CM - Arrival times

[HSMM]

How many times have I dragged myself out of my nice warm bed this week to find the children arriving 2 hours late? A simple text message would be lovely and I could have a leisurely breakfast, instead of jumping out of bed, setting up the playroom, making sure the heating's on already. There is plenty of paperwork I can get done in 2 hours, but only if I am not expecting to answer the door in 5 minutes.

Also - if your children are not coming at all, then please tell me, so I know you are not stuck in a snow drift somewhere.

Anyone else having this problem?

If they have paid you to work then its only fair you are dressed. Its not up to you to critise parents for being late. Its not as if you aren't being paid for your time.

I agree that it is only basic consideration to tell a child minder if a child is not coming.

Honestly I think you are being a blood sucking paracite and think you should have a lie and get paid.

Sometimes parents have to change thier plans at the last minute. There needs to be a bit of leeway.

I agree with HSMM and I'll tell you why.......I've waited in with children wanting to go out in the snow but I've not been able to take them to the park like they wanted as I was waiting for someone to turn up. We just like to know so we can get on with our day without curtain twitching.

I know HSMM in RL and she's NOT a blood sucking paracite!

surely it's common courtesy to tell someone if you are going to be late? I let my CM know if I'm going to be 10 mins late in the morning!

don't think that anyone that wants to know what's happening in their day is a blood sucking parasite!

RT I think that was a bit harsh tbh. Yes HSMM might be being paid but that doesn't mean parents should give her no consideration or common decency whatsoever. Waiting for the door to go any second is very irritating and creates worry, it takes seconds to drop a quick text to say how long you expect to be if you are running late or won't be coming at all. Communication is vital to a good working relationship without this relationships can be strained, resentment can start to fester imo this goes for a working relationship as well as your private ones.

If you arranged to meet a friend at her house for coffee would you turn up 2 hours late without contacting her beforehand? If you were the friend would you not be a bit hurt your friend thought nothing of wasting your time?

If you were on a sick day and your collegue arranged to come round to drop paperwork off for you take away on a business trip the next day for eg would it be ok for them to turn up late without ringing to let you know?

I called my CM this morning about 20 minutes after I would usually have dropped girls off with her. I was waiting to see what DD1's pre-school was doing. If it had been open then DD2 would have gone to CM. As it was, pre-school closed today (having opened yesterday) so I had no childcare for DD1 - so I have kept both children home.

I am pretty sure CM is happy not to have them today - has own daughter home as school is closed and assistant unable to get to work. I am not sure what to do tomorrow - I am pretty sure that I will be home (just waiting for official announcement) but would like to be able to catch up with all the paperwork that I brought home but have not done (having had children at home). I will call CM as soon as it is official that I am home tomorrow to check that she will be able to have girls - no assistant will affect the numbers she can take I presume.

Yes it is annoying but with the snow everyone just doesn't know whether their coming or going.

If im waiting around, I just text them to find out whats happening.

But not everyone is waiting around. Some say they just assumed I'd realise they wouldn't be in.

I'll be glad when the snow's gone and we're all back to normal

I meant not everyone is unaware of what they're doing, they are just in bed

I understand people will be late and I don't have any issues with their timekeeping. I would just like to know if I can do paperwork, wash the play room floor, take the other children out to play and YES occasionally have a lie in and be paid for it. I will be all the happier when their children do arrive.

One of my parents was a bit annoying today. Phoned to say she wasnt going to work, but might being the kids round. Said she would ring if she was going to, and then didnt. I spent the whole day thinking well she might ring in a minute.

Cor that were a bit OTT you must be Really Really Tired.

As a fellow blood sucking paracite I also would appreciate a quick message if going to be late or not come at all. Some days I start at 5.30am (so get up earlier to get ready, drink lots of coffee) I'm sure you would appreciate a quick message to let you know you don't need to get up at 4.30 and can have a massive lie in until 6.30.

Also we have nursery / school drops if we are waiting until last minuite for a late arrival it upsets everyone elses routines as well.

I agree HSMM.

All my parents text if they are going to be late, even by 10 minutes, it's common courtesy.

still at "blood sucking parasite"

bloody hell! or is s/he just really tired?????

RT - that was a bit strong

I think parents should let childminders know if they are going to be late. I know we still get paid but sometimes if we have places that we need to go to this can cause a problem ie childminding group etc.

One of my parents use to txt if running late or her little one was still asleep. I respect her for that. Eventually she changed the arrival time to later in the morning.

Also consider that childminders also have school runs etc etc.

i think parent should let you know as i only get up early for 1 child arriving at 7.30/8 i dont pick the other up till half 9 sometimes the 7.30 doesnt come as his mum takes him to school instead of me usually she lets me know the nite before but when she doesnt im up early waitig and could have had longer in my bed and also let my daughter sleep a little longer

i am totally at your comment RT considering there are threads on other parts of mumsnet about folks using the snow to have cheeky days off work I hardly think it is fair to have a go at HSMM like that - unless you were joking and its backfired

I am always up early as I have my own daughter to get to school anyway, but it makes alot of differance to what i am doing if I know children are arriving after school run than before. If after i get to have a coffee and maybe slice of toast or as others have said, get paperwork done, make arrangements for future activities, allsorts.

So it is really helpful when parents text/phone to keep us updated if plans change and irritiating when they keep us in the dark - just as it no doubt would be for them if we did so I have sometime got caught in traffic on big days out (twice in 3 years luckily,not a regular thing!) and have phone parents to say not to rush to collect and offered to drop children off at their homes instead - parents appreciative = good working relationship.

We all know the current weather is causing chaos, but that should still allow folks to be courteous and communicate with each other surely.

sazzles

down, tiger, down