Need to vent....

[pkasbohm]

I am a home daycare provider. I have kids from 7:30 till 5:30. I just found out last night that instead of one of the parents working late like she has told me she had to she has been going and tanning before she picks up her child. We have a contract and she has been the worst one about following it. I have had her child for 3 yrs. and I am kinda hurt but mostly angry that she took advantage of me like this. She is divorced so she has no one to watch him after she would get off work, but my kids are very active in things and i am always sitting around waiting for her to come and pick up her child. We have had this issue of her not coming and picking up her child before--she would go home and shave her legs, or go to the grocery store, or stuff the she doesn't like to do with him because he is one of those kids that does not listen at all because she doesn't make him!! Do you think I am being to harsh? So I cut her some slack? Thanks for letting me vent!!!!!

Pam

 

[stinkerbelle]

are you saying that she leaves her child there past 5:30?
are there any other children there with this boy? (or is he the very last one to be picked up?)

are you paid for the time?

I, personally, don't see the problem. If she is paying you to watch her child from 7:30 to 5:30 and you agreed to this...if she gets off work at 4:30 or 5...so what if she runs errands/goes tanning before picking her child up at the agreed upon time.

However - if she's making you wait around until 6/6:30...then she is in the wrong. (I hope you are still paid for that time though.)

I think I just need some more info...

 

[Beth76]

If she's late picking up her child, then yes, she is in the wrong. If she is late, then you should be charging her a hefty late fee. If she's on time, then it shouldn't matter what she is doing while he's in your care. She's paying you to watch her chld.

I used to work in childcare (a center, not my home) and it's frustrating when parents take advantage of child care to do "other" things. But, when it all comes down to it, they are paying for that time.

We actually had a mother pick up her son for a dr appt in the early afternoon. She brought him back at 4:30, so that she could "go back to work and log off her computer." We had no other children at that time and were closing up for the night (we normally closed at 6pm). She never said she was bringing him back. Besides, wouldn't that be a great time to take your child to work to show your co workers? And she had to drive way out of her way to bring him back. Some people.

 

[buddy&wooz]

If she's picking him up past 5:30 you could try what some of the local daycares around here do- charge a set LARGE amount (at least $10-$15) for every 15 minutes past 5:30 that you have the child unless prior arrangements are made, and even then charge above your normal hourly rate for overtime care. And put it in the contract.

 

[Christine]

As Stinkerbelle says: need more info.

If she is paying you for a specific amount of hours than you really aren't right in dictating what she is doing. However, if she is making you work overtime because she has to "work late" than I don't agree with that, even if you ARE getting paid. If she told you she needed to pick up later so that she could "work" then she was praying on your "good samaritan" traits. I'm sure no daycare provider wants to stay open later than regular hours so someone can go tanning.

On the other hand, I've had daycare providers who were adamant that they felt they should not have to provide care if I left work early or took the day off. I had one provider who I had a contract with for care Mon-Friday from 6:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. If I got sick and came home early to lay on the couch, she wanted my child picked up (she was a neighbor so she could see me). If I took the day off and had to go to the dentist, OB/GYN etc, she didn't feel that she should provide care (even though she was paid for it). That was a bit too extreme for me.

Having said all that, if she is doing what I *think* your post says, I'd drop her.

 

[Stepharoonie!]

Originally posted by buddy&wooz
If she's picking him up past 5:30 you could try what some of the local daycares around here do- charge a set LARGE amount (at least $10-$15) for every 15 minutes past 5:30 that you have the child unless prior arrangements are made, and even then charge above your normal hourly rate for overtime care. And put it in the contract.

 

[CEDmom]

I agree with the other posters that if she's there by 5:30 what she does with her time is her business as long as you can reach her in an emergency. DD goes to pre-k 3 days a week and I send her when I have the day off. We pay for it and she gets lots of Mommy and Daddy time so I use it as a way to have me time occasionally. There's nothing wrong with that.

If she arrives late then that's a whole different story and you have a right to call her on it. DD's center charges $1 per minute past the 6:30 closing.

I forgot to add that I see how hard child care providers work and from a working mom you have my appreciation for all you do .

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Originally posted by pkasbohm
We have a contract and she has been the worst one about following it.
Pam

If you have a contract, enforce it. If she wants to pick her kid up later (and you want the extra $) tell her it is going to cost extra.

Or make up a new contract with her that is a win-win, if you want.

 

[pkasbohm]

okay... i did not post this correctly...i'm sorry!!! Her contract is for the hours of 7:40 to 4:40 b/c her hours are from 8:00 to 4:30. I charge by the day and it is considered a 9 hr. day. If they are later than 9 hrs. it is $5.00 every 15 min. but i told them if they had to work late than to just call me and if i don't have anything going on then it will not be a problem--i am usually pretty easy going. Lately she has been calling me and telling me that she has to work late or she has a meeting and she is going to tan instead. I know this because i went last night and her name was down to tan. So i looked at the past days and her name was down on there everytime she has told me she had to work late. ( I came home and looked at the time the child was at my house b/c i write down the time they get here and the time they leave daily) I am just so frustrated with this b/c i really don't want to cause conflict but on the other hand would she like this done to her? And, sometimes he is the last kid here and sometimes he is not--depends on the day.

Also, i don't care if they bring them if they take a day off as long as they are not late picking them up b/c they have to pay me if they come or not. My only problem is when they expect me to sit here and watch their kids when they are out "playing" and i have places to be for my own kids!!

I do see all of your points--but I don't think i explained it properly before cause i just had to get my vent out
Thanks,
Pam

 

[pkasbohm]

Thank you CEDmom!
It is nice to know that we are appreciated every once in a while!!!

Pam

 

[Lorix2]

So is she late picking the child up??

If it's within you're time frame that's contracted for, then it really isn't you're business what she's doing with her time.

On the other hand though, it's pretty stupid of her to lie to you about what she's doing because #1 if there was an emergency you couldn't reach her #2 if she shows up all tanned, then you automatically know where she's been

 

[HollyJoy]

I think that if she is not honoring her end of the contract, then she is breaking it, and therefore, you can actually drop her child from your care. Maybe if you threatened that, she'd get it together. It's not fair of her to expect you to watch her child after the designated time... if the fees aren't working, drop the child or raise the fee.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

but i told them if they had to work late than to just call me and if i don't have anything going on then it will not be a problem--i am usually pretty easy going.

honestly I think that is your problem.
As you said --- 7:40 to 4:40 is already a 9 hour day. It is not unreasonable for you to set an hourly "overtime" rate and then stick to it. Then it is up to her to decide whether or not she wants to pay for your time.

I've never done at home daycare but I've heard so many stories from people who have. My impression has always been that you have to run it as a Professional Business from top to bottom, or some your clients will REALLY take advantage of you.

 

[MelCald]

I too am a home childcare provider. It would drive me crazy if I were watching a child past contracted hours if the parents were out playing. She must have known you would be mad, and that is why she lied!!
One night one of my daycare moms was about an hour late..she was telling me about all of the traffic on the highway..funny thing is, dh just came from the same place as she supposedly did, at the same time she was supposed to and said there wasn't any traffic at all. You should have seen her try to backpeddle! It was probably mean of me, but I really enjoyed seeing her squirm!

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

Only my opinion....

I think you need to change "but i told them if they had to work late than to just call me and if i don't have anything going on then it will not be a problem--"


Also, $5 for 15 minutes is not much of a penalty for being late. I would consider changing that to $10 for 5 minutes, especially if you do not want parents to take advantage of your time.

Our school has daycare until 6pm, and after that they add a fee. You're doing a business, and mixing favors and business will hurt you in the end.

Another option that you might do (which is what the daycare lady would do sometimes), is if parents are not there on time, and you have to take the kids someplace, pack up your daycare kids and take them with you. The parent may have to wait, but that is a consequence of leaving the kids on "your time."

Of course, if you do do that, you'd have to let them know ahead of time.... Our daycare lady let all of us know that she had things to do, and if we didn't pick our kids up, she'd have to take them with her....

A lot of kids were picked up on time after that.

 

[CEDmom]

Thanks for explaining the situation more. As much as you want to be easygoing which BTW is a great thing in your profession I think you need to be more business like when enforcing the rules.

You might want to think about setting a new policy regarding extra hours. For instance a parent can add time to what they've contracted w/i the hours you're open for a set price and with prior notice (i.e. at dropoff or by noon). If this is not previously arranged then charge a flat rate for every 15 minutes outside the parent's contracted hours. If your services are required beyond your center's hours then work that out 1 on 1.

I know there are parents that make things difficult at my DD's center and the Director just has to stand her ground. As long as policies are in writing and parents have signed indicating they know the policies then you're covered.

Good luck

 

[Keli]

Ok, I think what you are saying is that this woman is leaving her son past 4:40pm and saying the reason is because she has to work late because she knows you will watch her son longer without charging her extra money since she's at work. That is totally wrong on her part and she is abusing your good nature.

Since I have a sister that has run a home-based day care for many years I have watched her grapple with this same situation many times. A lot of folks will tell you to drop this woman in a heartbeat but what they aren't thinking about is the little boy. If you've had him for three years then you are likely very attached to him.

If I were you I would talk to the mom, tell her what you know about her tanning habits, explain that you feel you were taken advantage of and present her with a bill for the overtime you would have charged if you had realized she wasn't at work. If she pays up and apologizes then I'd keep watching the little boy but if she has any other reaction then I would have to let him go.

 

[MAGICinMYHEART]

but i told them if they had to work late than to just call me and if i don't have anything going on then it will not be a problem--

You did this to yourself by saying this one thing...adjust it to but I told them if they had to work late than to just call me and if I don't have anything going on then it will not be a problem-- but the extra charge would still apply.

 

[Disney Doll]

Make a new rule effective June 1:

Due to the fact that some clients have taken advantage of my good nature, I am being forced to institute the follwing policy:Any child left over the agreed "pick up" time will be charged at a rate of $X/15 minutes. No exceptions."

Decide what you want your rate of "X" to be. Then enforce it.

You are running a business, even though it is a service/care business, it is still a business. Would you expect a restaurant to serve you dinner after their stated kitchen closing time because you had errands to do before you could go eat?

If your agreed pick-up time for this woman's child is 440PM, then if she doesn't pick up her child by 455PM she owes you "X" dollars. If she doesn't pick up her child by 510PM, she owes you "X" dollars x 2.

She'll get the hint soon enough.

 

[pkasbohm]

Thank you for all your posts!! I am in the process of making a new contract for her, but i wanted to know that i wasn't being petty! I was talking to my sis about it and she told me that it was what that lady paid me for--i thought that she was full of it--if you know what i mean!!!
I think everyone should have to do daycare for a month before they put their kids in daycare--then maybe they wouldn't take advantage like some do--granted I do have awsome parents that i have absolutley no problems with--it seems like there is always one!!

Pam