Nightmare client with toddler - So Mad

[mollylolly]

I have just had the most stressful 2.1/2 hours as a Nail Tech.

I have have been seeing this client for about 18 months now, she has coloured gel natural nail overlays. She phoned this morning to say her husband was unable to get home in time for her appointment and would she be able to bring her 2 year old daughter. I told her that due to Health and Safety, I don't allow young children, to which she said that her daughter was really good and would sit and play with her toys and it would only be this one time.

She arrives with the little girl who is fairness is a reall sweetie. My 12 year old daughter was there to entertain her, so all seemed well to begin with. Then the little girl does a poo in her nappy, so the client then asks my 12 year old daughter if she would mind changing the nappy. My daughter did do this, but the look on her face was one of disgust.

Then as I have replaced 2 tips and blended ready to apply product (she lost 2) her mobile goes off and it's a text from a friend, so then she reads it and laughts ans says would I mind if she just replied. So there I am sat like a plonker waiting for her to finish socialising on her mobile. She has by this time flicked off one of the prepared tips and says "oops that seems to have popped off", so we start again. We get through the next little while without mishap, and just when I have applied the coloured gel to one hand in readiness to pop into the lamp, she runs her hand through her hair, so that then has to be wiped off and we start again. By this time I am trying to still smile sweetly and I ask her firmly but nicely to just keep her hands on the table.

She then looks at the clock and realises that we are not finished and that her son needs to be collected from Cubs, so she asks my daughter if she would take the little girl and walk round the corner (when the cub hut is) and meet her son for her. But she then needs to text the cub leader to let him know that it will be my daughter who is collecting her son. So she makes her text call and in doing so ruins the next hand ready to go into the lamp. My daughter does this, but on the way back the little girl falls over and grazes her knees. So then we have to stop again and I clean the little girls knees for her. So now we have a distressed child and I'm nearly finished and only have the top coat to go. Then the child decides that she wants to have a look in all my drawers and get all the nail polishes off of the rack. The child is tired and distressed and is taking no notice of either me or her mother. I manage to do the top coat quickly, and am relieved that I have finished. But then she wants to carry on chatting, until in the end, I have to say to her that I think the child needs to be taken home to bed as she is clearly very tiered.

What should have taken me 1.1/2 hours turned into 2.1/2 hours.

I feel mentally exausted.

Just needed to have a real moan, but now she's gone I am beginning to calm down a bit and see the funny side ( yes I do have a sense of humour).

I now want to put a notice up to saying "DUE TO HEALTH AND SAFETY IT IS REQUESTED THAT CLIENTS DO NOT BRING CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF ?????

What age would you suggest is reasonable? I though about 7 years old as then by that age they can sit and read, colout etc. I would appreciate any comments

Sally X

 

[High Hopes]

I have had problems like this before too with people visiting me, now i have a little note on my price lists that reads

The little darlings
However much i love to see your children the treatment room is no place for them to play.

It seems to work, but then i am mobile too so i can go out to them if prefered.
xx

 

[user 30245]

Not had the pleasure of dealing with children yet but I have just come home from doing a pedicure for my first paying customer, I was feeling slightly nervous and she had a dog that needed as much attention as a child, she put the dog away which then barked so loud i couldn't hear myself speak! Total nightmare, My client eventually suggested we used a different room when it was time to polish! I think your client was very selfish, I know I would be really irritated by everything she did! I hope she apologises next time you see her or even better...leaves her children at home!

Carolanne

 

[Bagpuss]

I am glad you are seeing the funny side now...I would struggle to after that...:lol:

To be honest i am disgusted that she asked your 12 year old daughter to change her nappy...and even more disgusted that she asked your daughter to be in sole custody of her outside...what if something more serious had happend...what if she had run out onto the road...it was a huge responsibility to put on your daughter.

I know its hard when they are sat in front of you and its easier said than done....but i think a firmer word with her was needed. Thing is...being nice about it all is ok but it means she WILL think its ok to do this again.

I personally wouldn't put an age on the sign...just no children !!...if they are of a age where they don't need telling and don't need watching then they must be of an age where they can stay home.

You can get the most sensible and well behaved 9 year old and then a complete and utter nightmare 10 year old....so i wouldn't bother with ages.

 

[kylieb]

OMG!! I am lost for words for once! Think you deserve a bottle of wine!
My child is 7 and is a little rat indoors sometimes but is so good when I take him out. You may want to add 'well behaved children as any extra time will be charged for' or something like that. Or just completely ban them altogether xxx

 

[Bagpuss]

Think you deserve a bottle of wine!

Ohh yes and I think your daughter deserves a little something nice too...bless her :hug: there arnt many 12 year olds that would change a poo nappy.

 

[mollylolly]

I agree it was a huge responibility for my daughter, I will in future without a doubt say NO if she ever asks to bring the little girl again.

The funny side was the look on my daughters face (shock/horror) when she was asked to change the poopy nappy, she's a real girly girl and hates getting her hands dirty.:lol:

I personally think it was very selfish of her, as how can you be in control of a 2 year old when having nails applied, no matter how good a child is they are naturally very inquisative.

For me, if I go for any type of treatment, then its MY time without my children, where I can relax, feel pampered and have a nice chat, and I think most Mums feel the same.

Sally X

 

[mollylolly]

Ohh yes and I think your daughter deserves a little something nice too...bless her :hug: there arnt many 12 year olds that would change a poo nappy.

I've promised her a little trip to NEW LOOK at the weekend for her help. That's gonna cost me lol

 

[JessieBee]

I agree with Bagpuss, I think it was totally unreasonable and rude to ask your daughter to basically care for HER child whilst she has her nails done, and as for asking your daughter to then go and pick up her other child?! Anything could've happened, maybe your daughter should've charged her a babysitting fee lol.

 

[xAnnaBannAx]

I really know how u feel....I had a friend a few weeks back come round to have her nails done...she turns up with 2 year old boy and 4 year old girl.....and boyfriend (ok I thought...not great but maybe the boyfriends here to entertain the kids) WELL....where do I start the little girl was good throughout...the little boy had the devil in him that day...I was constantly up and down to start with cos they wanted a drink, or a biscuit..they wanted tele turning over....they wanted to watch a dvd...they wanted to draw.....my friend was up and down tending to them, changing nappies etc..... or shed be turning and twisting herself round to see what they are doing...or they would either be launching themselves at her or wanting to sit on her knee!....2 hours pass by...im still nowhere near done....my friends now talking about the kids needing tea...can i ask my boyfriend to pick chips up after work cos they need tea...so I have to stop again to faff around making phone calls to arrange chips etc....the little boy is getting more and more unruly as time goes on ....absolutely nobody is looking after him or entertaining him...he is allowed to do what he wants because mums having her nails done and stepdads too busy playing on the computer.....so the little boy had already thrown my pot pourri ALL OVER the room sometime ago....nobody has told him to pick it up.......my cd rack had been tossed over ...cds all over the floor being trampled on and cases broken....dvds pulled out the cupboard....still nobodies told him off or picked anything up.....another hour goes by....im really close to a nervous breakdown as I have also watched the little boy running round with a felt tip pen most of the day trying to draw on my lovely feature wallpaper....hes still allowed the pen even tho he keeps scribbling on my flat screen, furniture and carpet! my friend and boyfriend are now starting to take the p out of my also because im taking so long...comments such as ''what are we all having for breakfast''.......finally my boyfriend arrives home knackered from work with the chips....he dishes up and mum leaves them sat on my sofa eating...at last they are quiet for a while.....but not for long!....im nearly done....but in the mean time the little boy decides it would be fun to keep hitting and biting my boyfriend! finally im done and they all leave.....i earnt a tenner to cover the cost! for about 4 hours work! and i can honestly say i really felt like hitting the bottle because I was THAT stressed out by the whols saga....and so was my boyfriend who only had the pleasure of it for about half hour...saying that he also had the pleasure of having to help me scrub chips out of the carpet that had been trampled in everywhere...pick up all the mess, the cds, the dvds, wipe off pen marks...and strip cushion covers covered in greasey chip finger marks! phew!

NEVER NEVER NEVER AGAIN!! (I had told this person before that I cant do it with kids about....but obviously she just chose to ignore that! but next time I definately wont let her no way..ive learnt my lesson the hard way )

 

[lucyann]

OMG I would ban all kids, all ages, no exceptions. Your running a nail business not a frickin crech!

Christ, when I was 12 I wouldn't of had a clue about changing nappies!

 

[number1kitty]

Put a sign up that states due to new insurance policy rules no children are allowed on the premises, as you will be in breach of your terms. I use this and it used to work a treat in my shop or if a child is near my stuff when I am mobile. Its far easier to lay the blame at someones door so people do not think its personal. If she asks why its suddenly changed just say you had a 13 year old after a set of nails and you called your insurance provider to see if it was ok and they mentioned that no children under xx age should be allowed on the premises due to health and safety risks.

Kate

 

[Missy G]

The cheeky moo, I think she should of paid your daughter for baby sitting.

Ive faced alot of this sort of thing, unfortunatly Im mobile , so I cant really avoid these situations.

Ive had a couple of ocassions , one where I had a lady with an autistic boy, god bless him,and I hope I dont sound mean, coz I dont mean to be, but he was just screaming and shouting for the whole two hours I was doing her nails, I couldnt wait to get out of there, left with a stonking head ache

Ive also done a soak off for a lady with 3 year old and 1 year old, had to hold the bowl down for basically the whole half an hour as both kids just kept jumping on her lap all the time.

The other incedent was I applied tips to a lady and she was bursting for the loo and she couldnt hold herself, so of she popped ..and come back with half the tips trashed...and also had a constent runny nose , so had to keep wipe in it, and when your trying to do a set of Popits, it wasnt much fun. Oh and she had a good old puff in front of me, was answering her mobile, and then her hubby came in and they started having a ding dong.Thankfully she never called me back for infills, I would normally offer the appointment ,but I definatly didnt want to go back ther!

 

[*sarah*]

well I'm mobile the downside is when kids are being bad and screaming non stop and trying to pull things out my bag a full day of that n I'm about insane lol I think if I had a shop it would be a child free zone lol xx

 

[Jaffacake]

No kids under the age of 21!! lol, nightmare! Reminds me of my nightmare manicure - do a search for octopus! lol lol ( yes I can laugh 4 years later) :green:

 

[lucyann]

I really know how u feel....I had a friend a few weeks back come round to have her nails done...she turns up with 2 year old boy and 4 year old girl.....and boyfriend (ok I thought...not great but maybe the boyfriends here to entertain the kids) WELL....where do I start the little girl was good throughout...the little boy had the devil in him that day...I was constantly up and down to start with cos they wanted a drink, or a biscuit..they wanted tele turning over....they wanted to watch a dvd...they wanted to draw.....my friend was up and down tending to them, changing nappies etc..... or shed be turning and twisting herself round to see what they are doing...or they would either be launching themselves at her or wanting to sit on her knee!....2 hours pass by...im still nowhere near done....my friends now talking about the kids needing tea...can i ask my boyfriend to pick chips up after work cos they need tea...so I have to stop again to faff around making phone calls to arrange chips etc....the little boy is getting more and more unruly as time goes on ....absolutely nobody is looking after him or entertaining him...he is allowed to do what he wants because mums having her nails done and stepdads too busy playing on the computer.....so the little boy had already thrown my pot pourri ALL OVER the room sometime ago....nobody has told him to pick it up.......my cd rack had been tossed over ...cds all over the floor being trampled on and cases broken....dvds pulled out the cupboard....still nobodies told him off or picked anything up.....another hour goes by....im really close to a nervous breakdown as I have also watched the little boy running round with a felt tip pen most of the day trying to draw on my lovely feature wallpaper....hes still allowed the pen even tho he keeps scribbling on my flat screen, furniture and carpet! my friend and boyfriend are now starting to take the p out of my also because im taking so long...comments such as ''what are we all having for breakfast''.......finally my boyfriend arrives home knackered from work with the chips....he dishes up and mum leaves them sat on my sofa eating...at last they are quiet for a while.....but not for long!....im nearly done....but in the mean time the little boy decides it would be fun to keep hitting and biting my boyfriend! finally im done and they all leave.....i earnt a tenner to cover the cost! for about 4 hours work! and i can honestly say i really felt like hitting the bottle because I was THAT stressed out by the whols saga....and so was my boyfriend who only had the pleasure of it for about half hour...saying that he also had the pleasure of having to help me scrub chips out of the carpet that had been trampled in everywhere...pick up all the mess, the cds, the dvds, wipe off pen marks...and strip cushion covers covered in greasey chip finger marks! phew!

NEVER NEVER NEVER AGAIN!! (I had told this person before that I cant do it with kids about....but obviously she just chose to ignore that! but next time I definately wont let her no way..ive learnt my lesson the hard way )

I would have hit the roof if some kid was like that in my house, mates kid or not. Why couldn't the step dad look after them at home?
My friend and her daughter came round my house one afternoon, mum was so "tired" that it was me looking after her more or less, I'm not good with children, well, I haven't got a clue what to do with them tbh! As soon as she started banging my tv (boyfriends pride and joy) and wiping bannana up it, it was def time to leave.
It must be so hard for you guys when these "little angels" come along with mum :hug:

 

[SammiG]

OMG your afternoon sounded like the worst ever! Bless you and how great is your 12 yr old?!!n My 9 yr old was nearly sick when he 'offered' to change his sisters nappy last year! lol.

I have a two year old who is cared for by my husband when I do nail clients. He always takes her out or keeps her in a different part of the house if I am working from home.

I have had a client who asked if she could bring her child along as the little ones could play together while I was doing her nails!!! I had to be quite firm with her as I get peed off when clients somehow think they can get a babysitter thrown in too. It's not the first time people have asked, it has made me more firm.

Sam x

 

[curlygirl33]

I hope she left you and your daughter a tip!

 

[laura16]

I know exactly how you feel I'm mobile and when I go to do my friends nails I dont mind that her little girl is there because shes only a baby but I end up looking after her whilst her nails are drying, today though her friend was having hers done aswell and fetched her daughter who was screaming the whole time and wouldnt settle so I end up being there ages longer than I should have to be.

 

[number1kitty]

there is nothing duct tape won't fix!

I do call my kids sometimes but jesus at least I can take them places! Some people cannot look after their own kids by the sounds of it! I have 3 aged 8, 6 and 1 and no way on this earth would I take them with me to a salon. Although I have took them to my own when I was stuck a couple of times a bribery of a lot of chocolate and Maccy ds teas works a treat!