Originally Posted by Unregistered:
But for 65.00 I would expect dinner for my child in an emergency and yes, delayed personal phone calls (canceled plans, whatever). If you just go on with your evening, why charge so much? Let mom pick him up at soccer with you or where ever you are going.
It just really depends on your setting - if you guys are all casual enough that a little late is ok, and a little phone time is fine too, whats the big deal?
Sometimes things really happen. Respecting someone does not mean you can bend time to get there faster, and it also doesn't mean that you have to ignore an overseas call from your mom.
I would look at a 65.00 bonus with glee and take my family out to dinner. I would also be understanding and kind, with an "Are you ok?".
We are all human here.
To some of the other posters in this thread - if you really feel that way about your kids' parents - why do you do this job?
LOL! You'd *expect* dinner.. You'd be luck that the only thing you got is a $65 late fee instead of being terminated or finding your child was with social services. She was AN HOUR late...clearly not in an accident.
It is easy to say you would be understanding and kind when you are not the daycare provider. The OP didn't just go on with her night, she had plans that had to be canceled. We have ALL had this experience at least once.
Personally, I missed my sons conferences because a parent showed up 45 minutes late...among many, many other things My favorite is this:
A daycare parent called me AT PICK UP TIME from a restaurant 45 minutes away and said, you don't mind if we're late do you? It's our anniversary so we thought we'd go out to dinner.
Agh, yeah...I mind...I had plans that I won't make now. Parents don't understand that it isn't simply the time that *they* were late or rude, it is that there are several parents in care and when you add up all the lates it gets to be ALOT.