I don't know how many times I've asked my preschool parents to supply clothes for their kids and they still don't do it! The babies have several outfits, but big kids make messes too! We went outside today for the first time in a VERY LONG TIME because we never had enough clothes for everyone. Today I said screw it! It's 60 degrees and we're going out even though the yard is COVERED in mud! Darn! That's what you get for sending your kid to daycare in slippers, dresses, new tennis shoes, etc. And they're going to have to nap and be in muddy clothes all day because I have no clothes for them.

Anyone else have this problem? Am I handling it wrong? How hard is it to leave one shirt, one pair of pants, one pair of underwear, and one pair of socks here?!

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Oh and I've even sent one girl home twice in a pair of my daughter's pants because she peed in hers at nap and I never got them back!!!

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If parents do not have a COMPLETE back up outfit in their baskets, they are turned away at the door.

NEVER had a repeat offender.

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Have you always been this stern? (Meant in a good way!)

I just wondered how difficult it would be for me to start doing this now since I haven't in the past. I also want to put up a sign at 5:30 every night that says "If your child is still here (with or without their ride), then there is a $10 fee"

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No. I was born bossy but I have not always been this stern as far as daycare policies.

I went into this with the idea that I was working FOR the parents....

After a decade of being a pushover and being taken advantage of, I decided to take control of MY business and implemented policies that worked to prevent the issues a majority of providers vent about.

THOSE issues will drive you to burn out faster than a Ferrari with an express pass on the freeway!

I HAD to change things up or I would have been crazy by now.

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My husband seems to think I owe everything to parents....maybe even my soul??? I'm not sure why. He says I need to keep them happy or they will just go elsewhere. I shouldn't inconvenience them at all with any early pick-ups, closures, or sending sick kids home. Keep in mind that he leaves before anyone gets here and comes home after the kids have left. He has no interactions with parents or kids whatsoever.

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Honestly, I thought that too.

Then I just couldn't do it anymore.

I started getting stern and I started commanding the respect that I deserved for the job I did.

Imagine my surprise when I learned that family's did a double take and actually respected me....they weren't leaving in hoards but instead were calling continually looking for openings...

I don't know why...maybe it's the whole "you teach people how to treat you" thinking or people wanting what they can't or might not be able to have...

I honestly do not know why, but I DO know that when I started being the boss and being in charge was the exact time my whole business took a complete 180 and things starting working how I had originally envisioned.

I rarely have issues that most provider vent about. I am not perfect and I still get the occasional PITA parent or type situation but instead of feeling as though I may make someone unhappy...I simply stop and think about how I personally need this situation to be resolved and go from there.

So far, it's worked.

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I think, in the long run, most reasonable parents respect you more if you stick to your policies, follow the regs. to a T, etc. I don't like inconveniencing my families either, but they all know that I am a person too!

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Ladypearl, I' am here to say that I have operated under that same school of thought, but keeping parents happy should not come at a sacrifice that we have to make. Something as simple and important as spare clothes should not make parents mad. They need to bring the supplies there kids need. I guess if you have to send a child home nude they might get the point. Is it in your contract that they have to supply spare clothes? If it does than you need to remind them of there responsibility's. I have in my contract that if I need to buy any of the required supplies that the cost wil be attached to there next payment. I have only had to do that twice and thats all it took.
Even though we want to keep parents happy it's still our home and our business.
Deb

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I thought a parent brought in spare clothes for a child, would have turned them away if they had not and I saw, but there was none to be found except for a thin undershirt and tights. The best dressed kid here wore that yesterday and the mom was horrified. No pants or undies? Put on a pull up.

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