Rosaria Polizzi

Owner response : I have written documentation of the text messages exchanged with this parent and will be direct quoting. I was contacted by Ashley in regard to childcare on Thursday, February 8, 2018. She was in frantic need of care because her provider at that time abruptly terminated her childcare arrangement. She visited my home on Friday, February 9, 2018 and her daughter started care on Monday, February 12th. My arrangement with her was not "more than 6 months" as she stated but in fact a total of 5 weeks. In fact, on March 9, 2018, I spoke with her verbally and gave her my 2 weeks’ notice. She of course was upset and said that she can't find daycare. I literally texted her the information for a Keystone Star 4 Daycare Center near her job that actually had openings just so that she would not be left without childcare. She literally told me that I was not allowed to terminate daycare for her child because she was a subsidized parent and the CCIS Agency contract would not allow me to do so. I have worked with CCIS for many years. They have a contract with the subsidized families and a separate contract with me. The families in care also have a separate contract with me. My arrangement was difficult. She did not understand the unique set up that family daycares have and the differences between family daycare and a formal daycare setting. During her initial phone call to me I stated to her, as I do to all of my prospective families that I am a in-home daycare and that I do not have additional staff. I let her know that I have four children of my own. One who was an adult and 3 older school aged children. All families who choose my situation for their childcare must be comfortable with me transporting their children and must also be in a position to have back up care. I have two children with some health issues, and they are followed by specialists. At the time her child was in care I was driving my oldest daughter to school in the morning. She wanted to do a 7:00am drop off I let her know that the only way I could accommodate that is if she would be here before 7:10am because I needed to have time to drop her off and make it back home for the other children who began arriving at 7:30am. She agreed to this arrangement. She agreed to her child being transported in my care to school drop-offs, gymnastics practice and doctor's appointments for my children when I could accommodate taking them with me. HOWEVER, she started to become angry over it and told me that it was ridiculous that I drove my daughter to school. She stood in my house yelling at me over it. That is when I initially gave her my 2 weeks’ notice. She did not like the daycares that she visited, and I agreed to give her a little more time to find alternative care. On March 16, 2018 I messaged her after setting up an appointment for laser surgery for my daughter. I told her that I would need to do a late morning drop off because my daughter had to have laser surgery and Hershey Medical Center had just called to schedule it. She literally was upset that I couldn't take her child with me. I explained it was laser surgery and I couldn't take her child into the room. She said she would find someone else to care for her for the day. I told her I would do whatever works best for her. On March 19, 2018 she messaged me in the morning to say she would be late. I asked her if she would be much later that 7:10am because I needed to drop my daughter off to school. She obviously was not happy about that because two days later she blew up at me in front of her child and another child in care. I messaged her on Wednesday, March 21, 2018 to ask her if she was dropping off on time because it was already snowing very heavily and there was a high accumulation in the forecast. She responded saying before 7:10am. When she got here, she was angry yelling at me because she assumed that I texted her because I was taking my daughter to school and that I didn't want to be late. The schools were actually closed that day. My daughter actually did have an appoint scheduled for this day with her Pediatric Neurologist. It was an appointment that we waited months to get. Due to the weather and road conditions, I had no choice but to reschedule this appointment. It didn't mean ANYTHING to this woman. She was screaming at me in my own home. I at that point said to her I cannot work with you anymore. I told her to take her child's things and her child and to please leave my home immediately. This woman LEFT HER DAUGHTER WHO IS A TODDLER screaming in my hallway even after I asked her to take her and leave my home. I terminated care with this woman not because of her child but because of her demeanor. I am not sure why she would leave her child in my care after the exchange that she just had with me, but she did. The following are direct quotes of our text message exchanges, I did black out her child’s name: 7:20am, March 21, 2018 Me: “I actually spoke with the Director of CCIS on Monday regarding our conversation of how my child is transported to school. She assured me that I was correct in that CCIS does not get involved in those matters. However, she did inquire about who you actually spoke to so that she could take measures to make sure that the correct information was given. Since this relationship has become deteriorated to the point where you feel it is okay to be hostile and aggressive towards me, I will not be providing care for Liliana after today. I will let CCIS know should they open today. If they do not open today due to the in-climate weather than I will notify them tomorrow morning.” 7:22am, March 21, 2018 Me: “I will gather all of Liliana's things from her bin today so that they will be available upon pick up. If at any point you would feel more comfortable picking her up earlier or should your place of business close for the day to inclement weather, I would be happy to gather her items sooner.” 7:35am, March 21, 2018 Me: “Family Day Care is not for everyone. There is not back up care provided. This is something that was explained to you from the start. The distance of travel from your home to my home was explained to you from the start as well. You were also informed of the fact that transporting in my vehicle was necessary, due to the unique situation and you agreed to that. I explain this to every parent prior to them arranging a visit. I didn't say anything to you today about dropping off before 7:10am. You were just using that as a reason to be angry and hostile. I only asked if you would be on time. I have four kids coming in this morning and all four of them have a schedule change.” 7:46am, March 21, 2018 Me: “FYI, I rescheduled my daughter’s appointment.” 12:33pm, March 21, 2018 Me: “As an update, I did call CCIS this morning. As I expected their office was closed. I did leave a message for the Director at CCIS, letting them know that today is my last day providing care. She was made aware of the circumstances on Monday, so this is just an update for her. I stated that I would follow up with them in the morning. I was going to suggest that you inquire with the new Center about the possibility of finishing out the week with them. However, they, like most Centers in Lancaster are closed today. I suspect that there is a great possibility they may have a delayed start tomorrow as well.” 1:03pm, March 21, 2018 Ashley: “I do not care. Stop messaging me. Spend less time on your phone and more time with the children, it is your job.” 1:05pm, March 21, 2018 Me: It is nap time. Liliana is sleeping. She is the only left here currently. Ashley did in fact call DHS and made a claim about her child’s blue cup. I have that exchange in text as well. The claim that she made was unfounded despite what she says about it. I do have a policy in my family handbook regarding the cups and items in children’s bins/cubbies. Unfortunately, Ashley did not follow the policy in the family handbook. I am including this for review. What to Bring • Infants are required to bring 3 extra outfits, enough bottles (pre-made) formula and/or breast milk for each meal (Bottles will be sent home daily to be sanitized and disinfected to prevent illness or missing parts), diapers, wipes, and bedding (sent home on Fridays unless soiled). • Toddlers are required to bring at least 2 extra outfits, diapers or pull-ups, wipes, 2 sippy cups/water bottles for water/milk (sent home on daily), sunscreen and naptime necessities and bedding (sent home on Fridays unless soiled). • Preschool children are required to keep at least one extra outfit at the program for accidents/messy projects/play, sunblock (see below), 2 Sippy cups/water bottles for water/milk (sent home daily), and naptime bedding (sent home on Fridays unless soiled). • School aged children are required to keep one extra outfit, sunblock (see below), and a water bottle (sent home daily). ***Parents are responsible for checking child’s cubby EVERYDAY for soiled items including clothing/bedding, baby bottles, sippy cups and water bottles. Provider is not responsible for cleaning soiled items left in the child’s cubby or bag.