week anyway and I'm debating if it's worth terming when they are leaving Friday anyway. Anyone have any words of wisdom? It's only Monday and I need the rest of the week off.

[Mandy]

First off.... big hugs for you :hug:

Second off, even though I am not a provider myself, I would say hand them the letter. Two hours and five minutes is far too long for the parent to show up and pick their kid up. Even if Friday was the kids last day, they would have had to stay home for 48 hours (I once read on here from someone that if a parents keeps them home, its 24 hours until they can return to care, and if a provider sends them home, its 48 hours.), and the kid would have been here only Thursday and Friday. I would term the parent on the fact that they did not answer your calls right away. If I was a mother, and I got a call like that, I would not even finish work. I would show up and take my kid home. That shows respect for both the kid, the provider, and the other kids the provider cares for.

Also, I know this is a fine line to say this, but if I was the provider, and this happened to me, I would insist that the parent cover half of the carpet bill. For example, if it is 100 dollars , they are responsible for 50 dollars.

My words of wisdom is what I said above and also this next line. You do not have to "wait it out" another four days. I feel like the parent disrespected you because she did not answer her phone for an hour. If you are closing next week, I would say just term that parent, and enjoy the week with your other kids . Two hours and five minutes is inexcusable in my book .

[rosieteddy]

I agree that the child should be done.My contract would say 2 full days vomit -fever free.Also parents need to come quickly to pick up. I would just explain under the circumstance child may not come back.

[thrivingchildcarecom]

So in our state (CA) our regs state that the child must be fever, vomit and/or diarrhea free for 24 hours before returning. So the way I calculate it, this child cannot return tomorrow for sure and unless she halts vomiting this very minute that would mean Wed as well. I would just send a note to the parent stating that since she did vomit multiple times today, she should be seen by the doctor and return on Wed or Thur (vomiting free) with a dr. note.

[sharlan]

So in our state (CA) our regs state that the child must be fever, vomit and/or diarrhea free for 24 hours before returning. So the way I calculate it, this child cannot return tomorrow for sure and unless she halts vomiting this very minute that would mean Wed as well. I would just send a note to the parent stating that since she did vomit multiple times today, she should be seen by the doctor and return on Wed or Thur (vomiting free) with a dr. note.

Where does it say that in CA regs? There is nowhere that I know of that states a child must be fever, vomit and or diarrhea free for 24 hours.

[spedmommy4]

The regulation is actually vague, as ALL California regs are. (See photo) It says the child must be separated until they aren't sick anymore.

[Snowmom]

A dck projectile vomited all over my classroom this morning. I was alone. I had a parent dropping off at the time. Every single thing that could go wrong when a child is sick, went wrong.

The parent that was there dropping off stayed to help supervise until I could get kids out of the general hazard zone. I called my assistant to work so I could clean up the horror and I called the parent of the sick child at 8:55 am.

Parent of the sick child ignored my calls for an hour. My assistant was able to reach her directly at her job and asked her to call me. (My assistant works at the same place she does in the afternoon) After an hour, I was able to reach her and it took her another hour and five minutes to pick up. (2 HR,5 min total) In the meantime, the child had thrown up three times on the carpet and all over a bunch of toys. I'm spending nap time sanitizing and stewing over this.

I also have to have the carpets professionally cleaned now. (And I just had them cleaned two weeks ago) If I wasn't closing next week I would hand her a term letter. I'm that upset. This is the dck's last week anyway and I'm debating if it's worth terming when they are leaving Friday anyway. Anyone have any words of wisdom? It's only Monday and I need the rest of the week off.

Yuck.

What did you say to her at pick up?
What was her response for being unreachable? Did she say why it took over an hour to arrive?
What is your exclusion policy for vomiting? 24 hours? 48 hours?

Only you can really judge the situation based off what your feelings are. Obviously, it's a tough call because it's already their last week.
If it were me, I wouldn't have been too kind when the parent showed up after being unreachable for so long. That's SO not ok.

[spedmommy4]

Yuck.

What did you say to her at pick up?
What was her response for being unreachable? Did she say why it took over an hour to arrive?
What is your exclusion policy for vomiting? 24 hours? 48 hours?

Only you can really judge the situation based off what your feelings are. Obviously, it's a tough call because it's already their last week.
If it were me, I wouldn't have been too kind when the parent showed up after being unreachable for so long. That's SO not ok.

I said very little, I was livid. By the time she picked up I had already had an intense exchange with her via text regarding whether or not her child was too sick to be here. I was done talking to her.

She was not reachable because she was avoiding me. I learned this afternoon that she had an entire conversation with one of my assistants, who wasn't working, while avoiding me. (She talked to them about the situation)

My policy is 24 hours with zero symptoms. After the texts she sent, (my favorite was "does the vomit smell sick? What?!?" I'm somewhat worried she will show up tomorrow if I say nothing.

I have invested a ton of time and energy into this particular dck so I've been going back and forth on whether or not to just be done.

[finsup]

I said very little, I was livid. By the time she picked up I had already had an intense exchange with her via text regarding whether or not her child was too sick to be here. I was done talking to her.

She was not reachable because she was avoiding me. I learned this afternoon that she had an entire conversation with one of my assistants, who wasn't working, while avoiding me. (She talked to them about the situation)

My policy is 24 hours with zero symptoms. After the texts she sent, (my favorite was "does the vomit smell sick? What?!?" I'm somewhat worried she will show up tomorrow if I say nothing.

I have invested a ton of time and energy into this particular dck so I've been going back and forth on whether or not to just be done.

I would be done. The disrespect alone would do it. My sick policy would have them out tomorrow at the very least and I wouldn't trust her to be honest with me about symptoms after that. Nope, term letter effective immediately.

[Thriftylady]

I don't get why parents are not more understanding of their sick children. I mean as adults, we want to come home and go to bed when we are sick. Why wouldn't her child want the same thing? The parents who run home at the first sign of sniffles always seem to be the ones who don't do it for their kids.

[finsup]

I don't get why parents are not more understanding of their sick children. I mean as adults, we want to come home and go to bed when we are sick. Why wouldn't her child want the same thing? The parents who run home at the first sign of sniffles always seem to be the ones who don't do it for their kids.

Yes!! It's like they'll complain day and night about "not having sick time" or work "not believing" their child is sick but yet have no problem taking a day when they have a cold. Suddenly, they have all the sick time in the world

[spedmommy4]

Yes!! It's like they'll complain day and night about "not having sick time" or work "not believing" their child is sick but yet have no problem taking a day when they have a cold. Suddenly, they have all the sick time in the world

That's been an issue with this parent too. I did end up getting a "been fine all day, see you tomorrow" text. My response was a link to my illness policy online and a firm, "No. See you Wednesday." Then I hit the off button on my phone. Is it Friday yet??

[Mandy]

If that parent comes by tomorrow, send them away. You sent her a text with the illness policy and you turned off your phone. I am not sure what time it is for you, but whether its 9pm or 12am right now, do something fun happyface

Oh and pardon my french, but that text from her saying her kid "has been fine all day". That flag of denial is waving high on her end ::. Hope tomorrow is better for you :hug:lovethis

[spedmommy4]

If that parent comes by tomorrow, send them away. You sent her a text with the illness policy and you turned off your phone. I am not sure what time it is for you, but whether its 9pm or 12am right now, do something fun happyface

Oh and pardon my french, but that text from her saying her kid "has been fine all day". That flag of denial is waving high on her end ::. Hope tomorrow is better for you :hug:lovethis

Right?!
I'm turning in early for a good night sleep. I earned it today. ::

[childcaremom]

A dck projectile vomited all over my classroom this morning. I was alone. I had a parent dropping off at the time. Every single thing that could go wrong when a child is sick, went wrong.

The parent that was there dropping off stayed to help supervise until I could get kids out of the general hazard zone. I called my assistant to work so I could clean up the horror and I called the parent of the sick child at 8:55 am.

Parent of the sick child ignored my calls for an hour. My assistant was able to reach her directly at her job and asked her to call me. (My assistant works at the same place she does in the afternoon) After an hour, I was able to reach her and it took her another hour and five minutes to pick up. (2 HR,5 min total) In the meantime, the child had thrown up three times on the carpet and all over a bunch of toys. I'm spending nap time sanitizing and stewing over this.

I also have to have the carpets professionally cleaned now. (And I just had them cleaned two weeks ago) If I wasn't closing next week I would hand her a term letter. I'm that upset. This is the dck's last week anyway and I'm debating if it's worth terming when they are leaving Friday anyway. Anyone have any words of wisdom? It's only Monday and I need the rest of the week off.

Meh. I'd hand her a term letter. Or send her a term text. She's given you plenty of reasons to do so.