Parent Lied and was Shopping When They Said They were Held over at Work!! [Archive]

MrsCoffee

02-28-2010, 06:52 PM

How do you handle these situations "Professionally"? :confused: I provide daycare to a family that is set to pick up between 530-545, I leave for my 2nd job at 555. I know, I know but I had this job first and am not ready to let it go yet. Any way my pick up time was always 5pm, I moved it regrettably for this family, knowing that I wanted to transition to daycare as my main job.

I have told this family that they are not to go past 545! The father called Thursday and spoke with my husband to say that he was going to be about 25 minutes... this was at 530!! That left no time for hellos/goodbyes. He said there were some issues at work and he would come as soon as he could. At pick up I was walking out the door. I didn't let him chat just gave him his children things. He couldn't carry all their things so I helped DCG to the car, carrying her bags for her... the way to the car he is telling me that this new job will be the death of him and when I get DCG in the car... IT"S PACKED FULL OF GROCERIES!!!!! :mad: I am now late to my job ! And he flat out lied! Straight to my face.

I have talked with him in the past because he started pushing his time, was 547-556 and I told him that U was pulled aside and told that I needed to be on time. He told me he couldn't control traffic. I told him pick up was again NO LATER THAN 545.

How do you handle these kinds of parents?:confused:

jen

02-28-2010, 07:56 PM

Honestly if a parent pulled something like that I would terminate if at all possible. I know that financially that is sometimes easier said than done. If you cannot or don't want to terminate as yet you could do a couple of things...

Do you charge a late fee? I would consider making it $20 for any part of 5 minutes late. I would also change their pick up time from 5:45 to 5:30.

I would also let them know that if this situation EVER happens again it will be grounds for immediate termination.

mac60

03-01-2010, 03:39 AM

I would change his pickup time too to 5:30. I had a family like this once, push push push until they pushed themselves right out of a provider. When I finally terminated them, I gave them 14 papers that had issues on them I had given them over the year.

I would write him a letter stating that beginning on *** date, your new closing time will be 5:30. And any pickup times after that will be ***x additional late fee. I would also add that your services are for while the parent is working. (some how you may be able to get in there about his shopping spree on your time). Good luck.

Daycare Mommy

03-01-2010, 04:44 AM

I'd have lit him up right there! I'd tell him that your hours are only until 5:30 and NO LATER. You are there for work and commute time ONLY, not shopping trips! With a second job that soon after daycare closing time you don't have the luxury of being flexible on closing times. I'd have told him if he needs even 1 minute after 5:30 he needs to find another provider with later hours because that is not what you both agreed to. I'd let him know that if it happened even once more I'd give notice right then and there no matter the reason.

Edit: I didn't see that you'd agreed to as late as 545. So change my above reccommendation to as late as 545 if you think 530 isn't reasonable for a commute time. I'd move the closing time to 5:30 personally, but if you decide to keep it at 5:45 I'd make it clear that there's no messing around if they come that late. Their child will be dressed and ready to go and there's no chit chat or escort to the car. You only have 10 minutes to get ready for work say goodbye to your family and get to the car.

momma2girls

03-01-2010, 05:00 AM

I would definately charge a late fee from now on!! Maybe do $10-$15.00 per 15 min. That is awful, especially on your time!! There is many times that I have to leave right at their contracted pick up time, or within 10 min. so I needed to beef up my contract this last yr. as well!!! I have had this happen many times!!!!! It sucks!! Especially if you need to be somewhere with your own children, for meetings, activities, etc. or just to make supper quick, because you have to leave. Good luck!!

melskids

03-01-2010, 05:09 AM

oooohhhhh......i definetly would have said something about the groceries in the car.

like " your job makes you do their grocery shopping for them!?!?! you ARE a dedicate employee" lol

that would have at least embarassed him.

maybe, just maybe, he picked up some groceries on his luch break ????

tymaboy

03-01-2010, 05:24 AM

Yep I would terminate if you can afford it. I also teach Religious Ed. on Wed. & I have it stated that all fees are double on Wed. That gives them more of a reason to be on time on the day I/ they know I have something else going on.

momma2girls

03-01-2010, 06:17 AM

I also have religious ed, 1st communion classes, swimming lessons, softball games, and practices, gymnastics, girl scout meetings, camp and the list goes on on on- I have missed games, school functions, been late at things, couldn't find seats, etc.because of late pick ups, not anymore, I really put a crack down on it!! I was very tired of being used and missing things, because of it!!!

MarinaVanessa

03-01-2010, 08:35 AM

How do you handle these kinds of parents?:confused:

It's too bad that it's a job that you are going to. I had responded once before on another post about a DCM that used to do that to me constantly and not even call me to tell me even after talking to her and telling her that this was a problem.

I would just pack up her child and take him with me on the most out-of-the-way-errands that I had and did my errands with him without letting her know. She's call me and tell me that she was at my home and I'd just be like "Oh hi, well you didn't call so I'd assumed you'd be late and since I didn't know when you'd be by and since I had things to do I brought him with me. I'm at _____ so you can come here and pick him up." then I'd add a good 'ol "It's a good thing that you called when you did because after i'm done here I was heading over to (next town over) and you'd have to pick him up there. I hope you hurry, I'm almost done here". Then i wouldn't answer the phone once she got to the store I was in and run around all over and let her find me. Evil I know but it was the only thing that made me feel better for her taking advantage of me. Oh and the best part would be when she'd find me and pick him up and then I'd look at my watch and then remind her that I had been watching her son until that exact moment and so I'd be billing her for the extra time. I had to do this twice but she was never late again.:D

MrsCoffee

03-01-2010, 09:10 AM

I can't let him go just yet, I really love the children and also I need the income. I could let go of the second job but I have had it for 8 years and love it. My boss from that time switched my hours from 5-9pm to 6-9pm just so I could take this family and as I had told them that I would be transitioning into this (daycare) full time.

Also I don't think this was a lunch time shopping trip, there was to much fresh produce popping from those bags - milk ice cream fruit chicken etc..

Plus even if he needed to do his shopping if he had arrived on time I wouldn't have cared. But all the lies and making me late.

I will be switching the time and if they don't like it then they will need to find another provider. Thanks every one I needed the advise! ;)

Childminder

03-01-2010, 02:59 PM

Get out the shot gun!;) Seriously, could you have left and taken them with and then called to have parents pick up at your work? Or hire someone to watch them quick like and leave? My dh or sister would and meet them at the door with a bill in hand stating you owe me $XX.XX for emergency child care.

Unregistered

03-02-2010, 10:47 AM

I do charge an extra fee when parents came in late to pick up their kids $5 for every 15 min they are late and also need to let me know in advanse, otherwise termination is my option if this happens a lot.

MrsCoffee

03-03-2010, 05:21 AM

momma2girls

03-03-2010, 05:45 AM

I gave them an updated contract! :D It states 545 with a $15.00 late fee for EVERY five minutes late NO EXCEPTIONS... Thank you all for your advise. I really want to have it be 530 but I don't think it is reasonable at this time. However if this family chooses to leave I will put it at 530 with the same late fee policy.

Does the other family really need 5:45 with their work and commute times? I have a daycare friend of mine, just because she has 5:30 as her pick up time, families abuse that to the max with her. This summer she has to crack down on it, because of her children having softball, swimming lessons, etc....

Liliya

03-03-2010, 06:19 AM

Daycare Mommy

03-03-2010, 06:25 AM

I have a family(next door neighbor) no meter what, they will be here at 5:30 or even later,even if they home.This child always last one to be picked up. Sometimes I am done by 5 or 5:15,but NO he will be here until 5:30 and I can see mom home.:confused: Some people just do not get it.

Yes, neighbors can be the absolute worst. I try not to take them anymore just because of this. In the past they were always the first ones here and the last ones to leave and the kids KNOW their parents are at home (they can see their car in the driveway) and they just don't come to get them. That makes for some really sad kids. :(

jen

03-03-2010, 09:39 AM

momma2girls

03-03-2010, 10:33 AM

What I love is how they try to justify leaving kids in care when they are sitting at home...

"OH, he just loves daycare! He always wants us to wait until the last possible moment to pick him up."

Uhhh yeah...everyone else has gone home but sure, they really want to be at daycare once ALL of their friends have left...

This is such a jokE!! Just because you are open!! I have a daycare friend , one of her friends babysat for a neighbor, and she brought her child to the daycare, so she could tan outside all day!!! Can you believe that one? After that one the daycare provider placed something in her contract regarding days off, etc. that you need to spend it with your child. HA!!! Just thought this was funny to share with all of you's!!

tenderhearts

03-03-2010, 10:49 AM

That would make me so angry, especially when they know you have to be some where which shouldn't make a difference. I have a family that when they started with me mom couldn't get here by 5 (my closing time) so I reluctantly told her that I would stay open until she could get here which was no later than 5:10, well after about 2 1/2 years dad must have slipped but told me that mom now gets off at 3 most days but she was still getting here at like 5:10, I know 10 minutes isn't a big deal but the principal of it, I said something to her and told her that if she's getting off work early then she needs to be here no later than 5, I only stayed open for her child because she couldn't quite make it by 5, she did with telling me that she may not always get off that early, but she still most days 5 on the nose and I know she was off a couple hours earlier, which is fine but the fact I had to say something. I finally had to reinforce my fee's its hard but they need to know you're serious slap them next time with the late fee.

Carole's Daycare

03-03-2010, 11:09 AM

I have had parents do this sort of thing also. I recently have made very clear to my families that I MUST get done on time, upped my late fees- and I regularly remind some of my less considerate families that I have obligations in that evening when they drop off. I have even let it be known that if it becomes habitual, not only will they be terminated, but I will change my hours and specifically market for families that work 7-3 so I can be done by 4 - at this time I only have 2 full time and one after school that isn't done by then anyway- so that family could be replaced if need be so that I can once again be a part of my son's life. I have a sub now that comes tues & thurs so I can leave by 5 to participate in a martial arts class with my son- and if someone is late picking up from my sub- those late fees pay the subs wages. I am happier now than I have been in 2 years. You deserve to have a life- not have your whole life be your job, even when its a job that you love.

Lucy

03-03-2010, 10:35 PM

LOL. I had a parent who was about 15 min late one day. She pulled in at the exactly time my husband pulled in. I thought she seemed flustered, and after she left my husband told me she was at the grocery store and he said hi to her and she turned beet red. It never happened again.

Liliya

03-04-2010, 05:25 AM

What I love is how they try to justify leaving kids in care when they are sitting at home...

"OH, he just loves daycare! He always wants us to wait until the last possible moment to pick him up."

Uhhh yeah...everyone else has gone home but sure, they really want to be at daycare once ALL of their friends have left...

Exactly! This is what mom tells me,when I tell her that he is asking for you since first parent came in.
"Oh,this is weird,at home, he always talks about you! and wants to go to your house!" Really???
I do not mind watching him,I get paid for it. But when child comes here first and leaves last,it makes a very long day for him.