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Ladies I need your help sorting this out. This got really long, sorry! My daycare is full finally! Now I have had several issues with a family with 2 kids in care. I know a lot of this could have been avoided if I had listened to your advice on policies, pay, and a backbone from the get to, but alas…here I am.
This particular family came to me last fall with a difficult preschooler and a very active toddler – who I had a terrible time getting to nap. Both kids have adapted well now, and are both extremely active, but doing well here. They are about a 1/3 of my income and about ½ of my work! Upon admission, parents took it upon themselves to make their pick up time 30 min later than I am open (in their paperwork). I brought this up, they agreed to try to make it by pick up time. Mom was teary by about day 3 because she could see such a change in her boy, and was sorry she hadn’t made a daycare switch sooner. Parents are very friendly people and chatty. Kids are here 8.5 hours.
The offenses: First week, dad was 20 min late one day – he got a stern reminder about calling (I had to be somewhere!) but I didn’t charge them (I know 1st mistake). They’ve done well with p/u since then, until about 2 weeks ago, then lateness happening regularly and mom picking up about 2 days a week instead of dad. We had a few snowy days during this time, so I didn’t immediately bring it up (I know, 2nd mistake). Then last week, mom TELLS me she will be dropping the kids off 15 mins early the next day (3rd mistake, I was busy at the time and didn’t argue). Next day at drop off she says she plans to leave her inservice early, but may not make it by closing time because of traffic. I took this opportunity to discuss my desire to be done working at “closing” time and bring up recent lateness. She said she didn’t know there had been that much and that they really needed to discuss what they were to do. I felt like I was being given the ultimatum, agree to our later needs or we may leave – but I wasn’t willing to budge on that. This morning she shows up and says to me, they would be able to make it by closing time if she could drop off 15-30 min early on days dad has something else going on. I was silent while processing this, and she then gets huffy and says “Well, I guess you’re not willing to work with me” – of course the nice me says, “well, I’m not saying that”. I asked if these would be on the same day each week – no. I agree if asks in advance.
Obviously, this is a parent that feels she is running the show here. I am a new provider, and only provide care 4 days/week. I have been working on a new pay scale that would cater highly to part-time kids, with shorter hours. Kind of the opposite of this family. Also, the opposite of many daycares. I would ideally like to close 30 mins prior to my current closing time and in the near future, this may be my only family needing care that late. I’ve been working on a pay scale similar to Nannyde’s. With my new pay scale it would increase their fee by 12% and also make these extra chunks of time they need quite expensive. $5 per 15 minute increase per day (for both kids) if prearranged, double that if they are late unplanned.
I guess my question to you is, am I being selfish, if I don’t accommodate her extra needs in the morning? Some days I have an earlier arrival – but they pay for it! And I don’t want an earlier arrival on my later mornings, I catch up on lost sleep those days! Also, will I eventually get over the fact that this woman has put me on the spot several times now, has TOLD me when she will be arriving early, doesn’t acknowledge her lateness? If I give her a new contract explaining my new fees (which is similar to Nannyde’s but also has a payscale on the front end) which increases her cost by 12%, she will most likely leave. Even by increasing her fees, I feel it is a fair rate in the childcare market here, however, she is used to getting hear “deal rate”. I could also not raise her rates but enforce my late pickup fee and introduce my prearranged longer hours fee of $10/hour – she might go for that.
Have I created a monster that will continue to walk all over me, because I allowed her to in the beginning? How is it I am able to be so strict with my dck and I let dcp walk all over me!
This particular family came to me last fall with a difficult preschooler and a very active toddler – who I had a terrible time getting to nap. Both kids have adapted well now, and are both extremely active, but doing well here. They are about a 1/3 of my income and about ½ of my work! Upon admission, parents took it upon themselves to make their pick up time 30 min later than I am open (in their paperwork). I brought this up, they agreed to try to make it by pick up time. Mom was teary by about day 3 because she could see such a change in her boy, and was sorry she hadn’t made a daycare switch sooner. Parents are very friendly people and chatty. Kids are here 8.5 hours.
The offenses: First week, dad was 20 min late one day – he got a stern reminder about calling (I had to be somewhere!) but I didn’t charge them (I know 1st mistake). They’ve done well with p/u since then, until about 2 weeks ago, then lateness happening regularly and mom picking up about 2 days a week instead of dad. We had a few snowy days during this time, so I didn’t immediately bring it up (I know, 2nd mistake). Then last week, mom TELLS me she will be dropping the kids off 15 mins early the next day (3rd mistake, I was busy at the time and didn’t argue). Next day at drop off she says she plans to leave her inservice early, but may not make it by closing time because of traffic. I took this opportunity to discuss my desire to be done working at “closing” time and bring up recent lateness. She said she didn’t know there had been that much and that they really needed to discuss what they were to do. I felt like I was being given the ultimatum, agree to our later needs or we may leave – but I wasn’t willing to budge on that. This morning she shows up and says to me, they would be able to make it by closing time if she could drop off 15-30 min early on days dad has something else going on. I was silent while processing this, and she then gets huffy and says “Well, I guess you’re not willing to work with me” – of course the nice me says, “well, I’m not saying that”. I asked if these would be on the same day each week – no. I agree if asks in advance.
Obviously, this is a parent that feels she is running the show here. I am a new provider, and only provide care 4 days/week. I have been working on a new pay scale that would cater highly to part-time kids, with shorter hours. Kind of the opposite of this family. Also, the opposite of many daycares. I would ideally like to close 30 mins prior to my current closing time and in the near future, this may be my only family needing care that late. I’ve been working on a pay scale similar to Nannyde’s. With my new pay scale it would increase their fee by 12% and also make these extra chunks of time they need quite expensive. $5 per 15 minute increase per day (for both kids) if prearranged, double that if they are late unplanned.
I guess my question to you is, am I being selfish, if I don’t accommodate her extra needs in the morning? Some days I have an earlier arrival – but they pay for it! And I don’t want an earlier arrival on my later mornings, I catch up on lost sleep those days! Also, will I eventually get over the fact that this woman has put me on the spot several times now, has TOLD me when she will be arriving early, doesn’t acknowledge her lateness? If I give her a new contract explaining my new fees (which is similar to Nannyde’s but also has a payscale on the front end) which increases her cost by 12%, she will most likely leave. Even by increasing her fees, I feel it is a fair rate in the childcare market here, however, she is used to getting hear “deal rate”. I could also not raise her rates but enforce my late pickup fee and introduce my prearranged longer hours fee of $10/hour – she might go for that.
Have I created a monster that will continue to walk all over me, because I allowed her to in the beginning? How is it I am able to be so strict with my dck and I let dcp walk all over me!
MnMum married to DH 9 years
but you will need to pay $X extra for that day. Good luck!
That's kind of what I was thinking too.... either accommodate or send them along their way. I offer certain hours. I have had many people call and say "Oh, well I will need to pick up a bit later than 5:30 ok" Um, no. I close AT 5:30. I make no exceptions. If I really wanted a family, it is MY choice to consider if I will stay late or not. 
Now you will either need to put your foot down with them and be firm (and possibly risk losing them) or do as they ask and accept it. 
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