Finding Different Child Care

[JeepGirl6]

So I gave my new contract to the parents. I was not charging when parents would come late, but starting in January will be....I have two families that would come after my closing time( have dealt with this for 2.5 years), I close at 530, they would arrive between 5:45-6:30, sometimes later....The one family is okay with it, doesnt want to be charged extra so is picking up by 530....The other family actually posted a child care ad to find alternative child care....Sometimes I feel that parents just don't appreciate me or what I do for their children...I am open from 6:00-5:30, thats is a long day, while they work their normal 8 hour shifts....I don't understand why they have to act like this, especially doing it behind my back and not telling me they are looking for alternative child care...

One of the day care parents( we have became friends) I asked her what she thought about this...she said that since I work from home, maybe those parents that come late don't think its a big deal....

I wasnt charging when kids wouldnt come or parents called off...( some of the day care parents didnt understand why I wasnt charging, they would feel bad if they had to call off and ask if I wanted paid, I would tell them no because it wasnt in my contract)... that is another change I added, I will be charging for days they are scheduled to come and dont....When they cancel on me if effects my income and my monthly bills....

This is a kind of business where your learn as you go...I am still learning...they have to understand that....

If they go anywhere else, they are going to get charged...Im such a nice person, I hate when people are upset with me...but this is my career!!

[busymommy0420]

I don't think parents understand. I started doing full time care in March and was pretty lenient but started getting frustrated and said NO MORE. My new contracts came out and my rate was $35 a week higher for FT and $1.00 more an hour for PT. My hours are 7:30-6:00pm. I have a $25.00 replacement toy fee twice per year per enrolled child. Late fees, Late pick up fees, Paid holidays & three weeks vacation for me. I am a good provider so they are getting quality care for a competitive price. We watch one hour of t.v. a week on "Movie Day", I have a custom playground area with rubber mulch, we do arts and crafts, we go on weekly field trips, we follow a pre-school curriculum, we eat homemade meals, I post hundreds of pictures on my private facebook page for the parents to see monthly. I do daily posts about our day, I post links about important issues and ideas. I take my job very seriously and have calls all the time for daycare. I can have 8 children and am full. All my parents renewed because IMO they would have a hard time finding care that offers all the things I do that is not center based at center costs. Be firm, this is a business, not a place to make friends (with the parents).

[Heidi]

You are right to manage your hours and to expect fair pay!

Is there any reason the family cant get there by 5:30? Do they have the kind of job where leaving is inconsistent (like a bank teller who had to wait for everyone to balance, for instance)?

Regardless, you provide a service, and you set the parameters that work for you. They, as the consumer, have a right to choose you or shop elsewhere. Too bad they can't just be up front about it, though, eh?

[Solandia]

I had one of my daycare parents post an ad for childcare when I wouldn't allow to breakdown her hours (like she wanted the child to come 2hrs on Mon/Wed and only want to pay the half day rate since it was only 4hrs total instead of paying for 2 half days). Or if she was late for pickup one day, she wanted to drop off later the next.....ummm, no way.

Anyways, I laughed inside, b/c dck never went anywhere....I guess i wasnt' so unreasonable after all.

[daycare]

what I have learned is that once you do something special for someone, it then becomes expected of you. NOW you are locked in as I see it.

Parents are like children because we allow them to be. We give them something and then when we take it away, they throw a tantrum.

As hard as it may be, try your best not to take it personal. this family may truly need to have care until that time and your new rules no longer suit the families needs...

I know how hurtful it is because you bent over backwards for this family, but do your best to move on from it...Try to let it go...

Hugs to you...You will find a new family that will work with your new schedule I am sure.... CHin up and Smile

[Ariana]

Ah she's just having a temper tantrum because you set up boundaries!! She'll get over it. In the meantime I wouldn't be talking about her to your other daycare clients. You never know what might get back to her....