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So I've been tinkering with my contracts after looking at things here and also after some issues over the months. I'm getting closer to a revised contract but have some concerns... mostly because it has been so hard getting new families and calls for open spots.
So say I revise the contracts... you have to have them sign them. What do you do if they refuse? If I had no problem filling spots it wouldn't be a problem but I have concerns.
I have one family that started out great. Couple was unmarried and they seemed to be doing really well. I love the child. When they started the contract they were under was for contracted hours and they weren't really following the schedule they gave me to a T but it was at least somewhat consistent. I didn't balk about it because he is really easy and I enjoy having him. They weren't necessarily walking all over me either with the hours.
Nothing out of the ordinary with him however over the last few weeks the couple separated and they are taking more advantage over my hours. Not talking to me much at all about drop off or pick up and so when he was coming at 9 most days... he is now coming at sometimes 7:30, sometimes 8:30, sometimes 10 or 11, picked up sometimes 3 or sometimes 4 or 5... I have no idea when he's coming or going unless I ask and even then... like Friday she told me his dad was supposed to have him picked up at 3. At 10 minutes till 5:00 I ended up calling her because he wasn't picked up yet and I didn't want him here till some unknown time...she had to call his dad and called be back and said she would have to come and get him because apparently he had to work late. So I'm not sure how to address this problem without ticking them off because I don't think they are getting along. Honestly I have concerns that they broke up and it got a little physical between the two of them during that because she dropped him off after they broke up with a gash under her eye. I found out about a week later that they had separated. She told me today that she's going to court for child support.
Meanwhile I just had the other child (with special needs) leave and still had an open spot prior to that. I also have two mortgages right now and I also have a vacant rental property. So I feel like I have to not tick anyone off too much right now. But how do you let things slide for awhile and then all the sudden it's not ok. I'd hate to lose this kid because he's great but I don't want it turning into a situation where my hours are till 5 he's here until 5:30 or 6 because they aren't communicating with each other or me. ****s getting thrown in the middle of their issues. I get frustrated with things and my husband always tells me to let it go because we can't afford for me to lose anyone but it's frustrating to have people taking advantage of you, knowing what your rules are.
I do think if I were to raise a stink about them not communicating with me, with everything they have going on right now they would leave. I think mostly because they don't want to have to work things out together with each other so that I'm on the right page. The easiest thing to do is walk all over me and not have to deal with each other. They have been happy here with me as far as I can tell. They have been here maybe 2 1/2-3 months. Their child seems to love it here. He gives me hugs and things when he leaves and she's told me that she appreciates me working with him teaching him preschool things but they just seem like they still aren't real invested here yet. They don't really tell me anything going on at all with their situation. It's kind of on a needs basis what they do tell me. The child seems normal and happy. I've seen a very slight difference in his temper but nothing major. She doesn't confide in me about any of this which is fine but it kind of tells me that they aren't overly invested too.
So say I revise the contracts... you have to have them sign them. What do you do if they refuse? If I had no problem filling spots it wouldn't be a problem but I have concerns.
I have one family that started out great. Couple was unmarried and they seemed to be doing really well. I love the child. When they started the contract they were under was for contracted hours and they weren't really following the schedule they gave me to a T but it was at least somewhat consistent. I didn't balk about it because he is really easy and I enjoy having him. They weren't necessarily walking all over me either with the hours.
Nothing out of the ordinary with him however over the last few weeks the couple separated and they are taking more advantage over my hours. Not talking to me much at all about drop off or pick up and so when he was coming at 9 most days... he is now coming at sometimes 7:30, sometimes 8:30, sometimes 10 or 11, picked up sometimes 3 or sometimes 4 or 5... I have no idea when he's coming or going unless I ask and even then... like Friday she told me his dad was supposed to have him picked up at 3. At 10 minutes till 5:00 I ended up calling her because he wasn't picked up yet and I didn't want him here till some unknown time...she had to call his dad and called be back and said she would have to come and get him because apparently he had to work late. So I'm not sure how to address this problem without ticking them off because I don't think they are getting along. Honestly I have concerns that they broke up and it got a little physical between the two of them during that because she dropped him off after they broke up with a gash under her eye. I found out about a week later that they had separated. She told me today that she's going to court for child support.
Meanwhile I just had the other child (with special needs) leave and still had an open spot prior to that. I also have two mortgages right now and I also have a vacant rental property. So I feel like I have to not tick anyone off too much right now. But how do you let things slide for awhile and then all the sudden it's not ok. I'd hate to lose this kid because he's great but I don't want it turning into a situation where my hours are till 5 he's here until 5:30 or 6 because they aren't communicating with each other or me. ****s getting thrown in the middle of their issues. I get frustrated with things and my husband always tells me to let it go because we can't afford for me to lose anyone but it's frustrating to have people taking advantage of you, knowing what your rules are.
I do think if I were to raise a stink about them not communicating with me, with everything they have going on right now they would leave. I think mostly because they don't want to have to work things out together with each other so that I'm on the right page. The easiest thing to do is walk all over me and not have to deal with each other. They have been happy here with me as far as I can tell. They have been here maybe 2 1/2-3 months. Their child seems to love it here. He gives me hugs and things when he leaves and she's told me that she appreciates me working with him teaching him preschool things but they just seem like they still aren't real invested here yet. They don't really tell me anything going on at all with their situation. It's kind of on a needs basis what they do tell me. The child seems normal and happy. I've seen a very slight difference in his temper but nothing major. She doesn't confide in me about any of this which is fine but it kind of tells me that they aren't overly invested too.