Late But Not Late?

[AnneCordelia]

DCFamily picks up at 5:30. Mom gets off early on Fridays and said she'd pick up at 2:30. Texts at noon saying that she'll actually arrive at 4:00. It's 4:40 now and there's no sign of her.

When are they late, when they're not really late? Do you call contact #s if parent says they'll arrive early but doesn't or do you wait until the typically contracted pick-up time?

[CheekyChick]

At my DC, any time past closing is considered late - regardless of what time they normally pick up.

[nannyde]

When parents say they will come early it goes in one ear and out the other. I expect to work until my contracted time off. I don't change anything based on early pick ups. I just tell them to text me a few minutes before they get here so I can have the kid ready to go. After that it POOFS out of my brain.

[AnneCordelia]

She arrived at 4:45.

Generally, my DCF are pretty great, but I've been thrown for a loop. Granted her baby is just a year old, but she said she'd be here at 2:30 right infront of her. If she was a 3 year old she'd be sorely disappointed.

[daycare]

When parents say they will come early it goes in one ear and out the other. I expect to work until my contracted time off. I don't change anything based on early pick ups. I just tell them to text me a few minutes before they get here so I can have the kid ready to go. After that it POOFS out of my brain.

this is sooo true... When a parent says oh I will be here early or I will be here around 3, I just say ok great just give me a jingle or text when your 10 min away so I can have the kiddo ready.

I don't charge late fee unless they are past thier contracted time. So if they are contracted to be here at 4:30 and get her at 4:40 you are late!! even if thjey said they would pick up at 2:00 but didnt show up until 4:00 or regular time..

Also I would call the mom and say hey is everything ok, you have me worried that you weren't here at 4:00 like you said and I just wanted to make sure everything is ok....

[DaisyMamma]

I don't like it when that happens at all. But I'm learning what nan says, you can't let it b:ther you because the parents will do it again and again. When the kid gets older you can say DCG was worried and kept asking when you were coming.

[e.j.]

When parents say they will come early it goes in one ear and out the other. I expect to work until my contracted time off. I don't change anything based on early pick ups. I just tell them to text me a few minutes before they get here so I can have the kid ready to go. After that it POOFS out of my brain.

Same here. Parents have good intentions when they tell you they'll be picking up early but more often than not, they never follow through with it. I learned a long time ago not to look forward to an early pick-up (especially on a Friday!) and not to wake a sleeping child from his nap untill the parent was actually pulling into my driveway. I don't call the parent if they're not here when they say they will be. I just expect a normal pick-up time.