WWYD?? Need Good Advice Fast !

[Provider_Manda]

So I jump on my fb page this morning and have an email from another provider whom I have known since high school. She asked me what was wrong with one of my dcp. I told her nothing that I knew of. She said that dcm had msged her this a.m. on fb asking her if she had openings. She said yes and she told her she wanted to have an interview tonight and start care on Monday :confused: I knew nothing of this, and just seen her yesterday.

So dcm is on fb and I was so upset (I have had dcg over a year now) And asked her if she was mad at me, and what was going on. Of course she says no and nothing was going on. So I tell her I was told that she was going to switch care, and that I think she should have talked with me first.

She said its b/c I only work till 6 and she needs till 8, dcg grandma can't pick her up anymore. Then goes on to say, "If you will watch her till 8 I'll pay more.." Well how I see it, is you should have asked that question before you talked with another provider.

Im torn, I am attached to the dcg..and so is my son. I need the income since I am lossing 2 dck's in November. But I don't want to work that late on Mondays since it is one of the only days off with my husband and that is when I go to the grocery.

I really need some advice, please help me. When she asked I told her I would have to talk with my husband first. But I am lost, and do not know what to do. Im really hurt over this

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

What time do you open? If you open at 7:00AM, like a lot of providers, that is a 13 hour work day. Do you want to have someone elses child for 13 hours weekly?

[crazydaycarelady]

It is as tough decision but YOU will need to decide if the income is worth it too you. I would not be hurt that she called the other provider, it was just business since you close earlier.

[Blackcat31]

If it were me I would have issues with two things.

1) parent did not have enough courtesy and respect to talk to you BEOFORE talking to anyone else. Beyond rude in my book. Hard to continue having an honest, open relationship with someone who went behind your back and only mentioned it to you because you mentioned it first. :confused:
2) I won't ever work beyond my current working hours for ALL the money in the world. My personal time is worth more than money.

Plus, she said she wanted to start at new care on Monday? Was she planning on stiffing you the notice period/pay? So not cool.

I would let her go. I know you need t money but daycare has a weird way of working itself out in the oddest ways so don't ever let a family hold yo financially hostage!

Honestly, I would have told her to not bother coming back at all. One of my biggest pet peeves is telling someone else the problem you have with me BEFORE you tell me.

[Blackcat31]

It is as tough decision but YOU will need to decide if the income is worth it too you. I would not be hurt that she called the other provider, it was just business since you close earlier.

I wouldn't be mad that they decided to look for care that suited them, but I would be livid that they talked to someone BEFORE trying to ask, compromise or mention it to me FIRST.

I am VERY open with my parents and I tell them all that if I have issues with them, they will be the first to know and I expect the same from them.

That isn't business. That is rude.

[Provider_Manda]

I wouldn't be mad that they decided to look for care that suited them, but I would be livid that they talked to someone BEFORE trying to ask, compromise or mention it to me FIRST.

I am VERY open with my parents and I tell them all that if I have issues with them, they will be the first to know and I expect the same from them.

That isn't business. That is rude.

Yes this is how I feel. She should have asked me first, and not after she found out I knew about it. It is rude, and after I have worked with her and picked up Tuesdays (cause at first I didn't do those days) You think she would have mentioned it to me first.

I get her from 8:30 and have her some days till a little after 5 and on tuesdays till 4

[countrymom]

I think there's more to it because why would she need care right away. I would let her go. I don't work past 5pm, I think 10 hours a day is plenty.

[DaisyMamma]

It's just business, she needs later hours then what you offer.
And just as it is business, if I were you, I would do it (for the $) but only until I find a replacement
Also make sure you get paid well for the time.

[littlemissmuffet]

Goodbye, good riddance!

Start advertising like crazy to fill the three openings.

[Provider_Manda]

Im just not sure that watching a child for 12 hour's is worth any amount of money..I have to think of my own son who is 2 1/2. This isn't the first time she was going to switch care over hours. A few months back she done this to me with the same provider over tuesdays. I have church on those days and refused to work till 6. She was going to switch and hubby told her no that he liked it here. And that his brother would pick her up. Which has for months and it has worked out well.

Her hubby does not know about it this time, so Im wondering what he is going to say this time.

[Lyss]

I have one DCK that is here 12hours 4 days a week (DCM works 4 10hr shifts) and honestly I regret it now. She does pay more (on top of the full time rate she's charged) which was my reasoning behind it but lately I'm just getting really tired of having DCB that late (645) as my husband is home by then and I'd rather be spending time with him and my DD. I do love DCB and he's not a handful but it's about the time I'm missing with just my family that bothers me.

I wouldn't be upset that she was looking at other programs but I would be upset that she hadn't even consulted me about the situation she felt was a problem. instead she was just going to jump ship suddenly.

Plus if she's telling the other provider she needs care ASAP, it sounds like you wouldn't be getting a notice. Just suddenly be one kid less, which is the definition of rude IMO. Do you have a 2 week notice requirement in your contract?

[sharlan]

I would be really hurt that she talked to someone else first. Common courtesy would have dictated that she do that.

Then I would be hurt because there is only 2 days left in the week. She needed care starting on Monday. I'm sure Grandma's situation didn't change overnight, know what I mean?

Do you have a contract? If so, make her live up to that and then term.

[wahmof3]

To me by her contacting another provider before talking to you and then saying she would pay more if you kept her child is like trying to back you into a corner, make sense?

I wouldn't tolerate that- especially if she was going to leave you high and dry.

[Blackcat31]

So has your friend said that this mom is still interviewing with her tonight?

I know it is hard to make consistent income sometimes, but one of the biggest things I had to really know AND accept was that my time is so much more valuable than keeping a client that wants special. If you offer care outside of your regular hours, what are some other requests parents will want of you...kwim? I just think one thing leads to another.

I also don't think we can fault this mom for looking out for her (families) needs and doing what she needs to do. You have that same right. Look out for your family first and foremost because others aren't going to do it for you.

I know often times decisions are made in the daycare field that are income
based but really, once I started making that the bottom of my priorities, I no longer had issues with parents wanting more than what I was already offering.

In the two decades I have been doing this, I have been in the situation of being freaked out by some changes, being nervous about losing a child or filling a space or being paid on time or paid at all just like everyone else, but I look back now and see that sometimes things happen and there isn't anything I can do about it besides be positive that the situation will be ok.

It works itself out somehow. Maybe positive thinking brings posoitive things. ?

[Lyss]

I know it is hard to make consistent income sometimes, but one of the biggest things I had to really know AND accept was that my time is so much more valuable than keeping a client that wants special. If you offer care outside of your regular hours, what are some other requests parents will want of you...kwim? I just think one thing leads to another.

This is a great point. The DCM that I have that works 4 10s seemed to think for awhile that because I had made an allowance for her hours that she could get other "special" benefits (like trading days if she called in Monday she wanted to bring DCB Friday instead without paying for Friday, that's not how I do things). I quickly had to squash these requests (repeatedly until she got it) and be firm in my policies.