Before we moved to GA, I LOVED the daycare dds attended. I couldn't say enough positive things about it. We had been there over 5 years, starting when DD6 was 12 months, DD4 started at 12 weeks as did the DD1.
When we moved to GA, I enrolled them at a daycare recommended by a friend. They have been there since October and over the past six months DH and I have been assessing the center. Lately it seems as if the cons have been outweighing the pros. And yesterday, I thought I would defintitely be finding a new place for them to go. My friend who recommended it also has issues with the place but in talking to my other girlfriend who worked as a daycare teacher for years said that since my issues seem to be mostly administrative, I shouldn't uproot the girls. But my feelings are that, we put the girls there to be a help to us and if situations keep arising that inconvenience us, then that's not helping.
Some examples: The daycare closes the week of Christmas. I understand the need to be with family during that week but then I don't feel we should have to pay for that week. I have asked lots of friends and none of their daycares do this and I know my old one didn't. Maybe the day before or day after. I am lucky that DH is a teacher so he was off as well but what about those parents who have to work?
Also, one of the reasons we chose the center was because they offer before school care, so we had planned for DH to drop off all 3 but then we found out that there was no transportation from the daycare to the school for dd6 so is that supposed to help? They do have a van that picks up for after school though.
They also said they have drop in service if we call the day before. We have done this 3 times and each time we were told there was no one available that day.
2 very minor things that drive me crazy, the smell, it smells like deordarizer they would use in a hospital, I understand the need to be clean and sanitized but the odor is so strong, DDs smell like it when they come home, their hair and clothes and blankets. And they put baby oil on the baby's face. She looks like she's been shellaced every day!! I told them she doesn't need it but they tell me and DH that it protects her face and still do it. It's one of the battles I choose not to fight. We just wipe it off. Weird though, my old daycare couldn't put on sunscreen or lip balm without my written permission.
And then there has been some payment issues, a couple of times I made payments and was still told I owe the money. I would have to go and look for the receipt as proof. This also happened to my friend. I didn't use to keep the receipts but since the errors, I have been.
I have a flexible spending dependent care account and they pay a reimbursement portion automatically each month. I pay the difference on the 1st and she gets the remainder by the 25th. I asked her if this was a problem (it's all due the 1st and she said no). The first month it got screwed up and she didn't get paid. I worked it out and the next month, it went through ok. I told her to let me know if she didn't get it by the 25th of the month. Then last month, I didn't hear anything so I didn't even think about it. We went on vacation on the 31st and when they went back I sent in my payment with DH. He called me and said she never got the payment by the 25th. So I called the company and they had messed up again. They said they would send it out the next week. So I let her know that and asked if that was okay, she said sure. I said you will get it by the end of next week, is that a problem. She said no, as long as I know it's coming. That was Mon. of last week. Friday, a note comes home with DH stating that I needed to call her about the balance, I am wondering what the heck, since we had the convo on Mon. Anyway, I had planned to call her yesterday morning. DH goes to take the girls and calls me irate! The teachers have instructions not to let the girls in until I talk to the director, who has not arrived yet. DH has 5th grade testing and can't be late so I scramble to get there and let him go to work. She has just arrived and we go in her office. She tells me she was expecting a payment last week. I ask her why she assumed that when we had the conversation stating otherwise. She proceeds to tell me about her overhead and salaries which I totally understand and even understand that not having the payment is not good for her buisness. My issue is that she did not tell me this when we spoke. And I specifically asked her 3-4 times if it was okay, if the payment came the end of this week. And I stated the date it would be sent out so there was no room for confusion. And if for whatever reason she had decided she needed the money before the girls could go back, why didn't she call me or write that on the note so I could have taken them in instead of DH?! There was no warning or anything. Not to mention, the teachers are thinking we are not paying our way! So, I had to pay her and when the check from the company arrives (it went out yesterday) she will reimburse me ( I made sure reimbursement, not credit). Daycare for 3 is expensive enough without having to pay it twice!! I went to work and sent her an email and asked her to reply agreeing to the terms so now it is in writing!!!
I am trying to make a decision because DD6 and DD4 will be out for the summer starting the beginning of May. I signed up DD4 for preschool there but I can sign her up for preschool where DD6 goes to to school on May 2. So I am trying to decide what to do in a short period of time. Any advice? When it comes down to it, of course they come first!
When we moved to GA, I enrolled them at a daycare recommended by a friend. They have been there since October and over the past six months DH and I have been assessing the center. Lately it seems as if the cons have been outweighing the pros. And yesterday, I thought I would defintitely be finding a new place for them to go. My friend who recommended it also has issues with the place but in talking to my other girlfriend who worked as a daycare teacher for years said that since my issues seem to be mostly administrative, I shouldn't uproot the girls. But my feelings are that, we put the girls there to be a help to us and if situations keep arising that inconvenience us, then that's not helping.
Some examples: The daycare closes the week of Christmas. I understand the need to be with family during that week but then I don't feel we should have to pay for that week. I have asked lots of friends and none of their daycares do this and I know my old one didn't. Maybe the day before or day after. I am lucky that DH is a teacher so he was off as well but what about those parents who have to work?
Also, one of the reasons we chose the center was because they offer before school care, so we had planned for DH to drop off all 3 but then we found out that there was no transportation from the daycare to the school for dd6 so is that supposed to help? They do have a van that picks up for after school though.
They also said they have drop in service if we call the day before. We have done this 3 times and each time we were told there was no one available that day.
2 very minor things that drive me crazy, the smell, it smells like deordarizer they would use in a hospital, I understand the need to be clean and sanitized but the odor is so strong, DDs smell like it when they come home, their hair and clothes and blankets. And they put baby oil on the baby's face. She looks like she's been shellaced every day!! I told them she doesn't need it but they tell me and DH that it protects her face and still do it. It's one of the battles I choose not to fight. We just wipe it off. Weird though, my old daycare couldn't put on sunscreen or lip balm without my written permission.
And then there has been some payment issues, a couple of times I made payments and was still told I owe the money. I would have to go and look for the receipt as proof. This also happened to my friend. I didn't use to keep the receipts but since the errors, I have been.
I have a flexible spending dependent care account and they pay a reimbursement portion automatically each month. I pay the difference on the 1st and she gets the remainder by the 25th. I asked her if this was a problem (it's all due the 1st and she said no). The first month it got screwed up and she didn't get paid. I worked it out and the next month, it went through ok. I told her to let me know if she didn't get it by the 25th of the month. Then last month, I didn't hear anything so I didn't even think about it. We went on vacation on the 31st and when they went back I sent in my payment with DH. He called me and said she never got the payment by the 25th. So I called the company and they had messed up again. They said they would send it out the next week. So I let her know that and asked if that was okay, she said sure. I said you will get it by the end of next week, is that a problem. She said no, as long as I know it's coming. That was Mon. of last week. Friday, a note comes home with DH stating that I needed to call her about the balance, I am wondering what the heck, since we had the convo on Mon. Anyway, I had planned to call her yesterday morning. DH goes to take the girls and calls me irate! The teachers have instructions not to let the girls in until I talk to the director, who has not arrived yet. DH has 5th grade testing and can't be late so I scramble to get there and let him go to work. She has just arrived and we go in her office. She tells me she was expecting a payment last week. I ask her why she assumed that when we had the conversation stating otherwise. She proceeds to tell me about her overhead and salaries which I totally understand and even understand that not having the payment is not good for her buisness. My issue is that she did not tell me this when we spoke. And I specifically asked her 3-4 times if it was okay, if the payment came the end of this week. And I stated the date it would be sent out so there was no room for confusion. And if for whatever reason she had decided she needed the money before the girls could go back, why didn't she call me or write that on the note so I could have taken them in instead of DH?! There was no warning or anything. Not to mention, the teachers are thinking we are not paying our way! So, I had to pay her and when the check from the company arrives (it went out yesterday) she will reimburse me ( I made sure reimbursement, not credit). Daycare for 3 is expensive enough without having to pay it twice!! I went to work and sent her an email and asked her to reply agreeing to the terms so now it is in writing!!!
I am trying to make a decision because DD6 and DD4 will be out for the summer starting the beginning of May. I signed up DD4 for preschool there but I can sign her up for preschool where DD6 goes to to school on May 2. So I am trying to decide what to do in a short period of time. Any advice? When it comes down to it, of course they come first!
).
