Shorted Again!!

[melissa ann]

Now as I mentioned before, gramps shorted me $20 back on April 30. I didn't count it in front of him as he always had the right amount. So, since then I've been counting in front of him. Well, today, he handed me a wad of money. Reminder, he usually counts it in front of me before handed it to me. Back in April he just handed me the money. So, I counted it. He goes that's right isnt' it. I said no. It should be $296. He gave me $263. He was like are you sure. He went to the car and handed me a slip with the amount of
$263. I said that was for last week. I just gave him the slip for this week yesterday. He was like, well maybe he'll catch me tomorrow or if not next week. I understand (a little) about the incident the first time. I did not say anything to him about it. So I"m guessing he doesn't know I know or that I won't say anything if it happens again. I'm starting to think it's being done on purpose. I'm so sick of being the "nice" one. This line of work is starting to make me a cynical (sp) person and I don't like it. I really hate not being able to trust people. Especially with people who trust me with their children 11 hr/day for the past 2 years. Yet, they want to screw me over. Twice in one month. I don't think that is acceptable. I don't know the schedule for next week. I'm closed tomorrow. A personal day for my daughter's preschool picnic. ( gramps was not happy about that. But it's my 2 personal day in 1 yr) I'm closed mon for holiday so that means I will probably get my schedule Monday night 8-9pm.

[nannyde]

The dreaded Granpa stories. He's a tool. Just be as bold with him as he is with you.

Why do you keep the kids eleven hours a day? That's INSANE.

[melissa ann]

Well, that's how long I am open. (6-5) gramps work 7-4 (sometimes 3:30) but he says it takes him 40 mins or so in commute. But, today, he got here at 10 of 5 and had a carload of groceries. So, not sure what time he got off.
Even if he does get off early, he will do other things and sometimes will go home and come back with a stroller to walk the kids home. Which takes, I don't know 20-30 mins.
I am going to google the town where he works to see how long it takes.

[MarinaVanessa]

Ay ay ay pops is at it again. I would call him in the am and ask him what time tomorrow he'll be coming over because you have to get the $$ in the bank before closing tomorrow. I'd say it was for utility bills and that next week is too late for me since you be able to get in on Monday sue to the holiday and by Tuesday you'll incurr late fees or something. See what he says. I'm one of those that has no problem driving over and picking up the payment especially if I'm already out and about. Gramps reminds me of the initial reason why I switch to being paid in advance. You better believe that those same families that often "forgot" their payments all of a sudden always paid on time once they realized that I had to be paid in advance and that I wouldn't take a child even while they "ran to their house real quick" to get it. No pay no stay right?

[My4SunshineGirlsNY]

I would be very annoyed......11 hours is a LONG day with the same family, and to be underpaid is like saying "who cares what you do for the kids". I would be hot! Good thing you are counting it in front of him.

[momofboys]

So when is he supposed to bring you the rest? It's not fair to make you wait until Tuesday because of his "error". If he does not pay until Tues (I take it he does not live that close to you) I would tell him at drop-off on Tues that you are now adding late fees for every day it is not paid. I'm sorry, this must be frustrating for you!

[melissa ann]

Actually, we live in the same town. By car, it would take less than 5 mins. Walking would take about 20 mins.
I think he knew what he was doing since he shorted me last month and I left it go since I didn't count it until after he left. I think it took him by surprise when I counted and told him it was wrong. I really don't think he expected me to say anything.

[misol]

Originally Posted by melissa ann

Actually, we live in the same town. By car, it would take less than 5 mins. Walking would take about 20 mins.
I think he knew what he was doing since he shorted me last month and I left it go since I didn't count it until after he left. I think it took him by surprise when I counted and told him it was wrong. I really don't think he expected me to say anything.

Even though you didn't ask him for the money, I would at least bring it to his attention that you were fully aware that last month's payment was short. Just so he knows that he's not slick and so that he will stop trying to pull this crap. Tell him that the only reason you didn't mention it before was because you should have counted it while he was there and that you gave him the benefit of the doubt and figured it was an honest mistake. Then say "So you can imagine my surprise when you gave me this month's payment and it was short too! From now on all cash payments will be counted in front of you. I will only accept the children for care if and only if the full payment is made. Make him go back to counting it like he used to and then when he hands it to you count it again.

This old man is really something else.

[melissa ann]

No word yet from g-pa. So I don't know this week's schedule yet. I do know that the 4 yr boy will be an issue thurs-next tue. G-pa is going up to New England with his girlfriend. (She's his "sugar momma") They are leaving Wed night and are coming back Mon or Tue, Ican't remember which. They went to Florida back in Feb for a couple days. Boy was a mess. I'm sorry, but when you adopt a child, like he did with his grandson, than the child comes first. This boy already has learning issues, is the height/weight of a 3 yr old, etc. And all gramps cares about is getting it on with this girlfriend. Boy has been misbehaving lately. Like, always hugging his cousin, lifted up my 5 yr daughter's skirt (it had shorts built it, thankfully). but apparently he sees gramps/g-friend hugging, kissing, AND laying together! Boy will lay on top of his cousin. How do I approach this when clearly he is seeing too much. I'm not saying hugging/kissing is inappropriate, a quick kiss is okay, but I'm thinking they are doing more than that in front of the kids.

[MarinaVanessa]

I would just be blunt honest. Make him take it serious by telling him that you need to schedule a sit down time with him when all of the kids are gone to go through some important things that come up. If he says he doesn't have time a simple "Okay I understand. We'll do it now then." Don't give him an opportunity to dismiss you.

Start by mentioning the way he shorted you the first time and like was mentioned before tell him you didn't say anything because he had never shorted you before you didn't think to count it until later. Once you realized it was short you figured it was too late to say anything since it should have been counted right away in front of both of you. Tell him that this time that he shorted you you were counting on that money and that it was a great inconvenience and that his payment is late. You can choose whether or not to charge him a fee but you may just want to say since I didn't say anything before and this is technically the first time I brought it up I'm willing to let the late fee slide but next time there will deffinetely be a late fee.

Then end it with "And now the important reason why I wanted to speak with you". There are many ways to go about this but if it were me I'd just say that I had noticed in his grandson some behavior that worries me. He's a very effectionate child but sometimes it's innapropriate. I'm worried that he may be watching something he shouldn't be watching because he seems to want to lay down with a child and hug effectionately. I know when I say it it seems silly but when it's done it resembles behavior that should be reserved for an adult couple. This touching is not appropriate for children. List specific actions that you have seen and then explain why it is innapropriate. Mention that you are worried and that you just want to bring it to his attention before it becomes a real problem.

Good luck with Gramps ... sheesh, it seems that if it isn't one thing it's another.
Ps= if he doesn't call about the payment I'd call him first.

[melissa ann]

he paid me at pick up today.

[MrsCoffee]

Originally Posted by nannyde

The dreaded Granpa stories. He's a tool. Just be as bold with him as he is with you.

Why do you keep the kids eleven hours a day? That's INSANE.

I have a family that is willing to leave their children with me from the time I open until the time I close... It makes me sad for their children. I made my hours like this to be able to accommodate different schedules. I feel like I am being taken advantage of but don't know if that right or not... I am open:

7am-5:45pm

Most fams drop off at 830 and dad will come at 4pm to pick up. one other fam from 7-4pm. But my last family keep the children here untill 545 even though they dont need to... It eats me up because my second family have half their children on a waiting list to be in my daycare. I considered droping this last family because of this but thought it would be unprofessional...? What do you think?

[Daycare Mommy]

Originally Posted by krogers1982

I have a family that is willing to leave their children with me from the time I open until the time I close... It makes me sad for their children. I made my hours like this to be able to accommodate different schedules. I feel like I am being taken advantage of but don't know if that right or not... I am open:

7am-5:45pm

Most fams drop off at 830 and dad will come at 4pm to pick up. one other fam from 7-4pm. But my last family keep the children here untill 545 even though they dont need to... It eats me up because my second family have half their children on a waiting list to be in my daycare. I considered droping this last family because of this but thought it would be unprofessional...? What do you think?

You could let them know that as no one is working past X:XX PM that you are changing your hours to close 30 -45 min after the last mom or dad gets off work.

Or better yet, contract each family for their own individual hours based on their work schedule plus reasonable commute times. That's what I do and it works great.

[MrsCoffee]

I like that! My other two families are contracted to their times that they get off it's just this one family put me down (the spot in my contract where they put contracted hours) from open to close. Maybe I should say that I am only available 9 hour to each family, that leaves time for their commute. Just a thought my other families only use me 8 hours and 7. Its a shame.

[melissa ann]

When I made my hours, 6-5pm, it was too accomadate different families. I never thought that I'd have a child here the whole 11 hours. When I had another little girl about a yr and a hlf ago, I would have this little girl for about 10 hrs plus I'd have her when he had off. And he was a single parent, mom was nowhere in the picture. Quite sad.

[nannyde]

[quote=melissa ann;31324]When I made my hours, 6-5pm, it was too accomadate different families. I never thought that I'd have a child here the whole 11 hours. QUOTE]

Yup "if you build it they will come"