Mom Wants to Work Out ?!
What would you do?
I had an interview recently and the Mom flat out told me that she wanted to go to the gym after work and would pick up after that. My contract states work and commute times only, and she'd be off work around 4, but wants to pick up at 5. I don't have any other "prospects" currently, and since I only do care for SA's, I'll be getting to the point soon where it will be too late to get more kids since school will be starting. Should I allow this, or tell Mom no way? |
I guess it would depend on if you are okay with the hours she's requesting and if you are bothered by her working out while you watch her child. I personally wouldn't care as long as she sticks to the contracted times and is generally a good dcp.
Question though, most gyms offer childcare - why can't she bring her child there? I go several times a week - mostly because I have 2 hours of childcare everyday. And it's the only childcare I get, lol! :lol: |
If it's in your contract then you should stick to it.
Our contract isn't like that and we do have a mom who is done with work earlier in the summer and instead of working out at lunch she will sometimes go after work. Not a big deal to us because we usually have kids until closing time and she still picks up by her normal school year time. She works at a college and there is no childcare in the gym. |
Originally Posted by AfterSchoolMom: |
I have a mom that does that. She works from home most of the time and when she does go to the office she works out on the way home. She's always here by 4:45p even after the gym so I'm fine with it.
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Well, the other two that will be in my care will be leaving by 4:30, so I'd essentially be staying open an extra half hour just for this Mom.
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Originally Posted by AfterSchoolMom: On the flip side, if you do indeed close at 4:30 then would just tell this parent no. But is it worth losing the income? |
Originally Posted by Former Teacher: i used to go home and get on the treadmill before i picked up my daughter. it's not like i was out partying and having a blast - i was working out! as she got older, it wasn't a big deal - but when she was a baby, she'd be trying to climb up on it or i'd have to stop and chase her down cus i didn't use a playpen. i worked at a center before that had lots of moms on assistance who got free childcare and they didn't even have jobs. they'd drop their kids off in their PJs and TELL US they were going home and going back to bed. now THAT is annoying, but a mom who works hard and takes good care of their child should be able to take an hour to work out without feeling guilty. |
Originally Posted by AfterSchoolMom: I, personally, wouldn't have a problem with it as long as 5:00 didn't become 5:15, then 5:30, etc. I have always had a 5:00 p.m. closing time, and am very, very clear when I interview parents that this time is not negotiable. I actually have it written into my contract that I do not charge a late fee, simply because I don't want anybody to think that it's okay to be late as long as they are willing to pay a fee. I've had excellent results from this policy. I think I'm getting off topic here, sorry! |
If your contracted hours are for 4:30 then, no I would not do it. I have a closing time of 5 pm and made an exception for my neighbors and it backfired on me. I will not longer make any exceptions. I have it at that time so I can be with my child. She already hates that I do daycare, I need to dedicate my entire evenings to time with her!
But if your contracted hours are until 5 then I would go ahead. I agree, if they are a good family what does it matter as long as she is picking up on time. She may not have free childcare and doesn't want to pay extra at the gym? |
If it was me in my area, I would definately do it. With the way jobs are around here where I live, another hour wouldn't make any difference. If you needed the income.
If you don't need the income, that's a different story. |
What time is your closing time? I know a lot of people have asked already, but I didn't see the response. I would be offended and switch daycare if I was told that picking up at 5:00 was unacceptable if I wanted to go to the gym after work. Her gym is probably on the way to your place and it's not like she is receiving free child care. Do you have anything else in your specific policy about your contract on times: maximum hours per day is 8 or 9 or 10? I personally just don't like the idea of "I'll only take your children if you are at work too". If I was taking a personal day, I would still want to bring my child to daycare to relax. You're still getting paid. JMHO, 5:00 is not late at all, especially around here!
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for me personally, i dont care where they are or what theyre doing as long as they pick up on time and pay me on time. thats just me. so for me, the question would be, do i want to change my business hours and stay open later to accomodate just her?
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Thanks everyone for your replies! :)
I can see both sides here. You're all right in that as long as I'm getting paid on time, I don't really care what she's doing with that time. I know how important it is to carve out time from a busy schedule to fit in exercise! I changed my contract for the new school year from opening and closing times to work and commute times only because I've been burned. I had one family that never picked up at the same time of day (it varied by as much as two hours) each day, and another who constantly pushed my closing time. We have a busy schedule during the school year with our children and their activities, and last year my contract stated that 5:30 was the latest pickup time allowable - this particular family would pick up five or ten minutes late on a regular basis, and we'd have to race to get places on time. Not only that, but I was giving them a hefty discount. It's because of that family (who won't be coming back!) that I'm hesitant to start conceding things right at the beginning. |
Originally Posted by AfterSchoolMom: |
I see a problem with it either. If you will be staying open late just for her, just charge her a $5 late fee, or a $10 overtime fee.
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So if u tell her no because ur fam has activities etc then shell remember that. So say a week later a new family who works til five wants ur care which is more income for u are u going to tell them no bc ur fam has activities?if u have a strict policy then it should be strict all the time - not flexible only to ur benefit.that's a very likely scenario so if u decide to tell her no I think u should tell her u only do work n commute only n that's y. Still her lesson will b that she shouldve lied about when she gets off.
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Originally Posted by mncare: |
Originally Posted by AfterSchoolMom: |
Originally Posted by Former Teacher: |
Originally Posted by Former Teacher: If she is asking you to work past your hours of operations is a different story. |
If you are willing to be open till five and dont want to lose the money then, when I gave her the contract to sign I would have it put in there the times (highlighted) that she would p/u 5:00 also while you are going over the contract tell her that her child needs to be picked up by 5:00 and if there is problems with late pick up you have no choice but to terminate. I would also add an additional fee for the extra 1/2 hour. Lots of parents are willing to pay a little more. Make sure it is worth your while.
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Originally Posted by AfterSchoolMom: |
Maybe you could agree, but add an additional price since you are staying later? Maybe $5-$10 more per week? See if it's worth it to her. I'd be willing to stay open later if I was being compensated for it. Since this is outside of your contract guidelines, she will have to pay extra for the extra service.
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Originally Posted by Lilbutterflie: |
yet another reason I dont have open or close times OR commute times in my contract. I have contracted hours. I dont give a whoopity doo what they are doing, napping, working, taking a class or wrangeling stray pheasants from a farmers barn. They pay from such and such to such and such,.. period. If they are contracted from 4 to noon,.. then I dont care what they are doing as long as I can reach them.
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Originally Posted by misol: |
Originally Posted by professionalmom: |
Originally Posted by QualiTcare: Plus, if this mom was a subsidy recipient, the state (here in MI) wouldn't pay for child care while the mom is working out. I actually used DHS's guidelines in my daycare, but of course, that was pretty easy since most of my clients were subsidy recipients, so if DHS didn't pay for that time, they couldn't be there because the parents couldn't afford to pay for it themselves. |
Originally Posted by professionalmom: it's kinda like comparing going to the obgyn and using daycare to going to the grocery store. |
Originally Posted by QualiTcare: Plus, by setting the relationship up in the beginning with making this parent your "special" client that you are giving exceptions to, you are saying that the contract is completely negotiable and that the mom can changes things at HER will, not the provider's. And as another provider has pointed out, when you give an exception, the parent does see it as an "exception". The parent sees it as "THE" normal terms. Then they may (in my experience, WILL) try to get you to bend these terms. |
Originally Posted by professionalmom: |
I'm going to allow it. It looks like I won't be full, so I don't want to lose them. I DO work out, so I can definitely understand her position, and it's not as if I'll be providing care until dinner time. However, this is the ONLY exception they'll get from me, and I'm going to make sure that they understand that. There will be no extra ten minutes, other errands, etc. I did the contract with the extra time built in, so pick up time is pick up time, whether she's exercising, running errands, or street performing - I don't care, as long as she picks up on time.
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Originally Posted by AfterSchoolMom: |
Charge overtime fees (time and a half) for anytime over contracted hours. Personally I don't care what they do I am being paid for watching their child. Period.
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