I teach kids from home. During lockdown I taught via zoom. From this week I am working from home again, under strict covid rules.
I emailed parents last week to let them know that we were definitely back to face to face this week, I included covid rules, including a highlighted bit about needing to pick up promptly at the end of their lesson, so there was a gap before the next student and I could sanitize and air the room.
I have one parent, who has messed me around before. New, started Sept. She often collects 30 min late. Before lockdown I wasn't happy as that meant students overlapping and also took me to over 6 in the house. I allowed her dc to sit in the lounge while I started lesson for next student. Never an apology, never and excuse, just turns up 30 min after pick up time. She has also been asked to support her child by supervising practising etc, she says she does but she doesn't. Child often hasn't done what was asked between lessons.
Today at lunchtime (so 2 hours before lesson time) I get an email telling me that her dc will be having a zoom lesson today not an in person lesson, as she has something on for work. I can't do that, as he has no lesson materials for this lesson, and teaching by zoom is not nearly as good as in life. I said sorry that isn't possible. I offered a rearranged lesson time for later in the week.
At his lesson time, he turns up on doorstep, I JUST catch mum before she drives away. I ask if she can pick him up on time. No. So I said If you can't pick him up on time then he cannot stay for a lesson, she got huffy as she HAS to do this thing for work. I said again about needing students not to overlap, and needing to sanitize etc, and he has to be picked up on time or no lesson. She got really huffy with me because she HAS to do this thing for work.
I told her her childcare arrangements were not my problem, and that I need to follow the rules in order to be able to work.
She put child back in car and drove off pretty annoyed.
Was I rude? I was pretty annoyed. technically she should have paid me for the missing hour, but I am not going to ask.