So So Long...

[B Lou]

Last week daycare parent has her daughter scheduled all week except Wed. due to the fact that DCG has an MRI on Wed. On Tuesday when DCG is picked up I tell mom I'll see you on Thursday. She said she forgot to tell me that due to MEA week that the MRI was cancelled and that her daughter would be here on Wed. I inform her that I didn't have room for her on Wed. but that I would see her on Thursday. She tell me that with it being MEA week that she herself didn't have school so that she was just going to leave DCG at home with her on Thursday and Friday. Told me to have a great weekend and she would see me on Monday.

On Wed. she text me and tells me that her boyfriend has decided that since she has already paid for Thursday and Friday that she has to bring her here. I tell her that Thrusday works out great but since her daughter was the only one scheduled on Friday that when she cancelled I made a appointment to tour the college my son wants to go to. She tell me that is fine that she will need to give me a 2 week notice then. I tell her to go ahead and bring her daughter I will cancel my appointment. I mean since she has already paid. Right. So everything worked out for everyone involved.

Or so I thought......today she text me to tell me that because of my crazy rules that she will need to give me her 2 week notice after all. It has caused a fight between herself and her boyfrind all week and weekend long. As she has said.

This is a parent that I feel like I bent over backwards to help. Never charging her for early drop offs or late pickups.

Now before you all start jumping on me for that. I already know. A very very good friend who also does daycare has jumped on me enough about giving in and not charging parents. It's just that in the last month and a half I've had 3 parents that have done this to me.

I truely feel like closing my doors, packing my car and just running away from life.

[Zoe]

I'm sorry you're going through this. But I'm glad that you stuck to your guns with this mom. I understand that it's tough to lose clients when you stick to your policy, but it's better this than to have stressful parents that always break your rules.

[cheerfuldom]

well this is a tough situation but it sounds like the time to revamp your policies, stick to them and continue to look for better quality families.

[Christian Mother]

Ohhh honey I am sorry you are going through this!! It's a no no win situation it seems like doesn't it? Honor their 2 wk notice and look at it this way....they've paid for the 2 wks and use those 2 wks to start interviewing for another family. At this point make sure you completely stick to your policies. Make sure there are not early pick ups or late pick ups. Get your self set for a good routine so when you interview you can set a new family to your set rules. Some parents would just prefer to call the shots.

[wdmmom]

You need to stick to the policies that work for you. After all, you are the one trapped in your house for 10+ hours per day.

What goes on between this DCM and her bf isn't your business. I would have stopped it at that. Bf doesn't have anything to do with this scenerio. You work for the DCM, not the bf.

Sorry that she gave you notice but the way I see it is that she was truthful enough to admit that she can't follow your policies. Better to have someone admit the truth than lie later on and you have to terminate.

If this is what the DCM really wants to do and it's because of the bf and the so-called fighting, so be it. She's not looking out for her daughter's best interest, so send that drama out the door.

AND...if she paid for Friday and you made yourself unavailable, credit back that days wages.

[Growing1atime]

Just remember that she isn't going to find another daycare out there that is going to let her make her own rules. She will realize how good she had it with you.