Won't Pay - Long Story

[squareone]

Sounds a lot like the situation I'm going through. The only difference is my backyard is 98% fenced in. The only open spots is along my house, where the kids are not allowed to play and right by my back door.

HorseLovinMom, since 98% is not 100% a person could "technically" call your yard unfenced. So, I believe the unregistered poster from that Outside Regulations thread IS the exact mom you are dealing with. Same state, timeline matches up, number of hours of care, ages of kids, issues with bleeding bugbites...WAY too many coincidences. I would bet dollars to donuts that this is the same mom!!! Assume that it is and assume that she is reading this thread as well and knows what your plans are.

I would suggest creating a new account with a new logon id to reclaim your anonymity.

[Crystal]

With all due respect to our regular members here, I have to say I agree with unregistered on this one.

The thing is, regardless of whether or not it is within regulations, children should not be left unsupervised outdoors. ESPECIALLY if your not fully fenced.....it only takes seconds for a child to "disappear" and even though they have been told they are not allowed to go on the side of the house where it is not fenced, we all know kids do not always adhere to the rules we set. Moreso I think the issue is that the parent was not informed that they would be outside unsupervised and that is something that should be discussed at the interview.....that right there would have avoided the whole problem because Mom likely would have realized then that this was not going to be the ideal fit for her family.

Regarding the bug bite....even if you were directly supervising that could still happen, but I'd be highly concerned about gnats that can actually draw blood and would be spraying to avoid such an incidence from occurring again. West nile virus can be spread through bites like that and that can be deadly. I'd be super vigilant about that.

In the future I would certainly discuss with potential clients the fact that you allow them outside unsupervised and have them sign a statement acknowledging that it has been discussed and that they agree to it. I'd also have the regulations readily available for anyone who questions you on it.

[Sugar Magnolia]

HorseLovinMom, since 98% is not 100% a person could "technically" call your yard unfenced. So, I believe the unregistered poster from that Outside Regulations thread IS the exact mom you are dealing with. Same state, timeline matches up, number of hours of care, ages of kids, issues with bleeding bugbites...WAY too many coincidences. I would bet dollars to donuts that this is the same mom!!! Assume that it is and assume that she is reading this thread as well and knows what your plans are.

I would suggest creating a new account with a new logon id to reclaim your anonymity.

Wow! Excellent sluething! Yes your privacy is likely gone. What are the chances of that happening?!?

[snowball]

I have to say, I think unregistered in THIS POST is the same mom. All I can say, is document.

Also, Crystal...of course you would agree with 'unregistered' ..we would not expect anything less from you.

[Blackcat31]

I have to say, I think unregistered in THIS POST is the same mom. All I can say, is document.

Also, Crystal...of course you would agree with 'unregistered' ..we would not expect anything less from you.

I also have a feeling the unregistered poster is the same mother but I gues we will never be sure....so....

:confused:...and regarding the comment towards Crystal....I don't understand what the point of that statement was? :confused: She had some very valid points.

[Kaddidle Care]

Hmm - this is a tough one as she did pay you for the times you watched her children.

If I was being paid to watch children then I would be outside if they were. JMHO I understand that you were watching from indoors but if a neighbor were watching, it would look like you weren't supervising them at all. KWIM?

I don't get that the child was sick from bug bites. Just a coincidence as they were new to Daycare and probably just picked up a bug (no pun intended).

I know mosquitos and gnats can leave some welts and yes, my son has bled from gnat bites too - they are horrible little creatures! But he's never gotten sick from bug bites.

This is strictly a contract matter at this point as you have the texts to back you up on the date. (save those texts!)

I personally would write it off as a loss but if you're willing to miss a day of work in court, then go for it. I wouldn't expect the other parents to pay you for that day though so you have to weigh it out. Is it really worth your time and trouble?

[Crystal]

I have to say, I think unregistered in THIS POST is the same mom. All I can say, is document.

Also, Crystal...of course you would agree with 'unregistered' ..we would not expect anything less from you.

Pardon me? Exactly what in MY post do YOU disagree with, other than the fact that I agreed with unregistered? Do you think children should be left outside unsupervised, especially without a fully fenced yard? Do you think the provider should NOT have told the parent at the interview that she doesn't actively, physically supervise outdoor play at all times, so that the Mom could make an informed decision as to whether this provider was the right provider for her children? Do you think that the provider should NOT be vigilant about the bug issues? Hmmmmm.....I'm at a loss as to why you would think I am wrong............. :confused::confused:

[Live and Learn]

If these children where in my care I never would have left them in the backyard alone.

Your backyard is not 100% fenced and even if it was I personally do not believe that a 3 or 4 year old should be left outside alone even if you are at the back of the house, even with all of the windows.

It sounds like this DCM was within the first two weeks of care so as long as she has paid you for the days that her children were actually present I would just drop it.

I think most parents would be uncomfortable with their 3 or 4 year old being left alone in the backyard....the fact that they were alone certainly contributed to the bug bites. I am assuming if you were outside with them you would have noticed the bugs sooner and either sprayed the kids or brought them inside.

I would ask yourself if you think it is really in the best interest of the dc kids to leave them outside while you are inside attending to others.

SAFETY is always the first priority.

Good luck.

[sharlan]

As a parent, I probably would have been unhappy that the kids were left outside in a yard that is 98% fenced. That means that there is a possibility of the kids escaping. (I have 2 climbing Houdinis, so I understand that.)

My 3, 4, & 5 yo do go into my backyard unsupervised for a few minutes at a time while I get breakfast or lunch on the table. My backyard is totally fenced with a lock on the gate, a lock on the pool fence, and a lock on the pool ladder. As the op, my kitchen/family room is all windows so I can see everything. I am not physically out there, but I can see and hear them at all times.

As for the bug bites, some people are more susceptible to them. A mosquito will fly past every member of my family to get to me.

As for the money. She did quit after the 2nd week, the kids came 2 weeks. My contract says either party can term during the first two weeks. You can take her to small claims because she violated your contract, but is the $250 worth the hassle to you?

[countrymom]

funny how all of you jump on her for not having a fenced yard. Well I don't have a fenced yard because its over and acre of land, I'm not required either. Just because you don't have fencing doesn't mean that your yard is unsafe, as a matter of fact I've seen kids act worse and do worse in a fenced in yard.

now only my 5 and up are allowed outside unsupervised, but I too have garden doors to the outside. The kids no the rules and are really good. Another thing is, some children are mature enough to go outside unsupervised.

the whole thing boils down to the fact that this mom wanted care for a short period of time, and if she didn't want to work with the provider than it was obvious the mom didn't want the care. Remember the gma I posted about how I couldn't pick the boy up at the end of my driveway (its not that long of a driveway) unless he came with me (which I didn't know this) and I wasn't allowed to pee unless he was outside my door, well gma never mentioned any of this stuff, she pulled him out after 2 days. They said that they were moving in the trailer park but I've never seen them, so we knew that it was a short term deal (she didn't say this either) so she needed excuses to pull him instead of working with me and finding a solution.

[mac60]

I am sitting here trying to figure out how some of you came up with the conclusion that the children were left unsupervised. I understood the original poster to say she would check on the baby and sit on the other side of the windows and watch them. I am wondering now what some of you do when you go pee, do you take all the children in the bathroom with you? I know I don't. I see no difference in sitting on a patio outside my back door watching the children, or sitting on the inside of my back screen door watching the children as I feed an infant. The only difference is about 3 feet. In both senarios I can see and hear the children the exact same.

[countrymom]

I am sitting here trying to figure out how some of you came up with the conclusion that the children were left unsupervised. I understood the original poster to say she would check on the baby and sit on the other side of the windows and watch them. I am wondering now what some of you do when you go pee, do you take all the children in the bathroom with you? I know I don't. I see no difference in sitting on a patio outside my back door watching the children, or sitting on the inside of my back screen door watching the children as I feed an infant. The only difference is about 3 feet. In both senarios I can see and hear the children the exact same.

exactly! couldn't agree with you more.

[daycare]

exactly! couldn't agree with you more.

I agree with this, however, every time we go outside, I always go out with them and check for any hazards that could be present.
I have a huge sliding glass door between my patio and DC room so I can sit on the steps right in front of the sliding glass and still allow kids to play inside if they also wanted.

[Crystal]

First of all, no one was "jumping on her" over her fence. The point is being able to understand Mom's point of not wanting her children outside unsupervised.

Secondly, No, I do not consider being indoors, even if you can see outside, actively, physically supervising. It may be okay, and she may be able to see everyone, but if the parent wants active, physical supervision and she is not providing that OUTSIDE the parent has the right to know and the right to choose whether that meets her ideal of care.

Also, if she is inside caring for an infant then there is NO WAY that she can be actively supervising 100% of the time....those few seconds that she is distracted with changing, feeding, etc. could be ALL it takes for a child to get out of the NOT 100% secure fence and disappear. She also could not immediately get to a child if something happens. She would have to finish whatever she is doing with baby, secure baby or carry baby with her, BEFORE getting to a child who is at risk of injury or has already been injured.

NOW....I am NOT saying that the provider should HAVE to be out there all of the time, and if it works for her great, but if that's what parents want, and she refuses too or cannot meet those needs, then the parent has every right to remove her children from care.....especially if she was not informed of this at enrollment.

[Live and Learn]

NOW....I am NOT saying that the provider should HAVE to be out there all of the time, and if it works for her great, but if that's what parents want, and she refuses too or cannot meet those needs, then the parent has every right to remove her children from care.....especially if she was not informed of this at enrollment.

If I wrote an add that said:

"I have a 98% fenced backyard, I let three year olds play in the backyard without any adults with them."

How many dc parents would want to enroll their kids?:confused: