DCM Still Doesn't Get It

[sharlan]

I would be confused too, but that's just me.

STOP the texting. Put your new rates/schedule in writing, on paper, and hand it to her. Do it face to face so that she can question you then and there.

There is no reason for you to wait and see what her new job or schedule is going to be. You're either changing your policies to full time only, or you're going to continue PT/hourly.

[mrsp'slilpeeps]

I sent DCM a message on tuesday that was very clear about my rates.

She has not returned my message.

[My3cents]

I would be confused too, but that's just me.

STOP the texting. Put your new rates/schedule in writing, on paper, and hand it to her. Do it face to face so that she can question you then and there.

There is no reason for you to wait and see what her new job or schedule is going to be. You're either changing your policies to full time only, or you're going to continue PT/hourly.

I agree- your still offering PT. So she will come one day but not the next. Do a weekly rate. I charge $130 per week and I do not break that down to a daily rate. This $130 holds your spot for the week. Now if she only wants two days a week and your willing to do that. Offer her a set rate on those two days but if she wants more then two days the rate is higher. Make it worth your time. Also ask for a schedule the week before. Some parents have jobs that they don't know the hours until the friday before the next week, make it worth your while, because more then not you are not going to be able to find someone to fill in the off days to bring that rate up to covering your limited spots. Best-

[My3cents]

I would be confused too, but that's just me.

STOP the texting. Put your new rates/schedule in writing, on paper, and hand it to her. Do it face to face so that she can question you then and there.

There is no reason for you to wait and see what her new job or schedule is going to be. You're either changing your policies to full time only, or you're going to continue PT/hourly.

I forgot to say- stop the texting too......do this verbally and written. Completely agree with Sharlan-

[mrsp'slilpeeps]

I have not seen her for over a week. I have a rate increase letter and new contracts to sign.

I also told her that if she wants me to hold her spots in July then she needs to pay me for them.

I have been waiting for her to respond for the last 2 days.

[cheerfuldom]

No more waiting for a response. Mail her the new contract and new rate info with a deadline where she must contact you and sign new forms or forfeit her spot. I would give her until end of next week, meanwhile start interviewing for a replacement.

Stop being so nice and waiting for people. Give deadlines and effective dates on everything. Let parents know in a clear way that this is the way it will be done so if they cant compile by X date, you are no longer considering them as part of your daycare, end of story.

[mrsp'slilpeeps]

The only thing that I am asking her for, is to pay me $35 per day when her son is here, even though he is only here for an hour and a half.

NOT $10.00 a day. I want her to pay me for the spot, not hourly anymore.

I have made this clear to her twice.

[texascare]

I charge a flat weekly rate weather the child is here or not. One reason is I need to know what income I have coming in. Just because a child is not here a day or two I still have bills that have to be paid food that is bought etc. Think of it like that.

[MarinaVanessa]

Looks like it's time to call her and ask her what she wants to do. Have you given her a minimum number of days to come in order to save her spot? The way I see it is that if you're charging me by the day and I'm doing drop-in then I don't have to pay the daily rate on the days that I don't go ... this is what she's doing. She may be required to pay for the day but she is only required to pay for the days that he goes.

I would call and make it clear that the new contract needs to be signed and that you need to discuss how the arrangement is giong to work until she gets a new job and that it has to be done today. Let her know that you've been waiting for her response all week and that after today you simply can't save her spot anymore. She can either pay you a minimum number of days (like 2 or more) per week as a holding fee (you can even give her the option of letting her son go to DC for those days). If she can't come today to sign or doesn't like the terms let her know that you'll be using this weekend to start advertising for her son's spot.

[DBug]

This dcm sounds like one of mine. I call her Flaky Mom (not in front of her, of course) ::. She just did NOT understand the concept of holding a daycare spot, or the fact that I was anything OTHER than a drop-in daycare. She thought that she could come and go as she pleased, only paying when her child was actually here.

I explained in detail how my spots and rates worked, what the contract meant, etc., etc., but she just couldn't grasp it. I'm not sure why. She was a nice enough woman, friendly, enjoyed what her child was doing and learning here, and her little one was great.

I offered her a full-time spot twice (both times she said she didn't want full-time), and then filling those spots, she still didn't get it. She didn't even get it when she called on several different occasions for a drop-in spot and I didn't have room because I had filled the open spots with full-timers :confused:. Finally she moved away, so that solved that problem.

Point is, some people are trying to pull a fast one on you, and some people just don't get it! Hold your ground, and keep telling her you don't have any hourly spots available, only full days (or full weeks or whatever you prefer). Eventually she'll either go elsewhere or pay for full days.