DCP many early closings

[Qestia]

Something's going on with my DCP, I just found a note in DD's bag announcing her THIRD early closing in a month for "a doctor's appointment." I've asked her if she's okay, she says she's fine, but doesn't elaborate. It's a home DCP, we've used her almost four years now (used her for DS when he was small) and love her but I'm getting frustrated. I have Tuesdays off but she has scheduled every appointment for Monday. DH can't pick her up because he has a standing meeting Monday afternoons. And the DCP is taking winter break (as she always does) starting today till Jan 4, and the note was to say she's closing early now Jan 4. I just left her a message asking if she could possibly reschedule the appointment for a Tuesday or sometime during her break (and reiterating that I hoped her health was ok). I feel like a jerk though. To top it off my DCP's sister works for her full time and I have no idea why she can't just watch the kids--they only have 4 in the daycare now so ratios aren't a concern.

Am I out of line to get a little miffed about this? was my response okay?

[meandmine]

Sounds reasonable to me. She may need to say that she can only get Tuesday appts. on a regularly scheduled basis and that's the Tues., but I don't think you are out of place politely inquiring since you pay her to be there when you are working.

M

[Tigerchild]

I also don't feel it's out of place to have a discussion about the timing, but not from the angle of the PP. Technically the OP is paying to use the service that the DCP provides during the times she provides it, not the other way around. So I think it's perfectly reasonable for OP to inquire how many times that this will happen (so she can make a decision whether or not she wants to continue using the service under those conditions), but it's also perfectly reasonable for the DCP to set her own hours, as long as adequate notice is served. If the OP just needs some more notice, then I"m sure the DCP can provide that. I'm also assuming that DCP doesn't get paid for the hours that she doesn't work.

[Momily]

I can completely understand how this is frustrating. However, I wanted to point out that most specialists, at least the ones I've seen, only see patients one or two days a week. Other days they might be at another clinic, or working in the hospital or whatever. So, it's possible that she's doing the best she can to accommodate.

Can you ask her about her sister? Or, can you reach out to the other parents of kids she cares for and maybe trade days so that you're each missing 1/2 as much?

[amma_mama]

Originally Posted by Tigerchild

I also don't feel it's out of place to have a discussion about the timing, but not from the angle of the PP. Technically the OP is paying to use the service that the DCP provides during the times she provides it, not the other way around. So I think it's perfectly reasonable for OP to inquire how many times that this will happen (so she can make a decision whether or not she wants to continue using the service under those conditions), but it's also perfectly reasonable for the DCP to set her own hours, as long as adequate notice is served. If the OP just needs some more notice, then I"m sure the DCP can provide that. I'm also assuming that DCP doesn't get paid for the hours that she doesn't work.

I can't speak for the OP's DCP, but most have a regular schedule, which is part of what you are paying for - a depednable provider that is available betwenn the hours they advertised/marketed as their opening and closing times. We all understand the occasional early closing but if it starts to happen often, then a customer should feel in the right to inquire about and request that the provider make best efforts to respect the opening/closing times they originally promised.

[Qestia]

Her hours by contract are 8-5 M-F. She doesn't do part time so I pay her for Tuesdays even though I keep dd home those days. However she's certainly entitled to sick time so I don't begrudge her these appointments, well, except now I do because it's becoming a regular thing. And she gave me no notice of this one-- I didn't get her note till after my last day of work so I couldn't even ask for the time off ahead of time. At any rate I spoke with her and she now says we can pick up dd at 4:30 instead of 3:45 that day, which helps a lot...

[Ellien C]

this all sounds VERY strange. I don't know of any doctors who will see you at 4:45 or 5:00, unless it's something like a counselor or therapist. And it sounds frustrating and unprofessional. I, too, understand sick time and emergency closures, but not to that extent.

[lolar2]

Originally Posted by Ellien C

this all sounds VERY strange. I don't know of any doctors who will see you at 4:45 or 5:00, unless it's something like a counselor or therapist. And it sounds frustrating and unprofessional. I, too, understand sick time and emergency closures, but not to that extent.

I've had several doctors who saw patients that late, on a regular basis. A perinatologist, a GI, and, hm... a dermatologist maybe? Can't remember exactly.

[staceychev]

Originally Posted by lolar2

I've had several doctors who saw patients that late, on a regular basis. A perinatologist, a GI, and, hm... a dermatologist maybe? Can't remember exactly.

Yeah, I've seen doctor's later in the day, too. They don't often have evening hours, maybe once a week, but it does happen. Maybe it's a regional thing.

[*MamaJen*]

I would be pretty peeved. I definitely understand that time off and drs appointments need to happen, but so does your work.
My DCP is really good about communicating with me ahead of time to coordinate schedules if she needs time off. Unless it was an emergency, I don't think she'd schedule something during our contract hours without talking to me about it first. And if I couldn't do an early pickup because of work, she would try to find someone else to fill in for her.

[Momily]

Originally Posted by *MamaJen*

I would be pretty peeved. I definitely understand that time off and drs appointments need to happen, but so does your work.
My DCP is really good about communicating with me ahead of time to coordinate schedules if she needs time off. Unless it was an emergency, I don't think she'd schedule something during our contract hours without talking to me about it first. And if I couldn't do an early pickup because of work, she would try to find someone else to fill in for her.

If you had something significant and medical going on, and your employer wouldn't give you 45 minutes off a few times in a month to have it looked in to, would you think that's fair?

I take time off when I need to for medical stuff. I don't understand why a childcare provider doesn't have the same privilege.

[*MamaJen*]

Originally Posted by Momily

If you had something significant and medical going on, and your employer wouldn't give you 45 minutes off a few times in a month to have it looked in to, would you think that's fair?

I take time off when I need to for medical stuff. I don't understand why a childcare provider doesn't have the same privilege.

Absolutely that's fair that she gets time off to attend to medical matters. But I wouldn't take time off for a doctors appointment during a time slot when I was supposed to be attending an important meeting, for example. I would coordinate with colleagues and schedule it appropriately. And it's exactly the same with a childcare provider -- I would expect her to coordinate with me ahead of time to find a time that worked for both of us. That's the issue here with the OP -- the daycare provider didn't communicate ahead of time, putting a paying client (the OP) in a bind.

[GoestoShow]

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Edited by GoestoShow - 1/4/11 at 9:05am

[midnightmommy]

I used to do daycare, and yes I did close for things. I always gave as much notice as I could though. To me a week (as in seven days) is the shortest I tried to do. If I knew that I wasn't going to see the child until right before I planned to close I called the parent. I don't think it's right to expect a home daycare to always be open for you. They can do that at centers if that is what you need. Most home childcare has a requirement in their contract that you have back-up childcare, because it is their home and things happen. In that case though that you need back-up due to not being able to pick-up early I would ask for a discounted rate or that she uses a sick day. (Something that should also be in her contract.) She probably gave you a later pick-up by cutting her getting ready time shorter. Doing home childcare is very difficult in this sense. She has to give herself a window, because people show up late. She could miss her appointment, because of late parents...Perhaps this is the only time she can get. With lots of jobs you can just drop everything and punch out. Not so for her. She is a stay at mom for all those kids and her life depends on the schedule of others. In her case multiple others.

The reason she has to close and can't have her sister watch the kids is probably to to license restrictions. Some states say that the main caretaker must be there at all times open. All of them say someone with a current first aid certification must be there at all times.

I'm sorry to ramble it's just very frustrating when you offer a service of loving safety for other people's kids and they feel owed more. I'm not saying you feel this way, and I agree she gave you unfair notice. I just see a lot of unfair demands put on home childcare providers.

[Momily]

Originally Posted by *MamaJen*

Absolutely that's fair that she gets time off to attend to medical matters. But I wouldn't take time off for a doctors appointment during a time slot when I was supposed to be attending an important meeting, for example. I would coordinate with colleagues and schedule it appropriately. And it's exactly the same with a childcare provider -- I would expect her to coordinate with me ahead of time to find a time that worked for both of us. That's the issue here with the OP -- the daycare provider didn't communicate ahead of time, putting a paying client (the OP) in a bind.

I think there's a good chance she's tried to accommodate the OP, she gave her a week and a half's notice, and she scheduled the appointment for late in the day so that the OP can work the majority of the day (she says she needs to leave 45 minutes early, so she's still working 7 hours).

If the OP goes to her and says "it so happens that my DH has an important meeting late Monday afternoons, which makes the timing of these appointments quite challenging for us. Is there any way you could make a morning appointment next time?" I think that's reasonable, but then the OP has to realize that that's going to likely mean that her DH is going to have to take a half day off instead of an hour.

[lilyka]

i used to do home daycare and if I did that i would have lost all my clients. One appointment is one thing but this becoming regular. Even now if I have to take time off for work I do so without pay (my only choice) It would be a nightmare if my daycare provider regularly asked me to pick my kids up early. I would lose my job. not to mention my whole life would revolve around finding someone to pick up my kids.....and I would then have to pay additional expenses for child care even though I was still paying the first provider. Honestly, if she is regularly going to cut into times you are paying her for I would find someone more dependable.

it also irritating that she has a full time helper and that that person isn't available....they can't work out amoung themselves for a Dr. visit. i would have a talk with her about your contract. find out if this is going to continue to happen regularly,how regularly and at least adjust your rate to reflect the fact that you will have to make last minute arrangements for day care on a regular basis. you will also need to decide if her services are worth that inconvinience.