Would you feel bad being the last to pick up from Holiday Club?

[RedAndWhiteStarryJar]

Because I always do and always apologise.

DD is 6, and goes to a lovely holiday club that she loves. In the Christmas Holidays and at February Half Term the club closes at 4.30pm –for all other holidays it closes at 5.30pm—

When it finishes at 4.30pm I’m usually the last to pick up so DD is on her own. Nobodies ever said anything to me, and DDs usually sat playing a board game or drawing with 2 staff members – once she was sat in the Reception area with the 2 staff as the room they use was needed for something else but she’s usually in the club room (it’s at a local secondary school) when I get there. I’m usually there between 4.15 and 4.25 (I’ve never been late, one time I got there at 4.29 but I’ve never been late).

Oddly in the other holidays when it finishes later DD is the first or one of the first to leave.

I can’t change my work as I finish at 4pm but if with a client I can’t just hang up/stop a meeting so sometimes finish at 4.10pm – I’m a single parent with no help in the week from either family or ExH. But I always feel guilty turning up as the last parent. Like I said they’ve never said anything, but I do feel a bit guilty about it and always apologise when I turn up as the last.

Well somebody has to pick up last! If you are picking up before closing - even one minute - then you're not picking up "late" so I wouldn't worry about it!

I work in an after school club, it finishes at 6, but parents can pick up anytime, there is always children that don't get picked up till 6, and that's absolutely fine, as a pp said, someone has to be picked up last, and the staff are being paid for it.
The children that leave last don't seem to mind at all, as we'll play with them until pick up. So don't feel bad

Someone has to be last, if it doesn’t bother your child I wouldn’t worry about it .

Someone has to be first, someone has to be last. If your child isn’t bothered then you needn’t be.

You've booked till 16:30 then you can use till 16:30. I'd be surprised that she was the last one there at 16:15.
I'd expect the majority of pickups to be between 16:25 and 16:30 to be honest.

No don't feel bad - my DS used to be the only child at his holiday club ... no idea why no one else used it, he loved it - individual attention from the staff... they seemed pretty chilled about it as well ... they were being paid the same whether it was one child or ten (or whatever the ratio was) .

Nothing to feel guilty about. You're keeping a roof over your child's head, and paying for quality childcare where she is happy and safe. Sounds like you are a responsible and loving mother.

It comes down to one thing and one thing only.

Does your daughter mind? Which oddly enough you don’t mention.

If you aren't late don't worry, someone needs to be last

And if she does mind, then you need to sit and explain why you can’t change but will always try to be early.

And perhaps pack a special little treat for the workers to give when she’s the last left

DD does sometimes say "I'm always the last" but she doesn't seem sad or upset by it, she always loves going.

No idea why she's the last when it finishes at 4.30 but not when it finishes at 5.30, maybe different children go?

Apparently most common pick up is 3.45pm

Dd is often one of the last. She can't wait for high school, when she walk herself home and be back by 4.

OP I run a very busy wraparound care scheme and I'm also surprised your child is on her own when you collect. Most of our parents collect between 10 minutes to 10 seconds before closing time! It doesn't annoy me or any other members of staff as far as I'm aware. It's just how it is.

Incidentally the children seem to take great pride in being last and often tell their parents to go back home if they aren't! I really wouldn't worry about it, I appreciate your kindness though.

YABU for wasting time worrying about it.

Fellow last mum to collect here. Mines after school club. Never been late but cut it fine most sessions.

Iv got loads of other things more worthy of guilt, my messy house, working full time, too much screen time. Let yourself off the hook op.

No, I would not feel bad about this. My kids also got picked up last from after school club and when DD was a baby she got picked up at 6.30pm. You are working, don't feel bad!

I clicked YABU because I took it to mean "to be concerned about it", but if you meant "to be late like this" then YANBU because you are not being late.

The amount of money these clubs cost, I’m amazed people aren’t getting their money’s worth and picking up nearer the end!

If you are within the time then you are not late! My school allows dropoff between 8.40-8.50am. I've had other people call it late when I arrived at 8.49..
Pickup is between 3.15-3.20pm.. had it called late when I slide in at 3.19pm.
Nope, I'm within the time!

Last child from after school club, last child from holiday club in this house. The only time I've felt bad is at morning drop off during the last week of term when all the others said they were picking up at 1530 because their children were so tired at the end of a busy term. To their faces they got a terse "I'm not sure my boss would approve after she's given me free time off to come to both the Christmas concert and the nativity play. My daughter will be picked up at 1800 as usual." I had a right wobble about being a crap parent on the way to work though...

And yes, I have a very kind boss who rearranged a meeting and pretended it was because she was busy (she's senior enough to get away with that) and let me disappear for a couple of hours twice within a week. She really is fab. I'd name her here to give her kudos, but it would be super outing!

I only put YABU because I don’t really understand why you are worrying about this. You haven’t been late and your daughter loves the club. There is no issue here.

Someone has to be last 🤷‍♀️