Lice!!

[hwichlaz]

It's my understanding that the eggs can fall off and hatch other places? Maybe I am incorrect? I hope so.

I have had a case of lice here. It spread through winter coats. I required proof of treatment and if I sent home with lice or nits they couldn't return for a full 24 hours I believe. I re-checked daily for WEEKS. It was actually quite exhausting so I am sorry you're going through that.

The eggs are glued to the hair shaft, so very unlikely.

[lovemykidstoo]

This really stuck out to me.
Why have a policy if you aren't going to enforce it?
If you have reasons for not enforcing it, then why not just get rid of the policy all together?

Not having it comes across as flexible and compromising.
Having a policy and not enforcing it comes across as being a pushover and that parents can dictate what policies they want to adhere to and which they simply ignore. (Or have an adult tantrum and not have to follow. )
That's not very fair to you at all.....

Schools here don't really exclude for nits (only live bugs) because the kids in school don't come in close contact and "share" things like kids in child care do. Same with pink eye. The exclusionary policies are much different for kids that understand how to keep hands out of their mouths and not be all over each other like kids in the under 5 crowd are.

If she pulls her child and leaves, I will not take her to small claims court. If she stays (which she's back today, so she is), she will pay me for the days she was off.

[lovemykidstoo]

The never ending lice problem. So tomorrow is payday (bi-weekly) and dad of initial child that had lice says that mom wants to know if they have to pay for last week. I found out the child had lice on Monday, so I told her she couldn't come back for a minimum of 1 week. She got doctors note on Friday, so she came back on Monday and has been clear. She's a 5 day a week person. My policy states that if they are not here for illness or their vacation that they pay and that's what I told dad. Do any of you have that policy and would you allow for any type of a discount for this type of situation? Then I have another dcb that obviously got it from her that has been gone this week too (3 days) and I'm waiting for her to ask the same question. I desperately need their funds and can't have them pull, but I feel if I bend on this, then every little thing they'll be wanting me to bend on it too.

[Mike]

The never ending lice problem. So tomorrow is payday (bi-weekly) and dad of initial child that had lice says that mom wants to know if they have to pay for last week. I found out the child had lice on Monday, so I told her she couldn't come back for a minimum of 1 week. She got doctors note on Friday, so she came back on Monday and has been clear. She's a 5 day a week person. My policy states that if they are not here for illness or their vacation that they pay and that's what I told dad. Do any of you have that policy and would you allow for any type of a discount for this type of situation? Then I have another dcb that obviously got it from her that has been gone this week too (3 days) and I'm waiting for her to ask the same question. I desperately need their funds and can't have them pull, but I feel if I bend on this, then every little thing they'll be wanting me to bend on it too.

Your policy states that they still pay and that's how most providers here do it. Many have also talked about the give an inch and they take a mile saying.

Tough choice. You said "desperately need their funds". Do you mean this weeks funds, or long term? If you think charging normal rate may make them leave, how about a discount, a ONE TIME discount. 50%, 20%, whatever you feel will make them happy enough without giving up too much of your income. To many people, even a 10% discount looks good.

[lovemykidstoo]

Your policy states that they still pay and that's how most providers here do it. Many have also talked about the give an inch and they take a mile saying.

Tough choice. You said "desperately need their funds". Do you mean this weeks funds, or long term? If you think charging normal rate may make them leave, how about a discount, a ONE TIME discount. 50%, 20%, whatever you feel will make them happy enough without giving up too much of your income. To many people, even a 10% discount looks good.

It's a tough thing. I need their funds both long term and short term. They're 1 of 2 full time people. She's already pissed at me because I told her she had to be gone a week. Like I'm supposed to let her stay after 24 hours and infect everyone else. As it is, we got lucky so far and only 1 other child got them. They also left for 1 week. I see it as no different than having a fever and being told they can't come really and the only reason I'm considering something else is that she's ready to pull. having said that, I hate to start a new thing with her by giving a discount. Maybe I'll feel the husband out tomorrow and see how mad she is. If I do that for her, then I have to do it for the other one that was gone a week. I don't know why she's being such a you know what.

[e.j.]

The never ending lice problem. So tomorrow is payday (bi-weekly) and dad of initial child that had lice says that mom wants to know if they have to pay for last week. I found out the child had lice on Monday, so I told her she couldn't come back for a minimum of 1 week. She got doctors note on Friday, so she came back on Monday and has been clear. She's a 5 day a week person. My policy states that if they are not here for illness or their vacation that they pay and that's what I told dad. Do any of you have that policy and would you allow for any type of a discount for this type of situation? Then I have another dcb that obviously got it from her that has been gone this week too (3 days) and I'm waiting for her to ask the same question. I desperately need their funds and can't have them pull, but I feel if I bend on this, then every little thing they'll be wanting me to bend on it too.

My policy states that tuition is due regardless of attendance. When my dcg was out for weeks because of lice, her parents still paid their full tuition rate. You have to do what's best for you, though. If you're afraid they'll pull and can't afford to take that chance, then maybe offer to deduct what you think is fair. I would definitely let them know this is a one time exception if you decide to give them a break.

[Mike]

A 10, 20, or even 50% discount, if it means losing them otherwise, is more money in the end. I would probably tell the husband how the contract goes by the space, not the attendance, but you will give them 20% off this one time and see how he reacts to that. Hopefully, just knowing you are giving in a bit will make them happy.

[childcaremom]

I would not bend but that's me. It sounds like she is the type to expect it again going forward so I wouldn't want to set the precedence.

I would also continue to check her head as the eggs take 7-10 days to hatch.... and can still hatch after treatment as they burrow into the scalp.

Good luck. I know it's hard dealing with dcps like that. I would be putting up an ad as a 'just in case'.

[lovemykidstoo]

I think I'm going to wait it out and see how he is today. I figured it out and the day I realized that she had lice, I sent everyone home. That was my decision, so I did prorate everyone's pay for that day. So that was $85 out of my pocket that day. Then I had a little boy that was going to pick up an extra day and didn't because of this, so that's another $35. So total already out of my pocket because of her daughters problem $120. Add onto that hours of cleaning and purchasing of products, cleaning my families hair etc. Then if I do that for her, then I have to do it for the other family that's out last week because he got it from her. That's another $105. So tonight at pickup I'm going to relay all of that to dad and give him a better perspective of where I stand. She was PMing me about her mothers day gift last night, so if he told her, I guess she's ok with it. We shall see. If I get the feeling that they're going to pull, I may give them a 20% discount, but I"m going to really feel them out today to see first.

[Mike]

Sounds like a good plan. I hope it goes well.

[BumbleBee]

Stick to your guns on nit and lice free before returning, and check the kid(s) yourself.

I had a sibling set recently with lice, thankfully they weren't hear because mom was on maternity leave and the kids were home. They went to the Dr on a Thursday for other reasons and mom asked for a head check while they were there. They got the all clear, even got the Dr's note that says they're lice free. Mom did one more treatment that evening just to be safe---and found 6 dead bugs in one child's hair and 6 nits in the other child's hair.

They were supposed to come Friday and I said no. Depending on the weekend they may be allowed to come back Monday.

I have a no nit policy, child must be completely free of lice and nits to return. The local school system only has a no live lice policy. It's not my problem, my house my rules. She can do whatever she wants as far as school goes, but my house is no nits no lice to return.

[lovemykidstoo]

Stick to your guns on nit and lice free before returning, and check the kid(s) yourself.

I had a sibling set recently with lice, thankfully they weren't hear because mom was on maternity leave and the kids were home. They went to the Dr on a Thursday for other reasons and mom asked for a head check while they were there. They got the all clear, even got the Dr's note that says they're lice free. Mom did one more treatment that evening just to be safe---and found 6 dead bugs in one child's hair and 6 nits in the other child's hair.

They were supposed to come Friday and I said no. Depending on the weekend they may be allowed to come back Monday.

I have a no nit policy, child must be completely free of lice and nits to return. The local school system only has a no live lice policy. It's not my problem, my house my rules. She can do whatever she wants as far as school goes, but my house is no nits no lice to return.

I definitely stuck to my guns on this issue and mom was mad but I think she's getting over it. I have my other kids and my family to think about. I just read your post, must be the season for lice huh?

[BumbleBee]

I definitely stuck to my guns on this issue and mom was mad but I think she's getting over it. I have my other kids and my family to think about. I just read your post, must be the season for lice huh?

Yeah. Dcm is basically in tears at this point. Granted a lot of it has to do with having recently given birth and hormones (her words not mine) but it's really stressing her out.

[lovemykidstoo]

Yeah. Dcm is basically in tears at this point. Granted a lot of it has to do with having recently given birth and hormones (her words not mine) but it's really stressing her out.

I can't imagine having a brand new baby and having to deal with this. Poor lady.