Originally Posted by Pestle:
AbsoLUTEly you enforce a large late fee. The larger it is, the more you enforce it, because they need to feel the sting. This parent had you over a barrel--the parent knew three different ways that early pick up was required, the parent knew they were interfering with your practice of religion, and the parent knew you couldn't just up and leave their kid. The more irresponsibly that parent behaved, the more they forced you into the corner of being responsible way beyond. . . what you're actually responsible for.
And I'm the one who reminded her husband the night before that it was a half day at school, reminded him again when he left for work, called him after he arrived at work to remind him again, and then got an angry call from a middle-school teacher who was the last person at the school, sitting with her preschooler, who hadn't been picked up. 9_9 If that teacher had stolen his shoes when he arrived, I would have supported it.
The point of the late fee is to deter parents from being late, or in your case, from being late ever again.