Should I increase DCF Fees?

[Sunchimes]

One of my dcms is getting a new job in a couple of weeks.
Currently:
Pays for a full time spot-any 5 of 6 days
Works retail, so her hours vary-I don't know until Tuesday what days I will work that week
She is a single mom, really struggling, but a good payer, good mom, good kid-she is not on any the child care program
I rarely have her more than 3 or 4 days a week because of her days off
9 1/2 hours a day when she is here
Usually 7:30 to 5, but can be 3:30 to 1 am or any other variety
Some weeks she goes to her dad's and I don't have her at all

With the new job:
She will work 4 days on 4 days off, so I will be able to plan in advance what days I'll have off
She will be working 12 hour shifts, so dcg will be here 12 1/2 to 13 hours a day, 4 days a week.
She and dcd are trying to work out a split custody thing where he has her a week and mom has her a week--Dad is not dependable (not a reflection on him-I gather the issue is work related) so it may or may not work out every time

Since I'm going from actually having her here 27-36 hours a week to 50 hours a week, I feel like I should raise her rates, at least for the weeks she is here.
I'm thinking of raising it $10 a week. Does this sound like too much? This puts me in line with the centers, but a tad over home care. But, I'm available 6 days a week, most of them aren't. And they aren't available for this many hours a day.

Would you raise rates for the weeks she is here and leave them as-is for the weeks she is with dad? That seems fair to me but wondering what others would do.

Keep in mind that I run a pretty loose ship and have a very soft heart. I honestly don't mind helping these kids out-especially if it's just $10 or $20 a month. But, I'm thinking that there may be a problem with this that I haven't thought about. I know all of you have BTDT for nearly every problem imaginable, so please offer advice on this (non) problem.

Thanks!

[momofboys]

One of my dcms is getting a new job in a couple of weeks.
Currently:
Pays for a full time spot-any 5 of 6 days
Works retail, so her hours vary-I don't know until Tuesday what days I will work that week
She is a single mom, really struggling, but a good payer, good mom, good kid-she is not on any the child care program
I rarely have her more than 3 or 4 days a week because of her days off
9 1/2 hours a day when she is here
Usually 7:30 to 5, but can be 3:30 to 1 am or any other variety
Some weeks she goes to her dad's and I don't have her at all

With the new job:
She will work 4 days on 4 days off, so I will be able to plan in advance what days I'll have off
She will be working 12 hour shifts, so dcg will be here 12 1/2 to 13 hours a day, 4 days a week.
She and dcd are trying to work out a split custody thing where he has her a week and mom has her a week--Dad is not dependable (not a reflection on him-I gather the issue is work related) so it may or may not work out every time

Since I'm going from actually having her here 27-36 hours a week to 50 hours a week, I feel like I should raise her rates, at least for the weeks she is here.
I'm thinking of raising it $10 a week. Does this sound like too much? This puts me in line with the centers, but a tad over home care. But, I'm available 6 days a week, most of them aren't. And they aren't available for this many hours a day.

Would you raise rates for the weeks she is here and leave them as-is for the weeks she is with dad? That seems fair to me but wondering what others would do.

Keep in mind that I run a pretty loose ship and have a very soft heart. I honestly don't mind helping these kids out-especially if it's just $10 or $20 a month. But, I'm thinking that there may be a problem with this that I haven't thought about. I know all of you have BTDT for nearly every problem imaginable, so please offer advice on this (non) problem.

Thanks!

I honetly think you are raising them too little. For that big of an hours increase I would expect to pay a lot more. You are talking about an increase of potentially 14-20 some add'l hours- that to me would be worth at least $50 - JMHO.

[Sunchimes]

I'd love that, but with the increase, I would be just $5 less than a center and $10 over home providers. I'm not sure if she would or could go an extra $50. I don't want to lose her but I don't want to work for peanuts either.

[MrsB]

You are totally entitled! I think 10 is on the short side too. Most centers are only open 12 hours a day. 6-6 or 6 to 630 is standard here. Most home providers wont do that long of a day. I dont!

[itlw8]

I would say no.... she was using less than her hours before but you were doing some odd times. 1 AM??? and 5 -6 days must mean weekends.

this will be better than that no more weekends no more nights but yes she should pay every week there or not.


wait 4 days on 4 off that means weekends I do not work weekends. she youd need other care for those days... or weekends are at a higher rate.

[momofboys]

I'd love that, but with the increase, I would be just $5 less than a center and $10 over home providers. I'm not sure if she would or could go an extra $50. I don't want to lose her but I don't want to work for peanuts either.

Then do something in between so you don't feel slighted. Maybe $25 or $30 - does the mom honestly think you will increase the hours that much with no extra compensation?

[Lilbutterflie]

The service that you are already providing is above and beyond what she will be able to find anywhere else. I know most centers and home daycares are only open M-F, with set hours that definitely do NOT include open until 1AM. My weekends are GOLD to me, because in this profession I get burned out very quickly. I would never be able to watch a daycare child on weekends; and I know many of us are the same way.

Are you sure you want to agree to this? Are you ever going to have more than one day off per week? And how many hours will you actually be working each day? Do you burn out easily? How does your family feel about watching this child during the time you normally would be spending with them? Those are all things to consider before agreeing to this new schedule.

If you have considered the above, and still think you can do it; you must raise your rates significantly since she is asking for both after hours care, weekend care, and more than 40 hours per week. She is going to have to pay to have that service provided to her. Don't worry about being higher than any center (they would never be able to accommodate her hours) or other home daycare providers (IF she was able to find a QUALITY one who would accommodate her; I am sure they would raise her rate significantly as well). I know that you have a helping heart, and want to be reasonable, but I believe that $50 increase per week is more than reasonable for the care and service you are about to offer.

[Cat Herder]

Keep in mind that I run a pretty loose ship and have a very soft heart. I honestly don't mind helping these kids out-especially if it's just $10 or $20 a month. But, I'm thinking that there may be a problem with this that I haven't thought about.
Thanks!

IMHO, the above is going to be a problem if this becomes a long term arrangement.

Before you decide anything ask yourself whose kids are coming first in your decision, theirs or yours.

If you are comfortable with your answer, go for it.

[Sunchimes]

I think I'm ok on all of these issues. I have another family that had 12 hour shifts until recently, and they will go back to them in April, but only 2 days a week. I have a 3rd family that I watch every other Saturday and have for more than a year. If I want to go somewhere, I throw them in the car and go--I am teaching them to be garage sale junkies. ;-) I don't have any kids at home-our baby is 42, and in fact, I have a great grandson older than dcg. And, there will be free Saturdays.

My husband is fine with it as long as I don't do Sundays. With this 4 days on/4 days off, the schedule will be something like M-Th, Tu-F, W-Sat, Th-Sun, Fri-Mon, Sat-Tue, Sun-Wed, and back to M-Th. So, I'll work 4 Saturdays in a row (and 2 of those I would be working for the other family anyway) then I won't have her for 4 Saturdays (although I still have the other family). And if the custody thing works out, I wouldn't even have her some of those days).

Truth is that this child is part of the family. We've spent more hours with her than we have with some of our grandkids. I think hubby might divorce me if I termed this child or made her mom leave us. :: I'd probably divorce myself if that happened.

The hours would basically be 12 1/2 or maybe a bit longer. My other family sometimes has to drop off at 5:45, but I'm ok with that too.

See what's happened? I was all confused about this, but after talking to you guys, I can't remember why I was confused. Ten dollars isn't enough. Thanks!

[Crazy8]

Since I'm going from actually having her here 27-36 hours a week to 50 hours a week, I feel like I should raise her rates, at least for the weeks she is here.

Thanks!

all along she's been paying for 47.5 hours (9.5 hrs x 5 days) so now she will be coming 3-4 hours more per week than what she has been paying for all along, correct?? I do think the $10/week increase is fine for that, because like you said most centers/home daycares would not accomodate her hours and schedule.

Personally I would not do ANY of what you are doing - but we are running very different programs and are at very different stages of our lives. If the schedule works for you that is all that matters.

[Sunchimes]

If I had my druthers, I wouldn't do it either. But, it's a small town and I went 4 months without getting a child. It was an emergency!! I've adjusted to it now and don't even think about it--ok, not much. I reserve the right to whine sometimes. ::

If I ever have an opening without a waiting list, I will try to start collecting normal hour families, but I don't expect that to happen any time soon. I'm planning on sending all of my babies off to kindergarten in 3 or 4 more years before I take on new ones. ::

Honestly, these hours have required us to make the babies part of the family. That in turn has put some kick into our dull old semi-retired lives. I feel better than I have in years and I felt pretty darn good before. ;-) I guess I'm made for the unusual.