FRUSTRATED with DCM!

[wdmmom]

So I spoke to the dcm today and informed her that I would be raising her rate by $50.00/month over the next 5 months to match my regular full time rate of $650.00. I told her that due to personal choice I would be down scaling my daycare to cut down on my workload and daily stress. She was irate! First she said she couldn’t afford $650.00/month and that she would be looking for another daycare for her son. Then she told me she would just have to see how it goes. When I asked her for a straight answer, she responded with could I have some time to think about it? I said yes you can have until tomorrow and then I need to know because I will be giving notice to a number of families tomorrow and I don’t want to give notice to an extra one if you will be leaving as well as I will be out that space. She was completely pissed! Said I was giving her no time to make a decision. I really think she just wants to soak me for the lower rate until it reaches a certain dollar sign and then switch her son then! She won’t be able to find daycare that is cheaper than $650.00/month in our area, it’s unheard of right now! I’m so frustrated. I will find out in 10 minutes what is going on.

$50 a month isn't squat really and to be honest, I would have told her she has 4 months to figure it out since it's such a gradual change. ::::::

[Angelwings36]

Well dcm gave me notice. She said she is going to either try to find a cheaper daycare within a month or that she will just quit her job and go on welfare! :confused:

[nannyde]

Well dcm gave me notice. She said she is going to either try to find a cheaper daycare within a month or that she will just quit her job and go on welfare! :confused:

Excellent

Now make her stick to the one month. Once she looks and can't find it she will stay with you because each month you are still cheaper than the others.

Doing the increase over five months is most likely going to cause you problems with her. It's five opportunities to protest. You have just received her first round. Have it be her ONLY round.

[Meyou]

You should start looking immediately then. What is your termination policy? Do you require written notice? If you do then I would give HER written notice for two weeks. I suspect she's just trying to draw you out to change your mind. Don't fall for it!!

[sharlan]

Well dcm gave me notice. She said she is going to either try to find a cheaper daycare within a month or that she will just quit her job and go on welfare! :confused:

That is not your problem. Maybe going on welfare and being forced to deal with her son's issues will be good for them.

[Unregistered]

Excellent

Now make her stick to the one month. Once she looks and can't find it she will stay with you because each month you are still cheaper than the others.

Doing the increase over five months is most likely going to cause you problems with her. It's five opportunities to protest. You have just received her first round. Have it be her ONLY round.

Leave no wiggle room. Two weeks would have been enough time. Your just asking for her to argue and negotiate. I would have only told her of her situation. she is not looking out for your best interest only her own.........so who is going to do that, has to be you two weeks you would have been making what your worth, and know if you had to find someone to replace or it was going to work out for both of you.

I wouldn't even feel bad over her throwing it your face that she would have to go on welfare either. My answer would have been, well thats a choice we all have to make for ourselves.

UGH!!! I would talk to her and say your not comfortable with five months, and that as of this day, she has two weeks to decide if she is staying or going and that in two weeks the rate will be increasing to what everyone else is paying, your regular rate. You can't run a business on discounts. You have nothing to lose, except a thorn bringing you down.....gee wiz Have a solid contract for the future, handbook and policies

[Angelwings36]

I am not going to take on her stress. However, I fear for the dcb. Mom is going to look for the cheapest daycare she can. In my area 'cheap' daycares are either running over their limit to make up for the lost income or they are plain crap daycares. I fear that her son is going to be abused because of his disability or he is going to be bounced from daycare to daycare. I wish I could do more on my end, but I helped as much as I could already! It still hurts my heart though!

[Angelwings36]

As per contract we both are entitled to give a one month's written notice, so two weeks isn't an option.

[wdmmom]

I am not going to take on her stress. However, I fear for the dcb. Mom is going to look for the cheapest daycare she can. In my area 'cheap' daycares are either running over their limit to make up for the lost income or they are plain crap daycares. I fear that her son is going to be abused because of his disability or he is going to be bounced from daycare to daycare. I wish I could do more on my end, but I helped as much as I could already! It still hurts my heart though!

Just remember this:

Some parents will give up their usual coffee and newspaper in the morning and their extravagant lunch with business partners to accommodate a more expensive daycare.

Others won't give up a thing and put their kids in care that has an amount they want to pay.

No one wants to pay a high cost for daycare. Other parents don't care about the cost as long as their child is properly cared for.

You can clearly see her decision.

SAD!

[Angelwings36]

Just remember this:

Some parents will give up their usual coffee and newspaper in the morning and their extravagant lunch with business partners to accommodate a more expensive daycare.

Others won't give up a thing and put their kids in care that has an amount they want to pay.

No one wants to pay a high cost for daycare. Other parents don't care about the cost as long as their child is properly cared for.

You can clearly see her decision.

SAD!

You know that's what I was thinking about this morning before she came. Every single morning she goes to either Tim Hortons or McDonald's for coffee and breakfast before work. If she cut that out that would save her a pile of money every month. I know she is not looking out for the best interest of her son, that is VERY clear to me now, I just feel for him so much as I love him as my own and it's hard to walk away from this situation without tears.

[Blackcat31]

You know that's what I was thinking about this morning before she came. Every single morning she goes to either Tim Hortons or McDonald's for coffee and breakfast before work. If she cut that out that would save her a pile of money every month. I know she is not looking out for the best interest of her son, that is VERY clear to me now, I just feel for him so much as I love him as my own and it's hard to walk away from this situation without tears.

Yes, there is a major difference between "being poor" and making "poor choices".

[laundrymom]

Yes, there is a major difference between "being poor" and making "poor choices".

yep,.. just intrview,.. interview, interview,.. pick the best family for you,.. let her live with HER choices. You didnt do this to her, to him, to anyone,... YOU are taking care of YOUR FAMILY. which is what you should do. You are not responsible for her lifestyle choices any more than if she wears hoops or post in her ears on saturday night. =-) YOU DID GOOD!!!

[Hunni Bee]

So you would of charged her a HIGHER rate of what you charge if you knew her Son was special needs that is discrimanation.

Actually, its not. Usually, rates are assigned at the group care level, meaning that the child is able to be cared for as part of the group and needs little special, one-to-one care that the other children don't receive. If the special needs child needs special one-on-one care and the schedule/activities/space/food/whatever to be altered for them at the provider's and/or the group's expense, then it would logical to charge more money to compensate for that. Plus, in some areas having a special needs child in the group brings the ratio down...which means the provider has to either take in fewer kids or pay an assistant. More $$.

And look at this way. This family is paying LESS than 2/3 of what the other families pay (am I right?) for way MORE one-to-one and MORE special.

And I'm just looking at it from a financial standpoint.

[Unregistered]

As per contract we both are entitled to give a one month's written notice, so two weeks isn't an option.

I would change this right now to two weeks. Two weeks in ample enough time for notice. I couldn't be in the lurk for a month to decide. In this case two weeks is enough time for her to get it together and let you know what she is doing so that you can move forward also. I wouldn't want to deal with this parent for any longer then that. Good luck and glad that you have a contract going with your parents. I guess I was under the impression that you did not have one for your parents.

[Angelwings36]

I would change this right now to two weeks. Two weeks in ample enough time for notice. I couldn't be in the lurk for a month to decide. In this case two weeks is enough time for her to get it together and let you know what she is doing so that you can move forward also. I wouldn't want to deal with this parent for any longer then that. Good luck and glad that you have a contract going with your parents. I guess I was under the impression that you did not have one for your parents.

In the area that I live one month's notice is standard. I actually hadn't even heard of two weeks notice until I found this site and found out what people in the states were doing.