Losing a family over contract

[beachgrl]

Well I gave my two drop in families notice that I would be doing ft or pt since I had a new child starting ft and another I was pretty sure was going to start and the drop in was only until enrollment got up. One family I never heard from the whole week, that was my PITA family so I was okay with that because they were the main reason for me finally getting contracts complete and so I am pretty sure they decided to find other care. I still need to get in touch with them because their child has stuff still here of course. I love how people avoid instead of just being upfront and honest. My other family had I thought decided to go ahead and do their child ft as mom brought him the next time with payment in full for this week, his ft schedule written down even though she didn't say anything to me after having gotten a bit aggravated by the change a few days before. (she had indicated by phone that she would be probably doing the ft spot but they also needed to look at the contract online, which I assumed they had once she brought payment ahead of time for the following week and did what we had talked about on the phone)

So I print out a ft contract to send home that afternoon thinking all is good, and I guess mom had only glanced at the contract online real quick and dcd hadn't seen it at all so when he looked it over he didn't like it/didn't want to do it/didnt want to feel locked in like that or whatever the actual case is. So mom calls me like 6 times on Sat to talk to me and let me know they would not be continuing care even though they like me and they know their dcb likes me and she didn't want to do that because she didn't want to have to change him around blah blah blah but dcd isn't happy and she can't do it if he isn't in agreement which I understand that but now I will be down to only the one kid ft (whose mom kinda wanted her child to be around other kids which in a week I won't have any other kids until I can manage to round up some more) .

When I finally get home on Sat to see she has called 6 times and left two messages, one of which where she goes into a little more detail about them stopping care it just totally deflated me. I was so excited to have these two ft they are the same age and so sweet and not hard kids to work with. I call her back to let her know I was sorry I was not home as I was out WORKING my 2ND JOB that I have to work to make ends meet since the day care isn't doing it right now (she seemed to indicate that she knew I was busy as it was the weekend and I was out doing stuff but really wanted to get a hold of me, etc...I was like REALLLY? I am not out enjoying myself, I am working my butt off to make this work so I can keep my daycare open but I kept that to myself other than making sure I told her I was working so I could make extra money until my enrollment picks up)

So anyway, they are going to bring dcb this week because they had already paid and so she seemed to think that if I didn't want her to bring him she could just get the money back, but I told her it was fine of course he could come this week.

Now I am doubting myself, my contract and whether this was the right thing to do. I felt so great about it last week and my new family had no problem with the contract, that dcm actually said she was happy I had that so she would know what all the expectations and procedures are for everything. She said she wished the provider her child was at before had one...ugh, I find myself wondering if I should offer the family who is stopping to continue care at ft weekly rate without the contract as I have never had a problem with them. I just wanted the kids coming ft or pt and to know that they had to pay weekly, etc...I don't know exactly what threw dcd off about the contract but I really hate to lose this family over that, especially when I have only one other kid (I had another potential I was pretty sure of who after visiting and taking all my paperwork and all home...decided to go with a family friend who offered to keep her child) I thought I could offer them to continue without a contract until the spots start to fill and just hope that they still paid during the weeks of thanksgiving, Christmas and so on when I am closed a day or two for the holidays without them dedicating the amount for those days since it is a weekly rate but I am not sure if they would even do that at this point since they really want to keep dcb as drop in.

Sorry so long, it just has me utterly down because I love having this dcb and I was really happy about having these two families with the kids being the same age, I thought all was okay and then got blindsided over the weekend. I will have dcb this week but unless I try to talk to dcm and offer some other arrangement it looks like they will be stopping care come Friday. ugh...

[awestbrook713]

They are just trying to break you. Take it from someone who has and is going through this. I haven't lost anyone yet but I will be as soon as they find alternative care, and my other family is planning to leave me this summer, she is gonna have big brother watch his sister because he needs to make some cash (meaning hes cheap and they can use him like they wanted to use me). We are disposable to the wrong people but won't be to the right people. I know it looks bleek now but get out there advertise advertise advertise, and stick with the new contract you deserve what you want. If you find new families you will have the ground work already done and they won't know anything else. People don't like change and that sounds like what happened with this family. Be strong and good luck you will get through this, I'm making it little by little so can you.

[beachgrl]

Yah, I knew there was a chance they would decide to pull dcb bc they want to be to use one day or more according to mom's schedule and I can't make it on that especially when they have the full week available to them since I am not full..so I can't really go back and say he can stay as drop in but thought of letting him stay at ft rate wo contract for a month or so because I hate to lose him a nd I hate to lose the income. I had extra money to live off and help pay bills but that is all gone and I have to be able to get p enough $ for our house payment and other bills for dec..it's just freaking me out bc I don't have any other kids right now despite advertising a lot and getting quite a few calls lately. Seems like everyone is daycare shopping and then they end up using family or friends who will do it for free or really cheaply instead.

I am so torn about it even though I know you are right, dcb is precious and love having him..just makes me sad to think of losing him after this week everytime I look at his sweet little cutie face, ugh..

[JenNJ]

They are just trying to break you. Take it from someone who has and is going through this.

We are disposable to the wrong people but won't be to the right people. I know it looks bleek now but get out there advertise advertise advertise, and stick with the new contract you deserve what you want. If you find new families you will have the ground work already done and they won't know anything else. People don't like change and that sounds like what happened with this family. Be strong and good luck you will get through this, I'm making it little by little so can you.

I disagree with this. These clients chose your daycare because drop in fit their needs. Now you are changing things on them. They NEED drop in. Not part time, not full time. Pushing a contract at them asking for that commitment is not what they signed up for. Obviously, the part/full time schedule doesn't fit their needs. They have a few options: 1) sign the contract and pay for care they may not use 2) talk to you and try to work out a special deal 3) Leave and find another provider who can accommodate drop in. That doesn't make them bad people! It means they don't want to pay for time they aren't using.

It sounds like you need their income. It sounds like they want to stay but want to be drop in. It also sounds like you can accommodate their drop in schedules right now. Why did you push the contracts now? Why not keep interviewing and fill as many spots as possible? Then when you have a full time family who wants to sign, give first right of refusal to your drop in families. This way the drop in families have the option to sign on or you move onto the waiting list. This ensures you are not without income.

While I think that every provider should work within a contract that suits their needs, sometimes the area just won't handle that kind of commitment. Right now the market is flooded with cheap, no contract providers. If you are trying to fill up in order to pay the mortgage, you may have to take what you can get or find a different job. Pushing a contract when the market is so flooded and unstable isn't a wise move if your family's needs depend on it. I wouldn't bet my home on a drop in family taking the contract. Know what I mean?

[MarinaVanessa]

Would you be willing to continue to offer them drop-in care until you find another family. You know, work out a special deal with them? Or if you're really not that bothered by the fact that they do drop-in let them be the only ones?

I do drop-in and it worls out just fine for me. It's nice to have the gaps filled by drop-in kids but not every provider likes it so they don't offer it, which I can understand.

[Crazy8]

I disagree with this. These clients chose your daycare because drop in fit their needs. Now you are changing things on them. They NEED drop in. Not part time, not full time. Pushing a contract at them asking for that commitment is not what they signed up for. Obviously, the part/full time schedule doesn't fit their needs. They have a few options: 1) sign the contract and pay for care they may not use 2) talk to you and try to work out a special deal 3) Leave and find another provider who can accommodate drop in. That doesn't make them bad people! It means they don't want to pay for time they aren't using.

It sounds like you need their income. It sounds like they want to stay but want to be drop in. It also sounds like you can accommodate their drop in schedules right now. Why did you push the contracts now? Why not keep interviewing and fill as many spots as possible? Then when you have a full time family who wants to sign, give first right of refusal to your drop in families. This way the drop in families have the option to sign on or you move onto the waiting list. This ensures you are not without income.

While I think that every provider should work within a contract that suits their needs, sometimes the area just won't handle that kind of commitment. Right now the market is flooded with cheap, no contract providers. If you are trying to fill up in order to pay the mortgage, you may have to take what you can get or find a different job. Pushing a contract when the market is so flooded and unstable isn't a wise move if your family's needs depend on it. I wouldn't bet my home on a drop in family taking the contract. Know what I mean?

I agree with Jen. I think what you are doing with making contracts, etc. is the RIGHT thing to do, but I am not surprised that your previous clients are leaving because you are changing all the rules on them. If you can't afford to start fresh with new clients for your new business contract then I would try to continue to work with them until you have more than 1 full time child.

[cheerfuldom]

I would never ever work without a contract. Thats rule number 1 for home daycares. Just hang in there and keep advertising like crazy. Keeping families that don't meet your needs is just going to create burn out and resentment. Either find a different job altogether or work towards what you actually want with your daycare.

[beachgrl]

I went ahead with changing things and doing a contrCt bc I had such issues with the one pita family that I wanted to cover my bases with some of the issues I was having, and because I had a ft starting with another potential and one who was very sure and was going to pay to hold a spot until her husbands work situation changed so that they think they can take turns keeping him since I guess they are in opposite work schedules..even this family isn't sure on that and she said she may be calling me back in a few weeks depending on what happens..so, I thought I was going to be full.

We had also discussed the changes a month ago with this particular family and it wasn't a problem then, they were fine with it so I did not expect them to have an issue with it when I made the change. Nevernind the fact that drop in is supposed to be for occasional care not someone who is using regular care each week. Yes I can accommodate the drop in days right now but I thought I was going to have a couple ft spots filled and wanted to let them know so if they needed the whole week they would have it.

I want to have the contracts due to previous drop in family issues but this family I would like to keep until I get others which I have several people wanting to start in dec/begin of Jan but sm not holding spots for anyone unless they pay to hold it.

I disagree with this. These clients chose your daycare because drop in fit their needs. Now you are changing things on them. They NEED drop in. Not part time, not full time. Pushing a contract at them asking for that commitment is not what they signed up for. Obviously, the part/full time schedule doesn't fit their needs. They have a few options: 1) sign the contract and pay for care they may not use 2) talk to you and try to work out a special deal 3) Leave and find another provider who can accommodate drop in. That doesn't make them bad people! It means they don't want to pay for time they aren't using.

It sounds like you need their income. It sounds like they want to stay but want to be drop in. It also sounds like you can accommodate their drop in schedules right now. Why did you push the contracts now? Why not keep interviewing and fill as many spots as possible? Then when you have a full time family who wants to sign, give first right of refusal to your drop in families. This way the drop in families have the option to sign on or you move onto the waiting list. This ensures you are not without income.

While I think that every provider should work within a contract that suits their needs, sometimes the area just won't handle that kind of commitment. Right now the market is flooded with cheap, no contract providers. If you are trying to fill up in order to pay the mortgage, you may have to take what you can get or find a different job. Pushing a contract when the market is so flooded and unstable isn't a wise move if your family's needs depend on it. I wouldn't bet my home on a drop in family taking the contract. Know what I mean?

[beachgrl]

I would never ever work without a contract. Thats rule number 1 for home daycares. Just hang in there and keep advertising like crazy. Keeping families that don't meet your needs is just going to create burn out and resentment. Either find a different job altogether or work towards what you actually want with your daycare.

After what I have dealt with with my first ever dcf, I totally agree on doing contracts so I wanted to have them so there is no confusion on my policies but at same time there are a lot of people doing in home care and cheap, ugh.. I don't mind if this dcf keeps coming wo a contract necessarily bc they have always done fine with payment and telling me their schedule so I am thinking hard of whether to just let them go, do the regulary weekly rate wo. Contract until I get to close to full enrollment and then they can decide to stop if they don't want to do contrCt or just letting them stay on as drop in's until I get enrollment back up? I just don't want to come across as wushu washy but they have established a good relationship as far as being respectful, paying on time, etc so they would be one I could make an exception for due to that for the time being.

I made it clear from the get go that the drop in was as long as I had space available so I jumped the gun with thinking I would be close to full and having a coup,e fall through but I didn't want to just spring it on them, I wanted to give them some notice you know?

I appreciate everyone's thoughts, I'm still wavering in the middle with this though so may talk to mom in the am about it in mote detail to seeif they would want to keep it as is wo contract until I get full since they have been good to work with..

[JenNJ]

I would never ever work without a contract. Thats rule number 1 for home daycares. Just hang in there and keep advertising like crazy. Keeping families that don't meet your needs is just going to create burn out and resentment. Either find a different job altogether or work towards what you actually want with your daycare.

I have a specific drop in contract. It states the hourly rate for drop in, late fees, how to schedule, cancellations, etc. It is still working within a contract but it is a contract that ensures that parents are paying only for scheduled time and that I am paid if they schedule with me and cancel last minute.

It isn't all or nothing with contracts. Contracts are meant to be VERY specific so you can alter them to each families needs/situation.

[awestbrook713]

That doesn't make them bad people!

Just wanted to say I never said they were bad people, just the wrong people for what she sounds like she wants down the road. If you need the income and can fill other spots with no problem while letting them be drop in go for it but you should make it clear to them that if you end up filling up and drop in is no longer feesable they may be out a spot. Just like they only sound like they need drop in care it sounds like you will need ft/pt children in your program to make it.

[mom2many]

Maybe you could talk to them and explain how and why you did the contract and let them know you don't want to lose them as clients. I have some f/t, p/t and drop in care families and it works for me. The drop in know that their spots are not guaranteed and they are ok with that. I don't ever count on that income since it does fluctuate and they are not contracted for a specific amount each week. Since your numbers are low it sounds like it might work out keeping them in that status till you fill more spots.

Good Luck!

[beachgrl]

That doesn't make them bad people!

Just wanted to say I never said they were bad people, just the wrong people for what she sounds like she wants down the road. If you need the income and can fill other spots with no problem while letting them be drop in go for it but you should make it clear to them that if you end up filling up and drop in is no longer feesable they may be out a spot. Just like they only sound like they need drop in care it sounds like you will need ft/pt children in your program to make it.

Exactly, in the case of this family they have been great to get along with and all that. Yes, I should have done a drop in contract with them from the start but I was a noob and didn't know better. I will be talking to mom because I feel like it is better to see if they want to continue as drop in while understanding that it is based only on availability if I end up full. I said that from the get go, but mom seems to remember it differently.

I feel it will be good to at least talk with her a bit more about it and maybe work up a drop in contract for them that will work for them for the time being. The family is not upset or anything, but I want them to understand that when i get close to being full they will need to think about whether they will want to pay for a ft spot or not. That is where Idk what dcm will want to do bc she is bothered by the fact that dcb is attached to me, likes me and she doesn't want to make that change or change him to another provider...but um, that is a risk you take when you do drop in care, that you won't have availability all the time and that you would have to do something else, and the fact that the child comes odd days ea week is change in itself, plus if I were to get full and they don't want to pay for a ft spot, then they would have to change providers anyway...so sounds like they want what they want and either way it may not line up to be ideal for what they want.

[wdmmom]

If your normal full time rate is $30 a day, than tell drop ins it's $45 a day. Either they'll sign the contract and save a bunch of money or they'll leave. In the future, always charge more for drop in care. If they really want full time, they'll be asking you for the contract.

[JenNJ]

If your normal full time rate is $30 a day, than tell drop ins it's $45 a day. Either they'll sign the contract and save a bunch of money or they'll leave. In the future, always charge more for drop in care. If they really want full time, they'll be asking you for the contract.

Oh yeah. I charge $6 an hour for drop in and it maxes out at $50 for a full day. Its far higher than my contracted rates.