Would You Open For 1 Kid

[countrymom]

ok, here's the thing. dcm told me a while ago that dad was going to be layed off just before christmas (this is his under the table job) so I knew this. Today I posted on my board that everyone needs to pay me on friday because next week I'm sorta closed.

next week I'm closed monday and tuesday (we are going to great wolf lodge for christmas)so the only day I have kids is wed. but they are a brother/sister and I've had them for 6 yrs (the sister attends 5 days a week and they are a good family) I didn't tell her that. The rest of the week I have plans. No one booked me so I made plans.

so dcm asks me 3 times if I'm open next week and I tell her no, she then goes on how she doesn't have christmas holidays off (not my problem, she works for the casino, I don't take any holidays off, I don't even take vacation time off) she then goes on saying the her dh may be working a couple days next week at the bosses house. I tell her I'm still not open, like lady monday is boxing day, and tues. many people have it off because the way christmas fell, they have that day off. So she is mad. I tell her that Im not opening up for 1 kid, I'm sorry just not worth it. I tell her that jan 3 I have spots available, but she needs to book me because everyone is going back to work and I have 2 set of siblings coming. She's mad.

so this is a family who is horrible at paying me, I always have to wait. So I mention that I need to get paid on friday (they pay me every 2 weeks but since i'm closed next week and he won't be coming anymore I need my money) she then goes on how they have no money. Again, not my problem. As of jan. I know this child will not be coming, and I've known since sept. because every year its the same time, he only works seasonal, last year it took them 6 months to pay me 60 dollars.

so would you open for 1 kid. (oh I have my 4 kids home)

[cheerfuldom]

not for this family.....you will end up working another day for free because they are already behind on payment, correct?

[rbmom]

I dont think I would for this family either, wouldn't be worth it!

[Rachel]

For that family, no, but normally if it wasn't vacation time, yes.

I had a few weeks I only had one kid, and yes, I was opened just for him. If it's your stated vacation, don't open. But if it's not a stated vacation day and only one kid was coming, yes, I would stay opened.

[Meyou]

For this family no I wouldn't even consider opening. For another family maybe depending on the circumstances. I'm taking all next week off and despite a year's notice one family is confused and worried about what they will do next week with their kids. They've mentioned it 3 times this week so far and I finally had to say to mom last night that although I sympathize with her problem, her choice to work in retail (an industry that never closes) has no bearing on my business hours or my vacation.

[Kaddidle Care]

MAYBE - if they pay in full and in advance for next week on Friday. But you and I know that's not going to happen.

Enjoy your holiday.

[Crazy8]

normally I would, but in the case you mentioned nope, wouldn't do it. I only have 1 kid coming 2 days next week - it kills me because they are a new family and only come those 2 days each week, I could have had a week off (a rarity here!!). But they are good people who do have to work that week so I am just thankful I even got a few days off (took monday as holiday so tues. & fri. are just extras!!). I was shocked that little by little all my other families decided not to come next week!!

[mismatchedsocks]

Ive opened for one child. IF i am scheduled to be open and the parents NEED me. I will not open for one kid so they can go shopping. but for this family I would stick to my guns and not open.

[countrymom]

I'm normally open and i have siblings coming on wed. but everyone knew in advance that they needed to give me the schedual, she decided to tell me yesterday. First she tells me that dh is going to be laid off on friday and then tells me that she needs me next week because dh is going to be working, story is so wishy washy that it makes no sense. Also, I've seen people like this, they book me then don't show up and since I have a hard time getting money from them, the answer is no.

[Tootsie Bear]

I have a no pay/no play policy, so if they owe that would exclude them anyway, but if they were paid up and needed care and I hadn't already stated I would be closed, then yes, I would be open. Although, since she told you she wouldn't be needing care I would maybe be tempted to tell her that since she had told you that, and other parents didn't need care, you already made plans for that day!

[e.j.]

If they were normally a good family who paid on time and respected my policies, I would open for 1 child as long as it wasn't during my vacation week. (Heck, for a really good family, I might even consider opening during a vacation week as long as I didn't have anything special planned.) I wouldn't open for this family, though, based on what you've said about late payments and her attitude.

[Meeko]

It amazes me that parents even THINK they get a say in when you are open!!!! Most providers give MONTHS of notice and yet we still get whiners......