The Parent That Calls Every Day

[My3cents]

This is a really old thread, but this family was nuts. I ended up having LOTS of other trouble with them and they were gone within a month or two.

Ignore my last post......old thread and I responded before reading to the end of the postings......again.

[My3cents]

Okay, I'm really glad I'm not alone in being bugged by this.

Re: letting it go to message won't work...one day (one, in the past 5 weeks!) I was changing diapers when she called. 5 kids, 5 diapers....5 poops. It was a LONG round of diaper changes. I didn't want to stop what I was doing (it was pre-naptime) to go get the phone, so I left it. She called back a minute later, and a minute after that, and so on until I was done with the diapers ten minutes later. Yep, it was 10 or 11 phone calls! I was really short with her when I got on the phone with her...explained of course that I was changing diapers and she was all, "Oh, I wondered, I was about to leave work and come over there! I thought something was wrong!"

Texting doesn't work; I don't text :: Yep, a happy member of the Digital Generation (or...whatever they are calling folks my age these days) and a huge geek, but our cell phones are pay-by-the-minute and I really dislike texting. I'm so behind the times, .

Message on the machine/email updates are good ideas; I'll have to think about it over the weekend and decide which to offer. I'm trying REALLY hard to not actually say anything about the calls being unnecessary (and to cut it out) because I'm afraid it would come off as being very rude, no matter how I phrase it.

I get being worried about your child, I really do...but I dunno. It just rubs me the wrong way in this case. Something seems off about it I guess.

Just level with her..........Mom, I know your looking out for little one, but I don't always have the time to talk daily on the phone. Unless it is important information that I need to know, please wait for an update at the end of the day at pick up. If something comes up I will call you, at this point in our relationship you should feel comfortable enough with me and I with you that we don't need daily phone updates. I am just too busy with all the children to stop what I am doing to do this. I hope you understand. Talk to her and tell her that from now on the machine will be taking her calls and you WILL call her if something should come up and you need to speak with her. If she keeps calling you...... answer and be blunt. I don't have time to talk with you at this time in my busy day, I will talk with you at pick up. Don't allow her to push you around- Let her know you understand it is hard to leave your child. Even if your doing nothing at all- having a break is ok, because they are far and few between in this line of work unless you have help.

[Sunnyyy1]

I let my answering machine pick up...it says

"Hi! If you are calling to check on your child, don't worry they are fine or I would be calling you! We are in the middle of a super fun activity and I cannot tear myself away long enough to have to answer the phone so I will see you at pick up time. Have a great day!"

If a parent is calling to tell me something (and not checking on their kid) they just leave the info they needed to say and that's it.

WOW ^^^^ .....This is great I will be using this... LOL

[SilverSabre25]

It sounds like this mom needs a lot of reassurance. Can you email her mid-morning to let her know DCG is doing great? Maybe she'll back off if you take the initiative...

This is a really old thread, but this family was nuts. I ended up having LOTS of other trouble with them and they were gone within a month or two.

[Cradle2crayons]

My parents never call.... Ever.... Unless their kiddo is acting a little off etc.... I get one text saying they are on the way to care and one text saying they are on e way to pick up... And I require this so that my dogs aren't outside pottying when they drive up.... I have a private fb page that impost updates and pictures and videos etc on... And tag the parent...

[AmyKidsCo]

It sounds like this mom needs a lot of reassurance. Can you email her mid-morning to let her know DCG is doing great? Maybe she'll back off if you take the initiative...

[Cradle2crayons]

I have a facebook group for my parents...mi post pictures through that from my iPad and I also post videos of birthday parties, Easter egg hunts, water balloon fights etc via spree cast.. They can watch it live or after the event is over... My parents love love love both things

[makap]

I let my answering machine pick up...it says

"Hi! If you are calling to check on your child, don't worry they are fine or I would be calling you! We are in the middle of a super fun activity and I cannot tear myself away long enough to have to answer the phone so I will see you at pick up time. Have a great day!"

If a parent is calling to tell me something (and not checking on their kid) they just leave the info they needed to say and that's it.

I love this! Thank you BC

This is going to be my new voice mail message as of tomorrow!!!

I had one mom that called every single day!

[AnneCordelia]

It is absolutely ridiculous how you all think this way. And the first thing they tell you at day care is, "feel free to call any time" that's so mean of you all to be saying all of this. Parents can call until they feel their kids are ok. If it takes a year, do what it takes a year. Maybe you all's job is to make them feel as comfortable as possible and you're not doing your job, instead you're just pouting because they call.

I don't say 'call any time'. Its right in my contract that I am often busy with the children and will respond to calls and texts at my earliest convenience. I do try to go out of my way to text parents pics of their child for the first few weeks.

Its not my job to coddle parents, although I do try my best for them to be comfortable. It is my job to provide stellar care to their children. If I was on the phone daily with the parents of my 7 enrolled children then I would never get to start actually caring for the kids.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

It is absolutely ridiculous how you all think this way. And the first thing they tell you at day care is, "feel free to call any time" that's so mean of you all to be saying all of this. Parents can call until they feel their kids are ok. If it takes a year, do what it takes a year. Maybe you all's job is to make them feel as comfortable as possible and you're not doing your job, instead you're just pouting because they call.

Wow. If someone wasn't comfortable with me either a.) right off the bat or b.) within a month then I would highly encourage them to find care elsewhere. If they didn't, I would assist them in that process because I couldn't handle a call every single day for a year. That is way too much!

If a parent is that concerned then they really ought to stay home with them or hire a nanny. Obviously they think the child isn't fine/isn't being taken care of properly and I would NEVER put my own child in a situation where I thought they weren't fine or being taken care of properly.

[Michelle]

It is absolutely ridiculous how you all think this way. And the first thing they tell you at day care is, "feel free to call any time" that's so mean of you all to be saying all of this. Parents can call until they feel their kids are ok. If it takes a year, do what it takes a year. Maybe you all's job is to make them feel as comfortable as possible and you're not doing your job, instead you're just pouting because they call.

you know what?
first of all this is an old post.
second...we are busy taking care of a lot of kids.
I am not going to risk someone falling or getting hurt because a mom is calling all the time.
Unregistered... how many kids do you take care of?

[SilverSabre25]

It is absolutely ridiculous how you all think this way. And the first thing they tell you at day care is, "feel free to call any time" that's so mean of you all to be saying all of this. Parents can call until they feel their kids are ok. If it takes a year, do what it takes a year. Maybe you all's job is to make them feel as comfortable as possible and you're not doing your job, instead you're just pouting because they call.

Oh snap this post is almost two years old. Haha!

In the two years of personal and professional growth since I first wrote this, I defend my position. This family turned out to be a poor, poor fit for me anyway...and I should have termed them the say day I wrote this. Should have termed them during their first week. Mom was never going to be happy with me.

There's call any time...and then there's call every time. The problem with this lady was that if babe was happy she would manufacture problems. Seriously.

Right now my dcm calls periodcially and I'm fine with it. usually she has a reason, like a babe on the edge of being sick or recovering or had a bad drop-off. But it's not every day. And she's relieved when I assure her that all is well.

It is absolutely ridiculous how you all think this way. And the first thing they tell you at day care is, "feel free to call any time" that's so mean of you all to be saying all of this. Parents can call until they feel their kids are ok. If it takes a year, do what it takes a year. Maybe you all's job is to make them feel as comfortable as possible and you're not doing your job, instead you're just pouting because they call.

Well, if it really gets to that point where she calls and no answer, calls back, and jumps in her car to come see....and according to your rules, she has to take kid with her if she visits...

I'd let her panic, just once. Hate to say it, but that might work, as a last ditch effort.

Good advice and I did this. This lady was still calling daily after a month, and I very nicely let her know I would call her back at my convenience each day, and if not would talk to her at pick up. Instead she kept calling, and I ignored her because we had a busy day ect. She ended up sending her husband over who got off work by 2:00 and he saw we were having fun and doing stencils. He made the comment his wife called multiple times, and I informed him she does this daily and either I'll call her back, or see her in a few hours to update her! (as I told her in the beginning)..Now dad was bummed because he had to take the child with him, minus his free time because of his neurotic wife. And I suspect she got a good lecture when she came home!

[KEG123]

I've had both of my families since May and only one of the families called on the first day. And her kids had never been in daycare before, so I think that's why. Occasionally if the parents of that same family will be early to pick up, they call and let me know so I can start getting them ready.