Am I Being Crazy?

[mamadaycare]

Me again sorry for all the posts lately but I don't have anyone else who understands the in home daycare life. So I have a DCM I have posted about many times. I am pretty sure she is doing stuff just to be spiteful and I have gotten this vibe from her many times before. So I made a post called 'Parent trying to run the show' after I made her stay with her normal days this have just gotten worse. Now her kids are here from right after I open and until 430 ON THE DOT when I close. DCD is a teacher and home for the summer. Everyday when she picks up she says DCD is at home. I feel she is keeping her kids here until the last second of the day to be spiteful because she didn't get her way. I can't prove it though. After everything she has put me through I feel I have enough to terminate, but I know she won't see it that way and I don't want her bad mouthing me around town since I'm still new in the provider area. How would you guys handle it?

[Blackcat31]

What was her normal schedule previously? Does she pay more/less due to her schedule or do you just charge one rate for everyone?
You are a business owner so you can term for whatever reason you want and sadly most times, parents that are termed, even for very valid reason will bad mouth you but you just hold your head up and move on.... there' s always that one bad apple no matter what you do right. Those that know you will know you are a good provider no matter what disgruntled ex clients say.

[Cat Herder]

As long as she was paying on time, following the rules and the kids were out of my house by closing (not at closing), I'd let it be. I am immune to temper tantrums.

"Back to School Reminder: Childcare is closed at 4:30. Children should be picked up and off the property by 4:30. **Please do not arrive at 4:30 to pick up as each minute here past 4:30 will be charged at $1 per minute.** Repetitive late stays will be asked to find alternative care. Thanks in advance for your compliance."

[mamadaycare]

What was her normal schedule previously? Does she pay more/less due to her schedule or do you just charge one rate for everyone?
You are a business owner so you can term for whatever reason you want and sadly most times, parents that are termed, even for very valid reason will bad mouth you but you just hold your head up and move on.... there' s always that one bad apple no matter what you do right. Those that know you will know you are a good provider no matter what disgruntled ex clients say.

They use to be 9/930-345 now they are 740/8-430 I only charge one rate for everyone but I am considering redoing my contract and charging extra for them staying outside of their 'normal' hours. I don't necessarily want to do contracted hours but if they are going to use my entire day I might as well make more money.

[mamadaycare]

As long as she was paying on time, following the rules and the kids were out of my house by closing (not at closing), I'd let it be. I am immune to temper tantrums.

"Back to School Reminder: Childcare is closed at 4:30. Children should be picked up and off the property by 4:30. **Please do not arrive at 4:30 to pick up as each minute here past 4:30 will be charged at $1 per minute.** Repetitive late stays will be asked to find alternative care. Thanks in advance for your compliance."

I need to try and get out of my feelings so much. I also need to make sure they are out of here by 430. I have parents that wait in their car if they see another parent in my house and then they are late. But when they are dropping off they have no problem crowding my front door to get rid of them. Parents just suck!

[Alwaysgreener]

They use to be 9/930-345 now they are 740/8-430 I only charge one rate for everyone but I am considering redoing my contract and charging extra for them staying outside of their 'normal' hours. I don't necessarily want to do contracted hours but if they are going to use my entire day I might as well make more money.

I believe black cat has a sliding scale pick up time that she might be willing to post. I think it goes all the parents pick up at the time of their choosing and they pay accordingly so for example say you charge $30 a day for pick up time 3:45 and then every 15 or 10 minutes after that is another dollar or two. So picking it for 4:30 would be $33 a day. You can send the letter out like it's going out to everybody and let her pick her pick up time. You could also do the similar thing in the morning.

I had considered sending this to my family that had a contracted 6:00 p.m. pick up time. I caught on that dad's did not work as late as Mom and they could have easily picked up closer to 4:30 /5:00. I allow 9 and 1/2 hours a day and she used every minute of it even when she didn't have to work.

[mamadaycare]

I believe black cat has a sliding scale pick up time that she might be willing to post. I think it goes all the parents pick up at the time of their choosing and they pay accordingly so for example say you charge $30 a day for pick up time 3:45 and then every 15 or 10 minutes after that is another dollar or two. So picking it for 4:30 would be $33 a day. You can send the letter out like it's going out to everybody and let her pick her pick up time. You could also do the similar thing in the morning.

I had considered sending this to my family that had a contracted 6:00 p.m. pick up time. I caught on that dad's did not work as late as Mom and they could have easily picked up closer to 4:30 /5:00. I allow 9 and 1/2 hours a day and she used every minute of it even when she didn't have to work.

Yes! I have considered a sliding scale. I'm sure it wouldn't make parents happy but 3 kids so when they are coming at random times I cant take my oldest to school, or I miss appointments. I plan everything around their 'normal' hours.

I hate that parents just leave their kids with us so they don't have to deal with them. I can't imagine having kids and avoiding spending time with them.

[GirlMomma]

Vent away! My husband hears less of my grumbling these days - unfortunately the forum gets it 😉

That’s quite a change in hours! I would ask her if their hours changed because you noticed the kids are here longer. Depending on the state you’re in, it’s actually illegal to have kids in a daycare for more than so many hours. Usually when you call out the parent, there’s either a valid reason for increased hours or they scramble to come up with an answer.

If she says “well you’re open this many hours a day” then I would reply “You are correct! My hours are set as a convenience for working parents. If a parent is not working, the child should not be here more than 8/9/10 hours per day.”

[mamadaycare]

Vent away! My husband hears less of my grumbling these days - unfortunately the forum gets it 😉

That’s quite a change in hours! I would ask her if their hours changed because you noticed the kids are here longer. Depending on the state you’re in, it’s actually illegal to have kids in a daycare for more than so many hours. Usually when you call out the parent, there’s either a valid reason for increased hours or they scramble to come up with an answer.

If she says “well you’re open this many hours a day” then I would reply “You are correct! My hours are set as a convenience for working parents. If a parent is not working, the child should not be here more than 8/9/10 hours per day.”

Lol I feel like I could vent all day somedays. I know she will have a good excuse for it. She makes sure to find a loophole for everything so that my hands are tied and she can run the show. She said last night that DCD hasn't went back to work for meetings yet, so I know he just sits at home all day. Which they do pay for the spot, but I hate feeling like I'm just the dumping grounds for their kids. I need to make more money for all the psychological warfare I put up with with her

[Blackcat31]

Take yourself out of the war. Take the money and leave the rest. I’ve learned over the last few years that every time a problem family leaves there’s another that takes their spot so you will always have that one family that drives you nuts. I no longer stress about what parents are doing when I am here. Just pay me and never pick up late (after close time) and it’s all good

[Springvalley]

We are opened from 6am until 6pm and if a parent picks up after 6pm it's a dollar per minute they are late. We had a parent who constantly pick her child up at 615 or so (before the owners decided to start closing at six) and pay her fees but she would stand around and talk for the longest and then would say that her employer reimburses her for her childcare. Everyone was so mad when she would come