Afraid I May Be Getting Burnt Out

[awestbrook713]

I agree about the late and early drop offs I eliminated that this morning. Actually I was sent a parent handbook one of you lovely ladies wrote up and I went through and saw a lot of things I was missing or needed to fix. Needless to say I took this morning to reword, rework, and enter more policies and I actually feel pretty darn good about the end product.

Its hard for me to hand a different contract out to different people because my group of families are related or friends in some way or another, and they talk. I know as soon as I sent out the rate increase they were all talking about me behind my back because the one mom my sis works with was telling her she wasn't happy and another mom my cousin(yes I know never babysit for family) was unhappy too.

I'm ready to fix my business and make it better and if that means losing a few or all families then thats what I need to do. I have 2 good families that are respectful ok with the rate change and very little trouble so I am pretty sure they will stay as for the others oh well I am ready to let them go with out blinking an eye. I have atleast 2 kids to fill any positions that may open up and believe me I know they would be perfect fits. I was gonna wait for december to hand out the new policies and contract but honestly why not hand it out now and do a full clean house if they don't like what I have to say they can leave.

[Blackcat31]

I agree about the late and early drop offs I eliminated that this morning. Actually I was sent a parent handbook one of you lovely ladies wrote up and I went through and saw a lot of things I was missing or needed to fix. Needless to say I took this morning to reword, rework, and enter more policies and I actually feel pretty darn good about the end product.

Its hard for me to hand a different contract out to different people because my group of families are related or friends in some way or another, and they talk. I know as soon as I sent out the rate increase they were all talking about me behind my back because the one mom my sis works with was telling her she wasn't happy and another mom my cousin(yes I know never babysit for family) was unhappy too.

I'm ready to fix my business and make it better and if that means losing a few or all families then thats what I need to do. I have 2 good families that are respectful ok with the rate change and very little trouble so I am pretty sure they will stay as for the others oh well I am ready to let them go with out blinking an eye. I have atleast 2 kids to fill any positions that may open up and believe me I know they would be perfect fits. I was gonna wait for december to hand out the new policies and contract but honestly why not hand it out now and do a full clean house if they don't like what I have to say they can leave.

You are doing exactly what you need to do. Set the tone for respect from the very beginning I include a welcome letter to parents that not only welcomes them to care but also sets the tone for how I will respect them as parents and I EXPECT them to respect me in my profession. I think that alot of providers make their handbooks up and when you go back and look through them and count the number of times you say "Please..." about doing this or that, it makes it sort of read as though you are asking the parents to maybe do things this way or that way. It just feels negotiable to me when I read so many 'pleases'. kwim?

I am in no way saying to be rude but your policies/rules are your rules and policies. State them as if they are non-negotiable and parents will get the tone and understand that there is no negotiating.

I also think that it is all in your attitude. If you do not want to do early morning drop off....then don't. If you do it but don't really want to, it shows in your attitude and parents can read that kind of vibe just as easily as we read it from parents. This business is like life. It is what you are willing to put into it. If you leave your doors open for trouble, it will come.

About your comment about different reates for different families....ALL my parents have different schedules, levels of care, different relationships with me and different kids so of course everyone gets a different rate/contract/agreement whatever... If any one wants to talk about it behind your back, thne oh, well (not much you cn do about that so let it slide. But if they come to you about it simply say "I do not discuss family's situations/rates or contracts with other parents." If they outright ask you why someone's rate is different the reapeat the same thing. It really is none of their business and I would honestly be somewhat mad that they had the nerve to ask me something like that. I would personally tell them it is none of their business and stop being nosey. (But that is me.) I would also think that the main thing is whether THEY are happy with the are you provide for their child. If so, then they need to stop worrying about what goes on with others...related or not.

You are doing great and it is nice that you recognize that you need to do things a certain way. I personally, think you just need to find your voice. Stand up for what you want and need. Put yourself and your family first. Set your rules and policies and stick to them.

This is not the Lifetime Movie channel...don't buy into sob stories or personal situations that allow parents to negotiate with you. Learn to cut them off at the pass and do what YOU need to do. Say to them "Ya know Jill, I undertand you have this situation but I just don't have time to get into it now. Have a good day." Smile big and wave.

Once you really honestly stop worrying about what everyone else thinks, it gets easy. I promise.

[daycare]

You just need to tell the parents with confidence that in order for you to offer great program and services you need all families to follow your PHB. Without their cooperation, you can't run a happy successful daycare for the children.

Then tell them. I would always love to be flexible with you, but need you to communicate with me.

I have a little bck bone.

[awestbrook713]

Well I learned the other day and I am not quite sure of how this rule works and the terms but I was told charging different families different rates is illegal. I still don't know if this only applys to providers on the subsidy program or what. Anyways I in no way was trying to do anything illegal but when I first started I had a mom come to me and ask if she could pay an hourly rate instead of the daily or half day rate. I agreed since it worked in my favor some days and not on others. Any ways I have been worried sick about this I became registered so I was doing this by the book, I have terrible luck and would be one of those providers that got turned in for having too many kids.

I actually called mom today and let her know I was not going to be able to honor our agreement due to legal issues and that she will have to pay the normal rate for her daughter just like everyone else. I offered to fill out subsidy paper work for her as a way to help her if she decides she wants to stay in december if she doesn't oh well I won't have to worry about it. I am glad I did that and feel a weight lifted off of my chest.

Blackcat and daycare I did put a very strict but friendly tone on my policies and laid it all out in the last paragraph. This is it:

These policies and procedures I have included here are the rules I need to enforce to make my daycare work best for me and the families I provide care for. I understand that you may feel some of these may not be fair or to your liking, but remember I am not only caring for your children I am running a business. If I do not bring in enough revenue I will be forced to close my daycare which will affect both you and me. These policies are for you to keep and refer back to if you have any questions. If you do not find the answer to your questions please feel free to ask me. Sign the following page and return to me for me to keep on file.

oh and blackcat I need to go through it and erase a few pleases . I found one in the above paragraph and took it out and still think it sounds friendly enough and I'm not begging I am telling them.

[Blackcat31]

oh and blackcat I need to go through it and erase a few pleases . I found one in the above paragraph and took it out and still think it sounds friendly enough and I'm not begging I am telling them.

I think you worded it well. And YES!! You are telling them not asking them.

As far as rate charges go, I think it is illegal to charge families on subsidy more than what you would cahrge a cash paying family for the same services. You are allowed to cahrge families rates that equal what their needs are. For example, I have a different weekly rate for children who are not potty trained compared to kids who wear undies. I also charge families a different weekly rate according to the time they pick up, like Nannyde. Every family requires different needs and I charge accordingly. I think the legal part refers to not charging rates that have no explanation or are vastly different because you like one kid or family and not another....kwim?

None of my families pays the same because none of my families need the same things.

[awestbrook713]

Well I am going to continue to charge this mother the hourly for her daughter until january if she stays since she is only coming her for 15min-30min and she will pay $3 for me to get her off the bus. I don't think that is unfair or uncalled for at all, but I would like her to start paying what everyone else is paying since I have regretted giving her this special rate from the beginning. I thought dad wasn't helping with child care but apparently he does so wth was the problem, oh yea she was cheap and pulled a fast one on me shame on me for falling for it.

[Blackcat31]

Well I am going to continue to charge this mother the hourly for her daughter until january if she stays since she is only coming her for 15min-30min and she will pay $3 for me to get her off the bus. I don't think that is unfair or uncalled for at all, but I would like her to start paying what everyone else is paying since I have regretted giving her this special rate from the beginning. I thought dad wasn't helping with child care but apparently he does so wth was the problem, oh yea she was cheap and pulled a fast one on me shame on me for falling for it.

I used to do hourly with different hourly rates for full time vs part time. Then I switched to the same hourly rate, then I went to daily with half days and full days with full time and part time rates :confused:.....then I got hit in the head by the swing, and now do weekly tuition based on 5,4 or 3 day weeks and adjusted according to pick up time. BEST move I ever made.

[awestbrook713]

I went from hourly to half days and full days with sibling discounts, I should have just been babysitting for free at this point. I will be changing to weekly rates based on a $25 a day rate in January.

[Blackcat31]

Sounds perfect.

IMHO, I would consider adding a small amount based on pick up times. For example, if your daily rate is $25 per child, have that be for 9 hours.

If they need 9.5 hours have the rate be $26 per day and if they need 10 hours have the rate be $27.

Makes the long days alot more bearable.

[awestbrook713]

Oh I wish I could but I'm already getting enough grumbling from the one family that needs me 10 to 11 hours 4 days a week in the summer for two girls talk about long days. This is my family that drops off at 5:45 but if they decide to stay I am going to require that dad drops kids off at moms acrossed the street from me and she can bring them during my open hours she usually leaves at 630

[Blackcat31]

Oh I wish I could but I'm already getting enough grumbling from the one family that needs me 10 to 11 hours 4 days a week in the summer for two girls talk about long days. This is my family that drops off at 5:45 but if they decide to stay I am going to require that dad drops kids off at moms acrossed the street from me and she can bring them during my open hours she usually leaves at 630

So, in an essence if you changed your rate to include the longer hours, they will fix the problem themselves by dropping off later and picking up earlier to save money.....just a thought.

[Unregistered]

I agree about the late and early drop offs I eliminated that this morning. Actually I was sent a parent handbook one of you lovely ladies wrote up and I went through and saw a lot of things I was missing or needed to fix. Needless to say I took this morning to reword, rework, and enter more policies and I actually feel pretty darn good about the end product.

Its hard for me to hand a different contract out to different people because my group of families are related or friends in some way or another, and they talk. I know as soon as I sent out the rate increase they were all talking about me behind my back because the one mom my sis works with was telling her she wasn't happy and another mom my cousin(yes I know never babysit for family) was unhappy too.

I'm ready to fix my business and make it better and if that means losing a few or all families then thats what I need to do. I have 2 good families that are respectful ok with the rate change and very little trouble so I am pretty sure they will stay as for the others oh well I am ready to let them go with out blinking an eye. I have atleast 2 kids to fill any positions that may open up and believe me I know they would be perfect fits. I was gonna wait for december to hand out the new policies and contract but honestly why not hand it out now and do a full clean house if they don't like what I have to say they can leave.

you have two months till January. Start new. Perfect your handbook/policy book and be ready. Explain the last weeks of December that you will have a new PB and will need to have it signed and a charge for this. Simply explain, you use this annual registration fee for all paperwork, trainings through out the year, your time etc... Brief note home, new policies starting january 1st....even send it home the last week in Dec, or go over it in your home the last week in Dec. Take two weeks paid vacation......and all your holidays paid. You need to have a weekly anticipated income. Don't feel bad for this. Have the clients pay no matter if the child is in care or not. Sick policy..... you have one half hour to get your child if he should become sick in my care or late charges will start. This protects all the children in my care. Ask for the things you need, diapers, wipes, creams, meds, two changes of clothes appropriate for the time of the year. Send dirty clothes home and ask for new. I am sure there are more things you could put in this, but that is what I have so far........and don't feel bad or look back. Most good providers ask for these things. You deserve this too! Get it together and then be the best provider you can. Simple notification......not a month....two weeks is ample enough time for them to know.

[awestbrook713]

Yes I agree I gave them too much notice. I will not make this mistake again. I say I will give two weeks notice for policy changes and also put that I can change policies whenever needed. I do believe this last fix is thorough enough and will be going home with parents 2 weeks before the new year. They can take it or leave it. This will be my new years resolution "not to look back". Thank you everyone for the help.

[momma2girls]

cheerfuldom: that is what I want, I read about how a lot of you have such awesome dcf's and I'm jealous. I told my husband tonight I wish I could find families that were like us when we were the ones seeking child care.

I feel the same way as you do. In fact, I just said this exact same thing about 3 yrs. ago. I was struggling to find great parents, that treat you with respect, how you treat others. About 9 yrs. ago, when I had my child in daycare, I did nice things all the time for her daycare provider. I brought in treats, cookies, for Holidays, cupcakes for birthdays. I did up treat bags, for Xmas, Halloween, Valentine's Day, the daycare provider I would treat to a nice birthday and XMas gift. I appreciated her so much!! I have pretty good parents right now, all 3 of them are pretty decent. Although, one drives me nuts, about her child, and the stuff she comes up with, and thinks!! UGHH!!!!
Four years ago on XMas, I had 3 of the 4 parents, not even bother to say thank you to me at xmas, no card, no gift, no thank you for their child's XMas gift, nothing!! That upset me so much!!! The least they could have given me was a card to thank me, for their child's gift and for all the hard work I do over the yrs. and yrs. but nothing!!

[awestbrook713]

momma2girls, I'm sorry I am learning way to fast how under appreciated a daycare provider is. Like everyone keeps saying on here no matter how rude or unappreciative the parents we have to remember who we do what we do for, the kids. I guess I just need to stop feeling entitled to appreciation and then maybe with the lowered expectations I won't for so disappointed.