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Daycare Center and Family Home Forum>All I Have To Say Is ... "GRRRRR!"
MN Mom 05:19 AM 06-01-2012
/rant on

After a HORRIBLE week, and an especially horrible day yesterday, I woke up today happy, thinking, "OK! Today is going to be GREAT!". Got my kiddos onto the bus @ 6:30, and was going to go hop in the shower quick and get dressed "to my shoes" to start the day out right. Well.....that didn't happen.

As I was heading to the bathroom I see out the window to my driveway a blue truck. My 7am was here 30 min early!!!!!! I let her knock for awhile, and when I answered she handed her kid to me and I said with almost a scowl, "You're early. I was not expecting you till 7." She laughed and left, but I could tell she was uncomfortable. Her kids last day of school was yesterday, which means she doesn't have to delay going to work due to getting them on the bus. However, that does NOT mean she can drop off early. My hours are 7am to 5:30pm. I am not going to give up 30 min of morning coffee and quiet...and I am not going to give up 30 min of extra sleep in the summer months!

Hopefully the day gets better from here, else I may check myself into the insane assylum over the weekend! I'm so glad that my summer vacation starts next Friday @ 5pm!!! :-) 1 week of just me, my kids, and my husband in the Badlands sounds EXQUISITE right now. I. Cannot. Wait.

/rant off

On a positive note.....HAPPY FRIDAY EVERYONE!!!!!!
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saved4always 05:29 AM 06-01-2012
Happy Friday!

I would have pretended not to see the car and just continued to the bathroom, turned on the fan and water immediately (to drown out any sounds of knocking and ringing ) and taken my leisurely shower...then at 7 a.m. (if they are still at the door)...let them in. If mom would have said anything, I would have no problem stating that I don't open til 7 a.m. and I was taking a shower. No apology since one would not be owed....from you at least.

I hope your day is awesome for the rest of it!!!
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AfterSchoolMom 05:46 AM 06-01-2012
Originally Posted by saved4always:
Happy Friday!

I would have pretended not to see the car and just continued to the bathroom, turned on the fan and water immediately (to drown out any sounds of knocking and ringing ) and taken my leisurely shower...then at 7 a.m. (if they are still at the door)...let them in. If mom would have said anything, I would have no problem stating that I don't open til 7 a.m. and I was taking a shower. No apology since one would not be owed....from you at least.
Yep, this.

Do you have fees for early drop off? If so, charge them now, the first time, and I bet it won't happen again. At the very least, I'd lay it out for DCM today at pickup and let her know that 30 minutes early isn't going to fly, especially during the summer. Good luck, I hope your day gets better!
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EntropyControlSpecialist 05:51 AM 06-01-2012
Wow, 30 minutes is quite a large amount of time to be early.
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momofboys 06:03 AM 06-01-2012
At pick-up I would be sure to confront the DCM & say that you were caught off-guard this morning - let her know you would have been in the shower had she come even a minute later. Then tell her that you are not able to accomodate early drop-offs and if she comes early again you will not be available until 7:00 am. If you wish you can tell her she may come early but it will cost you - seeing as you would like your extra 1/2 hr of peace in the morning I would set that price pretty high - $15/half hour. I am guessing it will not happen again.
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MN Day Mom 06:07 AM 06-01-2012
30 minutes early.... that takes guts! I hope you let her know that it can't happen again! Not a good way to start your Friday!
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Heidi 06:11 AM 06-01-2012
I would definately talk to her at pick up, and let her know that this in not ok.
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Creek 06:11 AM 06-01-2012
I will not open my door a minute earlier than 7:30am when I open. Unless it has been pre-arranged and of course there is an extra fee included with early drop offs, the same as late pick ups. I would have gone to the door cause I certainly don't want her knocking forever and said, sorry but I am not open yet, see you in 30 minutes. In your case now though, I would hand her the early drop off bill at pick up and remind her that today was a one time deal, that it won't happen again.
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GretasLittleFriends 06:16 AM 06-01-2012
I would have done what the previous poster said, about getting in the shower anyway. Would not have answered the door until I was dressed and ready for my day. I may have answered the phone and responded to a request to open the door with (a smile in my voice) "Oh, you're early. You're going to have to wait a few minutes while I finish getting dressed."
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Blackcat31 08:40 AM 06-01-2012
Originally Posted by GretasLittleFriends:
I would have done what the previous poster said, about getting in the shower anyway. Would not have answered the door until I was dressed and ready for my day. I may have answered the phone and responded to a request to open the door with (a smile in my voice) "Oh, you're early. You're going to have to wait a few minutes while I finish getting dressed."


Early drop offs can't happen if you don't let them.... I like your response Greta!
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My3cents 08:59 AM 06-01-2012
Originally Posted by Blackcat31:


Early drop offs can't happen if you don't let them.... I like your response Greta!
I like yours even more Blackcat-

That can't happen if you don't let them. For me if a parent needs early drop off and lets me know the days before- no problem. I have great parents that don't take advantage of me. They also throw in xtra $ on top of weekly payment.

but today- after dropping off at almost 8 every morning this past week, my one parent drops off at 7:30 I was just finishing all my morning routine up, hoping to sip on my coffee and have a little time to myself- prob to check here...just down time. I was like WTWhatever. Her child woke up earlier then usual. She was fine within her contracted hours, just not on the pattern she had set for this week. UGH~ a little morning let down- my own personal pitty party of one.

I would reiterate your hours and if you want, tell her if she needs you for that time it will be more and make it high enough to make it worth it to you. Clear this up at pick up-

Best-
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texascare 09:22 AM 06-01-2012
On daycarelady.com there is an OPEN and CLOSED sign that you can print off. I did and i laminated it and I have it on my front door. I have set hours eriod. Not contracted hours and I refuse to open the door before 7:30am.
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MN Mom 04:58 AM 06-04-2012
They came 30 min early again. I didn't answer the door until 10 to 7 this time. I wanted to bring it up Friday, but dad caught me off guard and picked up 30 min into nap time and I completely forgot. When I answered the door this morning, I took the child and point blank said, "I open at 7 O'Clock. I need that 30 min in the morning to use the rest room and get ready for the day." He smiled and said, "Oh! OK." and left.

We will see what mom says at pick-up or if they try to bring early tomorrow. This is my best family and oldest clients, though. They always pay on time, in cash, and pick up as soon as they are done with work. Their kid is the EASIEST kid I have. So I am having a hard time being firm with them.
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beachgrl 05:22 AM 06-04-2012
I love the idea of the open closed sign and I am going to make a similar one using my logo for myself. I don't have much issues with that so far, only had one family try to do that and she was an hour early contracted time to all my others so I was really not happy they showed up early. Thankfully I was able to let her know I would not be downstairs until her drop off time so I would not hear the door if they came before then.
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Kaddidle Care 05:35 AM 06-04-2012
Originally Posted by saved4always:
Happy Friday!

I would have pretended not to see the car and just continued to the bathroom, turned on the fan and water immediately (to drown out any sounds of knocking and ringing ) and taken my leisurely shower...then at 7 a.m. (if they are still at the door)...let them in. If mom would have said anything, I would have no problem stating that I don't open til 7 a.m. and I was taking a shower. No apology since one would not be owed....from you at least.

I hope your day is awesome for the rest of it!!!
Ditto! What she said!
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MarinaVanessa 09:10 AM 06-04-2012
Originally Posted by Kaddidle Care:
Ditto! What she said!
Yep me too. I always bring it up but can I just say it one more time ... I LOVE my keyless entry system. I give each parent their own code to my front door which only works during their specific daycare hours. They aren't getting in my house not one minute earlier or later than what they are scheduled for.

Now since the child is already in your care MN Mom, do you have a policy about dropping off early? I would hand her a bill at the end of the day for dropping off early. I have one. I don't charge much but $5 for every 15 minutes or part of so that would have been an extra $10 if were to happen to me.
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Blackcat31 09:13 AM 06-04-2012
Originally Posted by MarinaVanessa:
Now since the child is already in your care MN Mom, do you have a policy about dropping off early? I would hand her a bill at the end of the day for dropping off early. I have one. I don't charge much but $5 for every 15 minutes or part of so that would have been an extra $10 if were to happen to me.
....especially because you already told her on Friday that you aren't real keen on early drop offs.
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MN Mom 10:07 AM 06-04-2012
Originally Posted by MarinaVanessa:
Yep me too. I always bring it up but can I just say it one more time ... I LOVE my keyless entry system. I give each parent their own code to my front door which only works during their specific daycare hours. They aren't getting in my house not one minute earlier or later than what they are scheduled for.

Now since the child is already in your care MN Mom, do you have a policy about dropping off early? I would hand her a bill at the end of the day for dropping off early. I have one. I don't charge much but $5 for every 15 minutes or part of so that would have been an extra $10 if were to happen to me.
I actually have zero contracts with any of my clients aside from verbal agreements. They know I am open from 7am to 5pm and am at their disposal between those hours. All my clients are temporary save for the one that just started dropping off early last week. I clarified with father this morning, and if it happens again, I will attach a fee to the early drop offs and that will nip it in the bud. Just more annoying than anything. I've also printed the open/close sign and will laminate it this evening.
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MN Mom 06:51 AM 06-05-2012


The "early arrivers" didn't show up till 7am today! Yay!!!!! Problem solved.
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Blackcat31 06:52 AM 06-05-2012
Originally Posted by MN Mom:


The "early arrivers" didn't show up till 7am today! Yay!!!!! Problem solved.
Yah!! It is always nice when parents listen and respect your rules...especially your opeing time!
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