Nicest Family But Driving Me Nuts

Always changing their schedule
Payments not always here when I ask
Mom never picks up phone and her voice mail always full
Dad and mom do not follow through
Both kids are trouble every day

Just soooo frustrated because when I have to talk with them about another situation they are feeling picked on. I am constantly feeling like the bad guy. Can anyone relate?

[rmc20021]

Oh yeah....I have one of those also.

This morning it's going to be that I'm confronting them about not signing and turning in the new contract I gave them two weeks ago. Today is the deadline. They either bring it or dcg does not stay.

It's been one thing after another with this family and as much as I love dcg and need the money I am giving them only one more chance to not pay on time, not pay the correct amount, not give me a schedule as their work week changes each week, showing up unexpectedly, and now today I know they are going to come empty handed and not have the contract signed.

I'm printing a new blank one out right now, will have it filled out and they can sign it this morning, but I WILL have one on file at drop off or there won't be a drop off.

[Play Care]

They actually don't sound "nice" at all.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

Originally Posted by Play Care

They actually don't sound "nice" at all.

That's what I was thinking.

[itlw8]

so what they smile and are friendly when they show up early or late and do not pay you ????

[Heidi]

That "acting like there being picked on" thing is called passive agressive behavior. I have one of those, too. Moody, too.

[julie]

Originally Posted by EntropyControlSpecialist

That's what I was thinking.

Me. Too. Or, they sound like they will be "nice" until they get a no out of you.

[Blackcat31]

paying late? not answering calls? not following through? troubled kids?

This family definitely does not sound nice.

I'd put a stop to some of these behaviors before they drive you batty.

Charge a SUPER big late fee for late payments and REQUIRE not request that mom/dad be available in case of emergency.

I totally understand how you feel but in all honesty the BEST lesson I have learned as a provider is to take responsibility for the things that I can change.

Stop allowing DCF's to "get away" with behaviors you don't like or that don't follow your policies.

Daycare parents are like daycare kids....they behave the way WE allow them to behave. We give them a consequence to detour them from repeating unwanted behaviors and the consequence HAS to be enough to STOP the behavior from happening again.

Do the same with parents.

[AfterSchoolMom]

Exactly what BlackCat said!


I agree, not a nice family at all. If they were, they'd respect you and your policies.


A lot of us on this forum have a tendency to say that families are "nice" when they walk all over us, or that a child is "the sweetest little thing", even though they hit, bite, throw tantrums, etc. I don't get it.

Let's get real and stand up for ourselves!!

Stop this behavior immediately. Let them know that it will not be tolerated any more.

[Blackcat31]

Originally Posted by AfterSchoolMom

A lot of us on this forum have a tendency to say that families are "nice" when they walk all over us, or that a child is "the sweetest little thing", even though they hit, bite, throw tantrums, etc. I don't get it.

IME, the number one reason provider's will say a family is "nice" or a "great family" is because they pay on time.

Yet, the complaints we have about parent's behaviors are usually a lot more than just timely payments.