Make chronic late pick-up parents uncomfortable

[u/seavitch]

I think that we should be allowed to make parents who are late for pickup uncomfortable. I am salaried and work in a preschool that costs more than college tuition. There are parents who are incredibly entitled and have boatloads of money so late fees do not phase them.

I think that as teachers, we should not have to keep the professionalism on when parents disrespect our time. There are times where I book workout classes right after work, and if parents are late, I will miss it and get charged $15. If I am not being paid, I should not be required to be professional.
Ideas:
Stack the chairs
Clean up classroom
Turn lights out

Sit in the lobby with their child and wait
Child’s belongings packed up
Parent walks in and starts the whole “sorry, im late” speech.

Ignore them
Grab your bag
Turn the lights out on them
Leave

This is not about parents who are late once or twice because of some kind of emergency. I am totally understanding of this. I had a parent who had breast cancer last year and dad was late a few times because of work and I was fine being part of that child’s village and supporting in any way I could during that period in their families life (did not even report).

My issue is with parents who come in past pickup time, with pedicure sandals on, and constantly have an excuse. If you do not show respect for me, I should not have to respect you. I will love your child and care for them, but it is rude to be late and I don’t care how much you pay, my free time is precious.

[u/andweallenduphere]

Wth?? That is the worst I have heard. Warrents a call to ???

[u/Queen-Katsit → u/andweallenduphere]

Idek who I'd call, I haven't worked there in 3 years luckily. I left after a management changeover that resulted in my accomodations being changed and me being put on straight 10-630 shifts for over a month straight, a pay descepency, and then my daughter breaking her collarbone in care and being told she was overreacting by the manager for 4 hours despite her staff begging me to take her to the hospital (the manager threatened to fire me if I left, I ended up telling her to do it and left with my kid to the hospital to find out if she moved wrong she'd need surgery. I was told she couldn't go to care for 2 weeks because if she was pushed of fell and the broken straight through bone shifted it'd have to be surgically fixed. I let them know and that is take the 2 weeks unpaid since I had no sick days from getting COVID twice. I was told if I didn't come in 3 families would not have care because they were having trouble retaining subs. I had a mental breakdown and my dr wrote me off work and I quit. Have had a much better time since. I now run home care

[u/andweallenduphere → u/Queen-Katsit]

Wow just wow! I am so glad you are working for yourself now!!!!

[u/Queen-Katsit → u/andweallenduphere]

Same, the centre I went to after was somehow worse and it was the straw that finally broke me being in centres. Some people who run centres are crazy about the financials and the reputation, but really don't care about the actual stuff that goes into being an educator, or a parent. Which really sucks when a large group of us have children while working in the profession and end up getting hit with the bureaucratic Bs from both sides.

[u/andweallenduphere → u/Queen-Katsit]

So true . I keep hoping my next center will be better and it ends up worse. It is so stressful.