Kid Told Me He Is Going To See His New Daycare...

[Texasjeepgirl]

I know what you mean. I don't remember when it was, but at some point I was at my first aid class and we were talking on the break. This one lady talked about how she charged a "tuition". One set price, no deductions for days missed - whether it was for their sickness, vacation, etc., or mine. Paid holidays, paid days off, etc. I swear doves flew out from somewhere behind me, the wind blew my hair, and angels sang a beautiful "ahhhhhhhh". It changed everything for me. I remember thinking, "we can do that???". LOL.

I love it...
And.. Yes... 'we' CAN do that.
I had a situation almost 2 years ago... I had not one...but two clients leave ... without notice.. because of my upcoming PAID VACATION... that would be the PAID vacation that I had given all clients 6 months WRITTEN ADVANCE NOTICE OF... reminders posted on the bulletin board.. emails sent...ETC... ETC... ETC..
It was actually the 2 sisters that I've mentioned in other posts.. 4 kids all total...
Long story short.. THEIR FATHER... grandfather to the children.. Had the NERVE TO handwrite.. and MAIL ME a letter .. telling me that he had been in business for himself for many years... and that he COULD NOT BELIEVE that I had the nerve to expect to be paid for my 1 week of vacation time.
NORMALLY I would have disregarded this letter.. but... I went ahead and replied. I basically told him that
~A~ I didn't feel that his lawn mowing business was comparable to the care I had provided for his 4 grandchildren in my daycare for almost 2 years.
And ~B~
Frankly SIR.. it really does NOT MATTER if you AGREE OR DISAGREE with my PAID VACATION policy. Both of your daughters were MY CLIENTS... They were each provided with a PARENT HANDBOOK.. which they both read.. and signed that they UNDERSTOOD AND AGREED TO ALL POLICIES.. 3 full months before the new handbook took effect..
AND they were both provided with WRITTEN NOTIFICATION of my 1 week of vacation.. 6 months in advance.. with FREQUENT WRITTEN AND POSTED reminders..I also offered to all of my clients that they could add a small amount to their weekly tuition.. in order to PAY OUT the week I would be closed for vacation.. so that it wasn't a FINANCIAL BURDEN all at once.. to have to pay ME.. and an alternate caregiver all at the same time... The fact that they waited until a few weeks before the vacation to get upset/unhappy.. and remove all 4 of their children from my daycare.. with basically NO NOTICE.. was THEIR DECISION...

I've been telling my dear DAYCARE FRIEND for many YEARS.. THIS daycare is YOUR DAYCARE... if you choose to be open half days... close at 3 p.m.. .. WHATEVER... that is UP TO YOU.. and how you run your business...YOU MAKE THE RULES... IF YOU CAN FIND CLIENTS THAT like you.. like your care.. like your set up.. well enough to agree to your policies... then DO IT...

[Christian Mother]

Still don't have an official notice but was told by one of the parents last night they would get it to me in less than 2 weeks. I am advertising. What if I can fill the spot before they want to be done with daycare here?

Also was told that the parents need me to review the school evaluation/report card of the child because they disagree with the responses from the teachers and since I spend the most time with little "Clark" they want me to write up my own assessment in response to the school one. I have no official training in that area. Do I really have to do this? I don't want to, I'm uncomfortable doing it and want to know what you all would say/do? This is also the family that begged me to homeschool their child. I did not have any interest in doing that and told them I couldn't devote my time to the other kids if I was homeschooling their boy.

????

Def. advertise and set up appts. If you have a serious family who wants the spot and has paid all fees and last 2 wks upfront take them. Just make sure that you uphold to your agreement and give them a 2 wks notice. I am not sure if your just able to go ahead and start the newbie or if you would need to give both 2 wks to start and to term.

As far as the family that wants you to comment on the teachers evaluation and findings. There the experts not you. You are paid to care for their child and nothing further then that. Tell them the truth...it makes you feel very uncomfortable to be put into that sort of situation. I would be curious to learn what the teachers say though...heheh

[Unregistered]

Got the notice today

Got the notice this a.m. A nice letter telling me how wonderful I am and how much I have taught the kid and how greatly I will be missed and what a hard decision it was.

Thank you all for listening. I have not filled the spot yet but cannot worry about it right now. Too much other stuff going on. So glad this is (almost) over.

[nannyde]

Got the notice this a.m. A nice letter telling me how wonderful I am and how much I have taught the kid and how greatly I will be missed and what a hard decision it was.

Thank you all for listening. I have not filled the spot yet but cannot worry about it right now. Too much other stuff going on. So glad this is (almost) over.

You wouldn't happen to have some paid time off coming at the end of December would you?

[Unregistered]

Sure do NannyDe

You wouldn't happen to have some paid time off coming at the end of December would you?

Why, yes, as a matter of fact I do! (have some paid time off) ;-)

[nannyde]

Why, yes, as a matter of fact I do! (have some paid time off) ;-)

Very typical reason to switch at this time of year. They either don't want to pay the paid time off or they haven't planned for it and made arrangements.

I had this happen to me ALOT in the first couple of years I did day care... people leaving right before paid time off. That's when I switched my agreement to a months notice, only to be given on a working Friday, and ACCRUED paid vacation time. If I had a client leave today they would owe me a four pay days plus eight paid days off.

When I made it so that they agreed to pay the vacation time I had earned it completely STOPPED me getting notice in December and May when I take my breaks.

It was one of my better decisions to ultimately retain clients for longer times. When they leave my house it has to be planned and unless they leave right after I have taken my paid time off... they have to come up with some serious cash to fulfill the contract.

[MarinaVanessa]

Very typical reason to switch at this time of year. They either don't want to pay the paid time off or they haven't planned for it and made arrangements.

Yep, agreed. I had this happen a lot also until I changed the contract to say very similar to what Nan's policy is. I only require a 2 week's notice but it must be given on Fridays and cannot be given on a day that the DC is closed like on a holiday or vacation.

The final 2 weeks do not count during time that I am on vacation so If I am given notice a week before I go on vacation the 1st week of their final 2 weeks is that week before I go on vacation but then the 2nd week doesn't begin until after I have come back from vacation.

Also my vacation is paid regardless of whether they are leaving or not so if I have not taken my vacation yet in that calendar year then they must pay me for it if they give notice to withdraw. It's amazing how it has completely lowered my turnover rate.

[Unregistered]

It's over!

Got the notice this a.m. A nice letter telling me how wonderful I am and how much I have taught the kid and how greatly I will be missed and what a hard decision it was.

Thank you all for listening. I have not filled the spot yet but cannot worry about it right now. Too much other stuff going on. So glad this is (almost) over.

TGIF and thank God it's over! I don't think I've seen the last of this bizarre family but at least I won't see them on a daily basis. It's done. I got the real reason they are leaving as well. They don't like their child to be disciplined. Not in any way, shape or form. They disagree with every form of discipline possible and don't think it's fair to their little one. Little one should be able to decide everything. Good luck with that. I'll be reading about them in the paper some day I'm sure.

They told me they'd be back as they had gifts for me. I don't want gifts. I don't want to see them again. They want to come over to get their tax papers. I send them certified. They begged me not to send them as they want to come over and pick them up. NOT HAPPENING!!!!
Thanks to all of you for getting me through this.
I hope this is my last post about them.

[Zoe]

I'm glad it's over for you and that you were able to finally find the reason for them terming. You're better off without a family who thinks little precious should dictate the rules of YOUR house. Good riddance.

[sharlan]

I would print off their tax info and hand it to them at pick up TODAY. Then they would have no reason to ever return.

I have no idea where they will be able to place little Johnny where there is zero discipline, unless it's at home.

[greenhouse]

That's crazy that they want to have a visit while picking up tax forms after all that! It sounds like they just want you to think of them in good terms so they can feel okay with themselves. You are well within your rights to refuse politely. End of drama and start of better things. GL

[Michael]

TGIF and thank God it's over! I don't think I've seen the last of this bizarre family but at least I won't see them on a daily basis. It's done. I got the real reason they are leaving as well. They don't like their child to be disciplined. Not in any way, shape or form. They disagree with every form of discipline possible and don't think it's fair to their little one. Little one should be able to decide everything. Good luck with that. I'll be reading about them in the paper some day I'm sure.

They told me they'd be back as they had gifts for me. I don't want gifts. I don't want to see them again. They want to come over to get their tax papers. I send them certified. They begged me not to send them as they want to come over and pick them up. NOT HAPPENING!!!!
Thanks to all of you for getting me through this.
I hope this is my last post about them.

Hmmm, this is a popular thread. Are you a member? If not, register. There are a lot more forum perks if you do.

[Unregistered]

....they're baaaacccckkk....

The dcd called last night (I just got done work and had closed my curtains) so I let it go to voice mail. He left a message saying he was going to pick up dck from new daycare and stop over with gifts! I didn't answer when they came to the door and never responded to his voice mail. I know the real reason he wants to bring gifts. It's to "kiss up" to put it politely. He is going wanting my family to testify against his ex for alleged child abuse....there is none. He is trying to get full custody and is grasping at straws to come up with anything to use against this lady. There is nothing. Craziness does not constitute abuse (in this case ). He had asked me if I had any notes on anything from the past however many years the kid was in care, just in case. I know how he works as his kid was in my care for quite some time.

So, what now? I know he'll come back. Do I accept? I am not letting him in my house. Sorry, to vent about this but it is really bothering me. This is not what I want to worry about as I start my few days off.

[Unregistered]

I can't stay away from you all. I need to get thicker skin. You all can help me do that...you helped me get my backbone a little stronger so you can help me with the skin.

I should've taken some of my schooling advice and used it when starting daycare....don't let yourself get so attached to your clients...it is hard though when daycare consumes every part of your life and the children are with you 40-60 hours a week and many times (in my own experience) are with you more than their own parents. Business does become personal.

Update: I had to keep pushing dcp for what is going on. Last night I got that they start new place (home daycare) on the 12th. They will get me my payment and proper notice on the 28th (but they are taking off that day and want to use one of their vacation days that day (that they asked for a while ago). DCD says don't worry, we'll still come to visit you regularly.???WTH???? DCM posts on fb this a.m. that she is re-evaluating things in her life like what and who she wants in it and making some changes. Uh, ok. Thanks. I wanted to reply "so have your kids make them for you?) but restrained myself. So, can I advertise on facebook? Even though I don't have an official notice letter from these people? Still haven't heard from the mom.

Then DCD says I hope you have kept notes on the past several years because I will be calling you to court against DCM. What???


So, would you put something out on fb that you have some spots to fill seeing as I don't have the official notice yet?

Sorry I got derailed and depressed about all of this. Thank you for the constructive criticism and polite suggestions.

Yes, I would start advertising.

I would also be letting DCD know to NOT drag me into their drama unless the welfare of the child is at stake. I think though that if there were concerns, you would be aware of them. So.. tell DCD to keep you out of their little drama fest. (Unless of course it is found that you do have something to offer.. but for now? They need to keep their crap to themselves)

UGH. Good luck with your search.

[wdmmom]

Nope. I wouldn't answer the phone or the door. All services are completed and final.

No more favors...no more freebies.