We are in the business of caring for people's most precious assets. Because of that deeply personal connection, the line between professional childcare director and round-the-clock concierge can get incredibly blurry.
It usually starts small. A parent texts your personal cell phone at 7:30 PM on a Tuesday to let you know their child has a slight fever and will not be in tomorrow. You reply with a quick note saying you hope they feel better. You think you are providing excellent customer service. In reality, you just taught that parent that you are always on the clock. Next week, that same parent will text you at 9:00 PM on a Saturday asking about the upcoming holiday schedule.
You absolutely must set boundaries to protect your mental health. The easiest way to fix this is by shifting all communication to a dedicated platform and enforcing strict office hours. If a parent texts your personal phone, do not reply immediately. Wait until you are back at your desk the next morning and reply through your official center email or messaging app. You can politely state that you received their message and are happy to help now that the office is open.