Should I Even Ask?

[Boymom]

So 1 dcg isn't coming today. Another dcb is leaving at 12 to go to a dr's appointment, but the parents always want his brother to stay behind (which is fine because I don't care what they do as long as they pay me !) Buuut if they leave the one brother here, then he's the only kid I will have today. Would it be rude of me to ask them to take him or should I just watch him? I would just really like a half day if I can get it!!!

[AmyKidsCo]

Personally I never ask, but I do hint. "Oh, then he'll be the only one here this afternoon..."

[JackandJill]

I agree with PP, I never ask but I always let them know one way or another that he will be the only one here.

"Ohh I'll have to think of something special for Johnny since it will be just me and him!" or something like that. Hopefully they get the hint!

[NightOwl]

I always tell them when their child is the only one. But I say something more like, I'll try to keep such and such from being bored since all his friends are out today. I find that the "think of something special" line doesn't really work for me because then they think snowflake is gonna have a blast by getting special. So they're more apt to leave him. Lol. That sounds terrible, but you gotta work the system sometimes!

[LindseyA]

I always tell them when their child is the only one. But I say something more like, I'll try to keep such and such from being bored since all his friends are out today. I find that the "think of something special" line doesn't really work for me because then they think snowflake is gonna have a blast by getting special. So they're more apt to leave him. Lol. That sounds terrible, but you gotta work the system sometimes!

This for sure!! I watch what I say very carefully, and pick certain words over others all the time!

[AmyKidsCo]

This for sure!! I watch what I say very carefully, and pick certain words over others all the time!

No kidding!

You don't want to say that the child will be bored because then the parents may wonder if the child is bored other times and if they should look for other care.

But you don't want to say that there will be something special planned because then they'll leave him there so he doesn't miss out.

[LindseyA]

:: right! I would say something like "oh my! It will be really quiet with just dck here!" I would omit the words special and bored!

[MrsSteinel'sHouse]

now me, I would out and out ask. You know since you are picking up XXXX early brother would be the only one here. I was thinking if it would work for you to take brother too I could have an afternoon off! You know how rare those are for me- circumstances rarely line up like this! So you can pick them both up, right?

[Play Care]

Honestly, I wouldn't ask. I feel it's unprofessional.

[NightOwl]

:: right! I would say something like "oh my! It will be really quiet with just dck here!" I would omit the words special and bored!

Oh, this is way better! I like it. May steal it. Lol. But I rarely get lucky enough to only have one.

[NightOwl]

Honestly, I wouldn't ask. I feel it's unprofessional.

I wouldn't either. But I sure wouldn't mind dropping a subtle hint.

[MrsSteinel'sHouse]

I guess for me all of my parents know that those days are rare and how hard I work. I think they would be upset with me if I didn't let them know Johnny would be my only and that I could have had the day off. But, I have great communication with my parents. Last week I was headed out of town as soon as everyone was picked up. All of my parents worked it out so they were all here by 3:30 so I would be at my daughters before dark! They are awesome that way. So I guess for me the big factor would be how good is your relationship with the parents?

[Play Care]

I wouldn't either. But I sure wouldn't mind dropping a subtle hint.

I guess my thought is that this is for what, a few hours? I would **** it up and provide the service I am being paid to do. Now, I do close on Fridays in July and August because I would only have one child scheduled all day. But that's me making an across the board policy, not asking my paying clients for "special." I remember those days of trying to wrangle to young kiddos to an appointment so I can sympathize with the mom.

[happymom]

I am a DCM and when my DCP would mention to me my son would be the only one there one day/afternoon I NEVER took it as a hint that my provider desired me to find other care for him.

I kind of feel dumb for not thinking of my provider that way. My brain always said "oh how nice that my son and her daughter get to have some one on one time" (they have always gotten along exceptionally well even though they were 2.5 years apart). However, all of these days I would have been at work, I never ever left my child with my DCP if I was not at work or in route.

Now that I have two children, I will sometimes leave one at DC while I take the other out for a doctors/dentist appointment. I think since I am paying for that time it is a "luxury" that I have afforded.

[NightOwl]

I guess my thought is that this is for what, a few hours? I would **** it up and provide the service I am being paid to do. Now, I do close on Fridays in July and August because I would only have one child scheduled all day. But that's me making an across the board policy, not asking my paying clients for "special." I remember those days of trying to wrangle to young kiddos to an appointment so I can sympathize with the mom.

But those few hours can be precious for those who never get time off. I wouldn't ask, only make sure they were aware. And if they opted to bring their child anyway, oh well. I had planned to work anyway.

But as someone else said, most of my parents wouldn't want their child to be the only one here. But that's just my group, I guess. On the rare occasion that it has happened, the parent of the only insisted on making other arrangements even though I told her I was open as usual and did not encourage her to keep dcg home. I only informed her of the situation. She refused to bring dcg and said, you need a day! It was fantastic. Lol. I went back to bed.