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Daycare Center and Family Home Forum>Oh It's Ok, Your Child Doesn't Need To Eat...
Brooksie 08:35 AM 07-26-2013
So I'm not on the food program for financial and allergy reasons (DD) and parents are responsible for bringing their child breakfast (if they come before 8) and also lunch. I always fill out daily sheets for kids and made sure to not only write that dcb (14 mo) needed lunch items (she generally brings a few things and leaves it here so he has choices) but I also told her at pick up probably 3 times yesterday. This is my one family that I was having trouble with her bringing him at 9 in his pjs and hungry, just woken up. Today she did great, bringing him dressed and ready for the day (despite a wet diaper that had soaked through his shorts) and it was before the breakfast cut off. I immediately asked if she brought his lunch and she quickly said she would bring it on her way to work. She works at a salon and doesnt have to be there until 10. Shes also that dcm who stands here at pick up and drop off for 10-15 minutes just talking to dcb or showing me his tricks, idk what her issue is.
So I figure by 9:45 she would be here with his food. We went about our morning. Circle time, outside time, choice time. Lunch starts at 10:40 because we do an early nap at 11:20. Well she never came back with his food!!! No message, no call, no show, no food. HUNGRY BABY. I was so irritated. I'm in a financial crisis atm and haven't really been eating much myself because I've been struggling to feed my daughter. I have NO spare food in the house. I had to dig through my freezer and find a Healthy Choice microwavable meal to give to him. Probably the only thing I could have made myself for dinner. He tore it up (normally he hates everything she packs him) so that was a plus. But I'm so freaking irritated. I just sent her a message saying "don't worry about bringing K's food. I fed him my lunch. Everyone is going down for naps." Still haven't gotten a reply. What I wanted to say was "Uh thanks for showing up and bringing your child food to eat. I had to give him the only thing left in my fridge that I could eat."
I'll be telling her at pick-up, next time he gets dropped off without food I won't accept him until she bring him AND the food at the same time. So ridiculous.
So I figure by 9:45 she would be here with his food. We went about our morning. Circle time, outside time, choice time. Lunch starts at 10:40 because we do an early nap at 11:20. Well she never came back with his food!!! No message, no call, no show, no food. HUNGRY BABY. I was so irritated. I'm in a financial crisis atm and haven't really been eating much myself because I've been struggling to feed my daughter. I have NO spare food in the house. I had to dig through my freezer and find a Healthy Choice microwavable meal to give to him. Probably the only thing I could have made myself for dinner. He tore it up (normally he hates everything she packs him) so that was a plus. But I'm so freaking irritated. I just sent her a message saying "don't worry about bringing K's food. I fed him my lunch. Everyone is going down for naps." Still haven't gotten a reply. What I wanted to say was "Uh thanks for showing up and bringing your child food to eat. I had to give him the only thing left in my fridge that I could eat."
I'll be telling her at pick-up, next time he gets dropped off without food I won't accept him until she bring him AND the food at the same time. So ridiculous.
daycare 08:56 AM 07-26-2013
you need to attach money to it...
I would add this rule now.
Should you fail to bring your child's lunch for the day, there will be a $10.00 inconvenience fee and food charge fee. YOu have to hold her accountable or she won't care and keep doing it.
I am sorry you are in this situation...put your foot down and have her pay you every time she does not have the supplies OR you can send them home like you said
I would add this rule now.
Should you fail to bring your child's lunch for the day, there will be a $10.00 inconvenience fee and food charge fee. YOu have to hold her accountable or she won't care and keep doing it.
I am sorry you are in this situation...put your foot down and have her pay you every time she does not have the supplies OR you can send them home like you said
momofboys 08:59 AM 07-26-2013
That stinks! I probably would have sent a text at 10 asking when his lunch was being brought. I wouldn't have said don't worry. Sorry this happened to you, definitely don't accept him again without the food. I would charge her a fee for the lunch!
Lyss 09:09 AM 07-26-2013
Originally Posted by daycare:
you need to attach money to it...
I would add this rule now.
Should you fail to bring your child's lunch for the day, there will be a $10.00 inconvenience fee and food charge fee. YOu have to hold her accountable or she won't care and keep doing it.
I am sorry you are in this situation...put your foot down and have her pay you every time she does not have the supplies OR you can send them home like you said
you need to attach money to it...
I would add this rule now.
Should you fail to bring your child's lunch for the day, there will be a $10.00 inconvenience fee and food charge fee. YOu have to hold her accountable or she won't care and keep doing it.
I am sorry you are in this situation...put your foot down and have her pay you every time she does not have the supplies OR you can send them home like you said
MyAngels 09:23 AM 07-26-2013
Originally Posted by daycare:
you need to attach money to it...
I would add this rule now.
Should you fail to bring your child's lunch for the day, there will be a $10.00 inconvenience fee and food charge fee. YOu have to hold her accountable or she won't care and keep doing it.
I am sorry you are in this situation...put your foot down and have her pay you every time she does not have the supplies OR you can send them home like you said
you need to attach money to it...
I would add this rule now.
Should you fail to bring your child's lunch for the day, there will be a $10.00 inconvenience fee and food charge fee. YOu have to hold her accountable or she won't care and keep doing it.
I am sorry you are in this situation...put your foot down and have her pay you every time she does not have the supplies OR you can send them home like you said
Plus in the future, if you're in the situation of basically having no extra food in the house (don't count your personal food in other words) I would not accept the child if they don't have their food.
I'm so sorry that you're in a financial bind right now.
NeedaVaca 10:14 AM 07-26-2013
I'm sorry to hear of you financial troubles. Try to buy food that will go a long way like rice, beans...a big bag will provide several meals! You can add veggies/chicken and it will really go far 
Hope things turn around fast for you! When things were tight for me my kids got no "junk snacks" like chips, cheez-its etc. They only got things like apples or bananas with peanut butter. About the same price and much more filling!
Hope things turn around fast for you! When things were tight for me my kids got no "junk snacks" like chips, cheez-its etc. They only got things like apples or bananas with peanut butter. About the same price and much more filling!
Unregistered 10:42 AM 07-26-2013
Originally Posted by daycare:
you need to attach money to it...
I would add this rule now.
Should you fail to bring your child's lunch for the day, there will be a $10.00 inconvenience fee and food charge fee. YOu have to hold her accountable or she won't care and keep doing it.
I am sorry you are in this situation...put your foot down and have her pay you every time she does not have the supplies OR you can send them home like you said
This is absolutely what you need to do, and no 2nd chances. Tell her that you had to feed a convenience food to her child, and that there is a $10 charge for providing lunch. Tell her if she is to busy to provide meals, you are MORE than happy to cook for her child, but the charge is $10 per meal or snack.you need to attach money to it...
I would add this rule now.
Should you fail to bring your child's lunch for the day, there will be a $10.00 inconvenience fee and food charge fee. YOu have to hold her accountable or she won't care and keep doing it.
I am sorry you are in this situation...put your foot down and have her pay you every time she does not have the supplies OR you can send them home like you said
Crystal 10:56 AM 07-26-2013
I would avoid this and have all parents pay an additional weekly fee for food. This way you will not ever have that issues. I would charge what the food program would reimburse me, so approx. $5 per day, $25 per week for food.
Today, I would have called Mom and demanded she pick him up because he had no food available.
Today, I would have called Mom and demanded she pick him up because he had no food available.
EntropyControlSpecialist 10:58 AM 07-26-2013
Originally Posted by daycare:
you need to attach money to it...
I would add this rule now.
Should you fail to bring your child's lunch for the day, there will be a $10.00 inconvenience fee and food charge fee. YOu have to hold her accountable or she won't care and keep doing it.
I am sorry you are in this situation...put your foot down and have her pay you every time she does not have the supplies OR you can send them home like you said
Absolutely!you need to attach money to it...
I would add this rule now.
Should you fail to bring your child's lunch for the day, there will be a $10.00 inconvenience fee and food charge fee. YOu have to hold her accountable or she won't care and keep doing it.
I am sorry you are in this situation...put your foot down and have her pay you every time she does not have the supplies OR you can send them home like you said
I would also invoice her for the lunch YOU paid for today.
craftymissbeth 10:59 AM 07-26-2013
Originally Posted by Crystal:
I would avoid this and have all parents pay an additional weekly fee for food. This way you will not ever have that issues. I would charge what the food program would reimburse me, so approx. $5 per day, $25 per week for food.
Today, I would have called Mom and demanded she pick him up because he had no food available.
I would avoid this and have all parents pay an additional weekly fee for food. This way you will not ever have that issues. I would charge what the food program would reimburse me, so approx. $5 per day, $25 per week for food.
Today, I would have called Mom and demanded she pick him up because he had no food available.
This.Also, I know you're in a financial bind right now, but I would have termed immediately. This dcm doesn't care if her child has lunch!
itlw8 11:19 AM 07-26-2013
send her a text and tell her it was YOUR dinner for tonight and to bring an exact one when she picks up tonight
SunnyDay 11:58 AM 07-26-2013
Originally Posted by itlw8:
send her a text and tell her it was YOUR dinner for tonight and to bring an exact one when she picks up tonight
send her a text and tell her it was YOUR dinner for tonight and to bring an exact one when she picks up tonight
kathiemarie 12:29 PM 07-26-2013
Originally Posted by itlw8:
send her a text and tell her it was YOUR dinner for tonight and to bring an exact one when she picks up tonight
I like this! send her a text and tell her it was YOUR dinner for tonight and to bring an exact one when she picks up tonight
Familycare71 01:50 PM 07-26-2013
Originally Posted by itlw8:
send her a text and tell her it was YOUR dinner for tonight and to bring an exact one when she picks up tonight
Agree!!! send her a text and tell her it was YOUR dinner for tonight and to bring an exact one when she picks up tonight
daycare 01:58 PM 07-26-2013
Id ask for the money. If you charged $10 for each missed meal, that could put a lot of food in your fridge........
Brooksie 03:54 PM 07-26-2013
Thanks ladies. I never considered adding a price to meals if they aren't provided. I think I will but I didn't apply it to this time. She did eventually get back to me and was very apologetic. She forgot that we ate so early and was going to drop the food by later. I reminded her that its on the schedule that I gave out last week (given to everyone but had to be enforced because of her). She said she had the schedule but just forgot and said she would make sure he had everything next week. Then she offered to bring me something for lunch. I politely declined (I had eaten my daughters left overs lol). She then said she was still getting used to having his set routine for daycare and making sure she has everything together and thanked me for being so patient with her. She's a young single mother and her son (14mo) has never been in daycare or really been put on a schedule at all. I reminded her it takes time and he seems to be doing well with the new schedule since she's been bringing him earlier, he naps so much better. Then she said she was really happy with him here and she's even liking getting up earlier too.
I think with that convo I'm going to let it go. She was more than understanding and apologetic and I don't expect it to happen again. If it does I will apply the fee. I told her to make sure she brings everything at the same time of drop off, from now on. She really hasn't had much guidance or need to comply with someone else s routine or expectations when it comes to being a parent, so I can only blame her if there is no change. Thanks for the help ladies!
I think with that convo I'm going to let it go. She was more than understanding and apologetic and I don't expect it to happen again. If it does I will apply the fee. I told her to make sure she brings everything at the same time of drop off, from now on. She really hasn't had much guidance or need to comply with someone else s routine or expectations when it comes to being a parent, so I can only blame her if there is no change. Thanks for the help ladies!
Familycare71 08:16 PM 07-26-2013
Originally Posted by Brooksie:
Thanks ladies. I never considered adding a price to meals if they aren't provided. I think I will but I didn't apply it to this time. She did eventually get back to me and was very apologetic. She forgot that we ate so early and was going to drop the food by later. I reminded her that its on the schedule that I gave out last week (given to everyone but had to be enforced because of her). She said she had the schedule but just forgot and said she would make sure he had everything next week. Then she offered to bring me something for lunch. I politely declined (I had eaten my daughters left overs lol). She then said she was still getting used to having his set routine for daycare and making sure she has everything together and thanked me for being so patient with her. She's a young single mother and her son (14mo) has never been in daycare or really been put on a schedule at all. I reminded her it takes time and he seems to be doing well with the new schedule since she's been bringing him earlier, he naps so much better. Then she said she was really happy with him here and she's even liking getting up earlier too.
I think with that convo I'm going to let it go. She was more than understanding and apologetic and I don't expect it to happen again. If it does I will apply the fee. I told her to make sure she brings everything at the same time of drop off, from now on. She really hasn't had much guidance or need to comply with someone else s routine or expectations when it comes to being a parent, so I can only blame her if there is no change. Thanks for the help ladies!
Thanks ladies. I never considered adding a price to meals if they aren't provided. I think I will but I didn't apply it to this time. She did eventually get back to me and was very apologetic. She forgot that we ate so early and was going to drop the food by later. I reminded her that its on the schedule that I gave out last week (given to everyone but had to be enforced because of her). She said she had the schedule but just forgot and said she would make sure he had everything next week. Then she offered to bring me something for lunch. I politely declined (I had eaten my daughters left overs lol). She then said she was still getting used to having his set routine for daycare and making sure she has everything together and thanked me for being so patient with her. She's a young single mother and her son (14mo) has never been in daycare or really been put on a schedule at all. I reminded her it takes time and he seems to be doing well with the new schedule since she's been bringing him earlier, he naps so much better. Then she said she was really happy with him here and she's even liking getting up earlier too.
I think with that convo I'm going to let it go. She was more than understanding and apologetic and I don't expect it to happen again. If it does I will apply the fee. I told her to make sure she brings everything at the same time of drop off, from now on. She really hasn't had much guidance or need to comply with someone else s routine or expectations when it comes to being a parent, so I can only blame her if there is no change. Thanks for the help ladies!
I'm glad it worked out!!
TheGoodLife 10:00 PM 07-26-2013
Glad everything worked out! I always say, there's nothing better than a sincere apology (as long as it ends with that! 
) to smooth things over!
) to smooth things over!