My Mouth Said One Thing, Brain Said Something Else

[Nickel]

So I had an interview today with someone that my husband knows through work. They got my number and they need someone starting Monday because dcd got a new job and start Monday. She only needs care 1/2 day from like 930-130 MWF and 10-12 TTR or something like that. My brain said charge them my regular weekly rate of $100. My other dck are part time and they still pay $20 day (as does my 1 full time child). So I am debating with myself in my head because they are young. He is a reservist she is going to school. And I decide to charge $100 because I really don't want another infant and would much rather an older child so if they say no I still win out. And I open my mouth and say $80/week!!!

As soon as the words are out of my mouth, I'm thinking IDIOT! Bleeding heart idiot!!! AAAAAHHHH!!!

So of course they enrolled and are starting Monday... Jeez.. Please tell me my bleeding heart will eventually not be so wimpy!!!!

[DaisyMamma]

Well, you know you said the wrong thin, so maybe next time you can do it!
It's ok, don't beat yourself up for it. Maybe it will work out good.

[DaisyMamma]

This post actually got me thinking.
I don't think I have one family that pays my full posted rate for one reason or another...family friend, friend of a friend, doesn't come everyday but has wacky schedule so I can't fill other days, etc. In fact, by giving out these discounts I'm losing 190 a week :confused:
I'm not going to do that anymore either.
I'm not going to raise anyone's rates, I don't think, because its not their fault I rated them low....

[canadiancare]

Write yourself up some fee policies and decide if you want to charge an hourly rate for these short day part-timers who still take up a spot.

If my daily rate is 35$ I would probably say 25$ a day for part-time and if you stay longer than a 5 hour day it is 35$.

If they stay with you for a certain length tell them you need to review your fees because that spot could be going to a full-time child.

[littlemissmuffet]

I only charge full-time fees regardless of schedules, HOWEVER, in this case, I would make an exception because the child will only be in your care for 16 or so hours per week. That's not bad for $80 a week. It's the parents who think their child is part-time at 6-7 hours a day that drive me nuuts expecting a discount - that's still a full day!

I would still review my fees in the new year (or whenever you usually do) and go from there.

If you find the parents are leaving the child for more and more hours, just let them know that they were quoted $80 for the hours they gave in the interview, and if they need anything more than that they are automatically being bumped to $100/week.

Good luck!

[Crazy8]

am I the only one who thinks that's not that bad??? If your full weekly rate is $100 - I'm assuming that is for 8+ hours a day/5 days a week?? And this one is only needing about 16 hours a week I think charging $80/week is more than fair. If they needed lots of full days and I gave them the $20/week discount I would be kicking myself but for such short hours I don't mind to discount my full time rate.

[Blackcat31]

The easiest way for me to decide if I should give a discounted rate or a part time rate is whether the care hours they need include lunch and/or nap time.

Those are the two most difficult and busiest times of the day so even if a kid only comes from 11 to 2, that is still smack dab in the middle of those two times so they would pay a full day rate. If they needed the same amount of hours but wanted care from 7:30-10:30, the care would be a completely different amount of work IMPO.

Bottom line is for me, anyone who needs care that included lunch or nap gets charged the full daily rate.

Nickel, you can always go back and let them know you re-evaluated the amount of care or type of care they need and will be changing their rate to match the care required.

[SilverSabre25]

Oohh, I feel your pain. I did that earlier this week on a different subject. My brain said, "oh, hells no!" and yet my mouth, "Okay, I suppose I can do that." And then I kicked myself for two days providing diapers for a child because the family was moving this weekend and "I don't know where the diapers are packed."

I think a subtitle of this forum ought to be "Supporting Daycare Providers In Growing Backbones" because that's a lot of what we help each other do.

I'm getting quicker on the "no" in my head, which will soon lead to a no coming out my mouth. I'm sure it's the same for you.

[MyAngels]

am I the only one who thinks that's not that bad??? If your full weekly rate is $100 - I'm assuming that is for 8+ hours a day/5 days a week?? And this one is only needing about 16 hours a week I think charging $80/week is more than fair. If they needed lots of full days and I gave them the $20/week discount I would be kicking myself but for such short hours I don't mind to discount my full time rate.

I agree - my full-time rate is $125 and my part-time rate (under 25 hours) is $100. I like having a lighter schedule at times so the $25/week is worth it to me. I only allow a maximum of 2 part-timers at a time, though, and most of the time I only have one.

[Crazy8]

The easiest way for me to decide if I should give a discounted rate or a part time rate is whether the care hours they need include lunch and/or nap time.

Those are the two most difficult and busiest times of the day so even if a kid only comes from 11 to 2, that is still smack dab in the middle of those two times so they would pay a full day rate. If they needed the same amount of hours but wanted care from 7:30-10:30, the care would be a completely different amount of work IMPO.

Bottom line is for me, anyone who needs care that included lunch or nap gets charged the full daily rate.

Nickel, you can always go back and let them know you re-evaluated the amount of care or type of care they need and will be changing their rate to match the care required.

And I am the opposite - I had a little girl who came 11:30-4:30 and was basically getting paid for 2 hours of awake time. I had no problem charging them less per day - 8am-noon is my crazy time when I truly feel the number of kids here!

[Sunchimes]

Years ago, my husband tried to teach me (in our old business) to always say no first. It's always easy to say later, "I've been thinking about it, and I can do that." It's always more difficult to go back and say no later.

He was a genius at it, I still struggle. One of us is a people pleaser, one of us isn't. You can figure out which is which.

[Nickel]

The easiest way for me to decide if I should give a discounted rate or a part time rate is whether the care hours they need include lunch and/or nap time.

Those are the two most difficult and busiest times of the day so even if a kid only comes from 11 to 2, that is still smack dab in the middle of those two times so they would pay a full day rate. If they needed the same amount of hours but wanted care from 7:30-10:30, the care would be a completely different amount of work IMPO.

Bottom line is for me, anyone who needs care that included lunch or nap gets charged the full daily rate.

Nickel, you can always go back and let them know you re-evaluated the amount of care or type of care they need and will be changing their rate to match the care required.

Ahh. see, that is just it. She is coming 930-130 3 days and 930-1230 the other 2. Then my afternoon dck come at 130. SOOOO I am going to get NO break. At all. None. ZERO, every single day!!! My dck usually nap about 12-1230. So I will be taking care of her and then the other infants. So I might get 5 minutes to go to the bathroom but that will be it. So she is here during a difficult time. I also have one that is here from 2-5 and she pays my full rate. So WHY on EARTH did I give them a discount? Grrr... I know it only adds up to about 16 hrs a week and if it was 8-11 I woudln't really care about the discount, but it is right over the one time I have to sit down and let myself think... Oh, well...

I gave them until Sunday to let me know since they want to start on Monday and there is always that 2 week trial period

[Blackcat31]

Ahh. see, that is just it. She is coming 930-130 3 days and 930-1230 the other 2. Then my afternoon dck come at 130. SOOOO I am going to get NO break. At all. None. ZERO, every single day!!! My dck usually nap about 12-1230. So I will be taking care of her and then the other infants. So I might get 5 minutes to go to the bathroom but that will be it. So she is here during a difficult time. I also have one that is here from 2-5 and she pays my full rate. So WHY on EARTH did I give them a discount? Grrr... I know it only adds up to about 16 hrs a week and if it was 8-11 I woudln't really care about the discount, but it is right over the one time I have to sit down and let myself think... Oh, well...

I gave them until Sunday to let me know since they want to start on Monday and there is always that 2 week trial period

That is exactly my point! It doesn't matter if a child comes for 3 or 6 hours to me, it is WHEN they need the care. If it is during a busy time, then I charge appropriately and if it is a slower time, then I would charge differently.

If I were you, I just might use that two week trial period to your advantage. If they family turns out to be a lot more work than what you're being paid, then you can address it after the trial period. Good thing you have one!

[Nickel]

That trial period has saved me from my two screamers!!! And if it doens't work out, then at least I tried. I am trying to be optomistic, but I really should have said no when she called before I even scheduled the interview. I need to find that backbone and really tell people NO. If she wasn't an infant, it would also be fine because I would still have her "nap" until dcm got here. I can still try to get her on a schedule since she is here every day.

Any pointers???

[My3cents]

Oohh, I feel your pain. I did that earlier this week on a different subject. My brain said, "oh, hells no!" and yet my mouth, "Okay, I suppose I can do that." And then I kicked myself for two days providing diapers for a child because the family was moving this weekend and "I don't know where the diapers are packed."

I think a subtitle of this forum ought to be "Supporting Daycare Providers In Growing Backbones" because that's a lot of what we help each other do.

I'm getting quicker on the "no" in my head, which will soon lead to a no coming out my mouth. I'm sure it's the same for you.

Golly Silver,

I look up to certain peeps on this board and maybe I don't always agree with everything from everyone, I still learn and see different points that I do agree with. I find the ones that have been doing this for years hold a lot of wisdom and knowledge. I have been doing this for years, in different forms, environments etc. and I am still amazed how seasoned vets of this trade still get caught up in letting the brain/heart take over before the mouth and the knowing. Anywhoooo, I like your quote and can relate to your post. I often talk the talk, but not the walk. I just keep trying to get better at it and it helps having the support here and as was told to me here, having a good hand book, policy book, rule book and contract. <-- even still I get caught up in letting my heart talk from time to time and then regretting it after. Work in progress.
best-