A few weeks ago, we decided that Cooper would start going to a mother's day out program a couple days a week. My dad wants a little break during the day and I don't blame him one bit. I have no problem sending Coop to 'school' but (obviously) I want to find a place that we are comfortable with.
We live about 20 minutes away from my parents' house, and we work about 30 minutes away. And, since MDO's are usually 9-2ish, we need to find a place out where my parents live, since my dad will be taking him and picking him up.
Today, we went to look at a pretty highly recommended program at a church I'm familiar with. But, I don't know, I didn't get a GREAT feeling about it for some reason. Cooper was really happy while we were there, and he was laughing with one of the women who works in the office. But the teacher we met with from his would-be classroom..I didn't love her. I want to love his teachers.
And, they have a strange thing about picking up the kids. It starts at 9:30am, and they don't open the doors until 9:25, okay, very specific, a little weird, but fine (And i'm always early so maybe it's just me thinking that's weird). THEN, it ends at 2, and if you are late, you have to pay them a fine right then and there. If you arrive between 2:05 and 2:15, you have to pay $5, and if you arrive between 2:15 and 2:30, you have to pay $10. I think that's weird, right? It makes me feel like they don't really care enough about the children to stay a few minutes or something.
Also, I filled out an enrollment form about 2 weeks ago because there were limited spots available and I wanted to have the option, and I never heard anything back from them. Well, come to find out today, they had just enrolled him and never said anything to us! The lady was like "oh, yeah, we were out all last week for Thanksgiving break". That's not a good reason to me not to let someone know you've enrolled their child.
BUT, I'm also super picky about things like that. If someone doesn't runt heir office like I think they "should" (i.e., how I would do it) then I get annoyed, which I know is ridiculous. So, maybe I'm being overly critical? I don't know. All I know is that the more I've thought about it today, the more unsure I am :(
I'm frustrated with myself for not being more proactive about this because I've known for almost a month and sort of just assumed I'd be okay with this place because it was recommended by several people, so I didn't even look at other options. We were planning on him starting in January, so I need to figure this out soon!
6 comments:
That'd hack me off too... the fine thing that is... That's lame. I mean you can't help it if traffic, etc happens.. or just life in general! I mean... I get that it could be annoying, but really... just a few minutes late?! Sheesh. Lame. Sorry you didnt get a good feeling... :(
1) I agree with you about the enrolling automatically thing. That is weird.
2) The fines are pretty normal, actually, because there are so many chronically late parents. Paying right then and there seems a bit harsh, but without a phone call, or if you are a repeat offender, you get charged $1 a minute at my school. It was about the same at P's previous school.
3)That said, I believe in trusting your gut. Visit another place and see how you feel! And you can easily change schools if it doesn't work out. Coop probably won't notice much at this young age.
Hang in there mama!
The places I have looked at -more daycare centers though also charge if you are late, but I think it starts if you are more than 10 minutes late, and I think they just tack it onto your bill- not that you have to pay right then and there.
I think it sounds iffy, but if you know other people who say great things about it...maybe its not so bad? do you have any other options?
hahahahaha i promise i'm not laughing at your early/late thing but it's pretty par for the course for daycare (erm...school). Ours opens EXACTLY on time and we have the $1/min fee for every minute of lateness. I was friends with a few of the teachers at Nate's old school and they said you wouldn't believe the parents that are chronically late and ALWAYS push it.
You get a fine for being five minutes late?!? I would get fined every single day! BG was in a home day care though that was awesome so I don't really know anything about corporate daycare. I would assume most are actually like that though... Hope you find something you're comfortable with!!
Weird that they didn't call you ... but I sort of understand the fining thing. One of my friends is a teacher and they instituted that because it was always the same parents who were between 10 and 30 minutes late. Every day. I think 5 minutes is crazy ... but I completely understand starting at 10 minutes! I hope you find someplace you are comfortable at!
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