SOOOO Frustrated right now...

[Angelwings36]

So yesterday I posted about the family that called me at 4:15pm, one hour before my closing time because they were going to be late due to car problems. I close at 5:15pm and am not flexiable on that at all!

Anyways this morning the family comes to drop off and informs me that they won't be picking up until 5:15pm today when their normal pick up time on fridays is 3:30pm. Uh NO! I close at 4:30pm on fridays. So dad chirps in and says he will come pick the kids up at 4:00pm instead of mom coming at 5:15pm. Ok good so all is fine for a couple seconds.

Then mom proceeds to say that next thursday and friday she will be picking the kids up at 1:30pm. OMG!!! My nap time runs from 12:30pm until 2:30pm and I do not allow drop offs or pick ups during this time! PERIOD! This is very CLEARLY written in my contract. I was too frustrated at that point to say any more and I had another family waiting to come in so I just said ok and off they went. But there is no way I am allowing this. What do I do? I was thinking about sending this family an email and highlighting the part of the contract that says no pick ups and drop offs between 12:30pm - 2:30pm. I hate confrontation and I don't want this family to think I'm picking on them. That's one of the big reason why I didn't say anything more this morning.

UGH sooooo VERY frustrated right now!!!!!

[Alexandra]

I wouldn't worry about it, they are leaving early! So you don't have to worry about late pick ups.

[Blackcat31]

Unfortunately, having it written in your contract is only 10% of it. The other 90% is enforcing it and you have to have the backbone to do it.

I know that isn't the answer you are looking for but they are doing it becuase you are allowing them to do it. You need to speak up and simply tell them it isn't working for you and that your times for closing and pick up need to be x and x. (whatever is in your contract)

If they aren't able to do it then I would term them and let them find care that works for them so that you can fill your spaces with families that work for you.

Hang in there...the good news is that the more you use your backbone, the easier it becomes.

[Cat Herder]

What was their reasoning for all the "out of schedule" changes? :confused:

I usually just move nap time pick-ups to the living room and let them watch a video if they don't have time to sleep.

They stay on their mats wherever I put them so it has not been an issue. I can also see both rooms from my kitchen, so it does not create a hardship for me.

Granted it is a RARE occurrence and ONLY permitted with advance notice since I have to childproof the living room for a bit per CCR&R guidelines.

[wdmmom]

I'd tell DCM the day that she plans on picking up at 130pm that she can come before 1230pm or after 230pm, that you don't allow departures during nap. Now if its for a doctors appointment, I'd just lay the child down away from the other children.

If he/she is late today for pick up, I'd charge accordingly...

[MarinaVanessa]

For the nap pick-up I would definetely enforce it especially since they were late in picking up once AND you already allowed them to pick-up 30 minutes later today. I would say something like:

"I was thinking about how you told me yesterday that you will be picking up at 1:30 on Thursday and Friday next week and I realized that that's right in the middle of nap and so that won't work so you can either pick up before 12:30pm or after 2:30pm. Just let me know which it will be so that I can have the kids ready" . Say it with an upbeat and cheerful smile.

If she says that it won't work for her for whatever reason just say something like
"You know I really don't allow pick-up or drop-offs during nap-time. It completely throws off the rest of the day. I don't especially mind that you are picking up 30 minutes later today this once even though my family and I had plans today ... I mean I'll be 30 minutes behind myself because of it but my family understands ... but I really can't bend on the nap time pick-up. Let me know if picking up before or after nap works for you"

Just make sure that you mention that you already allowed a later pick-up so that she is aware that it is in fact a favor and not something that she should just expect. Maybe it will give her pause the next time and actually ask you if it's ok first and not just assume that she can pick-up later whenever she wants or whenever she wants. Can I ask if she pays extra if she's late?

[Crystal]

I don't understand what the problem is? I get that naptime pick up can be disruptive, but it really sounds like you just do not want to accomodate this family in any way. It seems really petty and it seems it is a reaction to yesterdays unexpected turn of events for the parents.

Frankly, I don't see how you (or any provider) can even enforce no naptime pick up....parents can have access to their children ANY time they are in care. So, they could technically not even tell you in advance that they are picking up early and just show up unnanounced. If you want to enforce it, it seems you would have to terminate. If I was the parent I would really take issue with you telling me I cannot pick my kid up at that time.

Personally, I'd smile and say "okay, I'll see you then. PLease be sure to arrive right at 1:30 as I will have him up from nap and ready to go for you"

Pick and choose your battles....this really shouldn't be one of them.

[sharlan]

I agree with Crystal. But I wouldn't wake up the child until the mother got there. Have Mom stand and the door and just quietly pick up the child and carry him/her out to Mom.

[youretooloud]

I have even put the kids down for a nap next to the front door. But, I do NOT wake kids up until the parent is there. I have NEVER, EVER had a parent who said they were coming early actually come early. Ever. A parent's idea of early is maaaybe five minutes before they normally come. Even if they specifically say "1:22" they will show up at 4:00.

It ruins nap time, because you have to watch the door all nap time. You can't relax, go to the bathroom, read a magazine... nothing, you just have to watch the door.

[MarinaVanessa]

What was their reasoning for all the "out of schedule" changes? :confused:

I usually just move nap time pick-ups to the living room and let them watch a video if they don't have time to sleep.

They stay on their mats wherever I put them so it has not been an issue. I can also see both rooms from my kitchen, so it does not create a hardship for me.

Granted it is a RARE occurrence and ONLY permitted with advance notice since I have to childproof the living room for a bit per CCR&R guidelines.

I wish I was this lucky. My daycare is an open concept so nap pick-ups don't work here because I have no way to seperate the awake kid. We have to clean up all of the toys in the living room before naptime before I can put out the nap mats because the living room functions as our playroom and then doubles as our nap room. Our front door leads right into the living room so I have to put up my "kids are sleeping" sign every day so that the delivery guys neighbors etc don't knock or ,god forbid, they ring my doorbell .

[Cat Herder]

Frankly, I don't see how you (or any provider) can even enforce no naptime pick up....parents can have access to their children ANY time they are in care.

It is not always about messing up breaktime. For me it is because I offer a "Clean for Going Home" service. I NEED advance notice to fulfill my promise.

For my families the kids are dressed in clean "Nice" clothes/shoes, fresh diaper, lotioned, hair brushed/styled (with sweet smelling Johnsons detangler), nails clipped and hands/teeth/face squeaky clean.

If all I had to do was carry a half asleep, bed headed, crusty eyed, drool covered kid in paint stained play clothes to the door it would be a breeze...

My parents LOVE this service, they know they can count on me and never be embarrassed to take them out in public after pick-up. Few of them go straight home after pick-ups, here.

[mom2many]

I don't understand what the problem is? I get that naptime pick up can be disruptive, but it really sounds like you just do not want to accomodate this family in any way. It seems really petty and it seems it is a reaction to yesterdays unexpected turn of events for the parents.

Frankly, I don't see how you (or any provider) can even enforce no naptime pick up....parents can have access to their children ANY time they are in care. So, they could technically not even tell you in advance that they are picking up early and just show up unnanounced. If you want to enforce it, it seems you would have to terminate. If I was the parent I would really take issue with you telling me I cannot pick my kid up at that time.

Personally, I'd smile and say "okay, I'll see you then. PLease be sure to arrive right at 1:30 as I will have him up from nap and ready to go for you"

Pick and choose your battles....this really shouldn't be one of them.

I agree with Crystal on this one. I seldom have more than a couple of nappers at one time... 4-10 year olds- have "quiet time" and read or watch a movie, so this has never been an issue for me.

I've always been flexible with parents picking up early and consider it a blessing when a child is picked up early on a Friday---especially when they would normally be here till 6 pm when I close!

[Crystal]

It is not always about messing up breaktime. For me it is because I offer a "Clean for Going Home" service. I NEED advance notice to fulfill my promise.

For my families the kids are dressed in clean "Nice" clothes/shoes, fresh diaper, lotioned, hair brushed/styled (with sweet smelling Johnsons detangler), nails clipped and hands/teeth/face squeaky clean.

If all I had to do was carry a half asleep, bed headed, crusty eyed, drool covered kid in paint stained play clothes to the door it would be a breeze...

My parents LOVE this service, they know they can count on me and never be embarrassed to take them out in public after pick-up. Few of them go straight home after pick-ups, here.

Your like me....I MUST clean the kids up after naptime.

I'm not saying the parent SHOULD pick up unnanounced during naptime....I'm saying that they COULD. This family gave a week's notice. I see no reason to NOT accomodate them.

[Crystal]

I have even put the kids down for a nap next to the front door. But, I do NOT wake kids up until the parent is there. I have NEVER, EVER had a parent who said they were coming early actually come early. Ever. A parent's idea of early is maaaybe five minutes before they normally come. Even if they specifically say "1:22" they will show up at 4:00.

It ruins nap time, because you have to watch the door all nap time. You can't relax, go to the bathroom, read a magazine... nothing, you just have to watch the door.

In 14 years, I have NEVER had that happen. My families are VERY respectful of my time and my policies. They would never jeapordize losing services by disrespecting me in that way. They are also very respectful of sleeping children

It doesn't ruin naptime here. I don't sit and watch the door. I go about my usual routine and the parents quietly walk in and collect their child.

[Cat Herder]

Your like me....I MUST clean the kids up after naptime.

I'm not saying the parent SHOULD pick up unnanounced during naptime....I'm saying that they COULD. This family gave a week's notice. I see no reason to NOT accomodate them.

I agree... A 20-30 minute notice is all I really need.

It would be frustrating if it happened 3 times a week, though...

Especially with sorting through all this new curriculum and project stuff....the prep-time gets overwhelming some days.