How About Read My Stuff!!??

[Angelwings36]

So on November 1st my last newsletter went out (I do my newsletters every 3 months) and I had my holiday dates for Christmas in it. I am closed from Thursday December 20th - Wednesday December 2nd. This morning my teacher family comes in and says he would bring payment on Friday. I looked at him with a confused look on my face and said, "well tomorrow is my last day before Christmas and payment is due tomorrow. It's in my newsletter?" He looked at me totally shocked like he had no idea! WHY DO I EVEN SEND OUT THESE NOTICES!

Now I feel guilty because I know he doesn't have childcare for his two children for Thursday and Friday and I feel even worse because I had to close for 4 unexpected days last week but there is nothing I can do. My husband just found out last night that his mother's breast cancer is back and she goes in tomorrow (Wednesday) for surgery and I volunteered to help my sister in law get everything ready out at the farm for Christmas day since my mother in law won't be able to do it anymore.

Should I feel guilty over this? Mad? I am just so mixed with emotions right now. This job just pulls at too many areas of a persons life.

[Mom&Provider]

Sorry to hear about your mother in law. I hope her surgery goes well tomorrow and she can enjoy some special time with her family and will be otu and home soon. It sounds like you are making it work, which is great for everyone!

Don't feel badly, you let them know via your newsletter. Perhaps in future also give them a verbal reminder the week before any scheduled closures to cover all the bases, but this is not your fault.

We all deal with so much stress trying to make everyone else happy, but sometimes we need to look after us. I am learning this slowly too and in your case the time you need for you and your family is now...so take it and don't feel bad.

[My3cents]

I would post an extra newsletter on my bulletin board- no excuse this way-

or a reminder of dates closed.

Why drive yourself nuts worrying about parents that forget. Put it in their faces and then they can't say they didn't know. The door going out is a great place for a notice, it is in your face- you can't miss it.

Don't take on parent's issues- at some point having a life has to count. For me it counts. I do this so that I can have a better life with my family. I do have to remind myself when I start to attempt to take too much on. Being a care giver this just comes natural to me, thank goodness I have you guys here and my family to put me in my place and set my feet back down to reality-

lovethis

[melskids]

What's that saying?

lack of planning on your part, does not constitute an emergency on mine.

....or something like that....

[Willow]

I wouldn't let it ruffle your feathers one bit.

Parents not paying attention is not your fault, and if they don't have alternate care lined up that is not your problem.

[Blackcat31]

So on November 1st my last newsletter went out (I do my newsletters every 3 months) and I had my holiday dates for Christmas in it. I am closed from Thursday December 20th - Wednesday December 2nd. This morning my teacher family comes in and says he would bring payment on Friday. I looked at him with a confused look on my face and said, "well tomorrow is my last day before Christmas and payment is due tomorrow. It's in my newsletter?" He looked at me totally shocked like he had no idea! WHY DO I EVEN SEND OUT THESE NOTICES!

Now I feel guilty because I know he doesn't have childcare for his two children for Thursday and Friday and I feel even worse because I had to close for 4 unexpected days last week but there is nothing I can do. My husband just found out last night that his mother's breast cancer is back and she goes in tomorrow (Wednesday) for surgery and I volunteered to help my sister in law get everything ready out at the farm for Christmas day since my mother in law won't be able to do it anymore.

Should I feel guilty over this? Mad? I am just so mixed with emotions right now. This job just pulls at too many areas of a persons life.

Wait....YOU feel guilty that a grown man responsible for children didn't read your newsletter?

How is that even logical? Why on earth would YOU feel guilty? He is an adult is he not?

Honestly guilt on the provider's part is EXACTLY why so many providers are taken advantage of and walked on by daycare families IMHO.

NOT flaming you at all but seriously hun, you have NOTHING to feel guilty about. You did YOUR job. Don't feel badly when parents don't do theirs.

That guilt is what causes so many providers to become burnt out.

We all have our own issues/problems to deal with, don't borrow someone else's.

ENJOY your vacation time and let this family worry about their problems on their own. YOU deserve to be guilt free.....especially during vacation time!!!!!

[kitykids3]

I always assume parents just skim my newsletters, so I have them posted in the entry way. Plus I usually send home reminder notices closer to the date, because even if they do take note, everyone forgets things and reminders are nice.

However, on your part, I wouldn't worry about them needing to find alternate care. Don't feel guilty or mad. Expect parents won't read/remember everything and maybe next time, give reminders either written or verbally.

[Angelwings36]

OMG I am having a bad day. Same dcd just messages me and informs me that they can't make their payment tomorrow now. I had attached a form to the newsletter for families to fill out if they couldn't make their payment on Wednesday. I was willing to open for an hour on the 1st to collect payment instead but that meant I would be staying home instead of travelling. No one requested to pay on the 1st so I made arrangements to be gone now. Now he says he needs to pay on the 1st and I can't wait until the 3rd for payment?? What do I do?

[Blackcat31]

OMG I am having a bad day. Same dcd just messages me and informs me that they can't make their payment tomorrow now. I had attached a form to the newsletter for families to fill out if they couldn't make their payment on Wednesday. I was willing to open for an hour on the 1st to collect payment instead but that meant I would be staying home instead of travelling. No one requested to pay on the 1st so I made arrangements to be gone now. Now he says he needs to pay on the 1st and I can't wait until the 3rd for payment?? What do I do?

Do they pay by check? or cash?

I would charge him a late fee (again, not YOUR problem he didn't read the info you supplied) and ask that he leave you a post dated check or deposit the money directly into your bank account. He doesn't need you account number to do that....only your name.

Please do NOT rearrange your plans due to the ignorance and disrespect of this family! I would tell him he needs to figure it out as you already made plans and if he doesn't figure out a solution he will not have daycare services any more.

IMO, he is trying to make this your problem when it isn't. He wouldn't dream of trying to negotiate with any other place he owes money to so why is he trying to do so with you?...because he assumes you WILL make exceptions for him. Sooooo not cool!

(((Hugs))) for dealing and STAY STRONG!!!!!!

[Unregistered]

The kids are the key to parents who wont read your newsletters

Put it in your contract that parent's are expected to read your newsletters for updates as soon as they come out. Or try posting things like this on your daycare bulliten board a month in advanced as well and tell children that they get a sticker/stamp or some type of privilage (either right away or with in the week) if they can get their parents to read the whole newsletter before they leave. the kids will bug their parents until they read it and it helps get them interested in reading. I suggest only putting a few important things on your bulliten board (probably update it everyday to get the whole thing read) so parents don't dread reading for 10 minutes.

[littlemissmuffet]

OMG I am having a bad day. Same dcd just messages me and informs me that they can't make their payment tomorrow now. I had attached a form to the newsletter for families to fill out if they couldn't make their payment on Wednesday. I was willing to open for an hour on the 1st to collect payment instead but that meant I would be staying home instead of travelling. No one requested to pay on the 1st so I made arrangements to be gone now. Now he says he needs to pay on the 1st and I can't wait until the 3rd for payment?? What do I do?

Too bad. This parent was given notice about when fees were due, he needs to pay on time, or pay a daily late fee (which I hope is very high for you)!

I would never open on a holiday, let alone cancel travel plans just to get payment. This is his problem, not yours. Tell him to figure it out.

[MamaG]

OMG I am having a bad day. Same dcd just messages me and informs me that they can't make their payment tomorrow now. I had attached a form to the newsletter for families to fill out if they couldn't make their payment on Wednesday. I was willing to open for an hour on the 1st to collect payment instead but that meant I would be staying home instead of travelling. No one requested to pay on the 1st so I made arrangements to be gone now. Now he says he needs to pay on the 1st and I can't wait until the 3rd for payment?? What do I do?

Charge them your late fees! It is not your job to read them the news letter. You printed it out and gave it to them. Maybe next time they'll read the what you give them.

Personally I not only put info about being closed/payments in a news letter. I also tell them to their faces when date gets closer. I already know half the time they don't read the newsletter. But I don't think I should have to. They are supposed to adults!

[lovemykidstoo]

First of all, I'm sorry for your family troubles that you're going through right now. I pray that your MIL is okay.

I would tell him that he can post date a check. You should not have to have contact with your dcf's during your break. Also include late fee.

I sent out my holiday reminder last night. My last day is Thursday. I sent everyone an email. I flagged it so that I would get notification when they read it. This way, they can't say that they didn't get it. That's the easiest way for me to make sure they know.

[Play Care]

Ugh, I am so sorry you are dealing with this! I agree with the pp's and I would totally charge the late fee. If they are teachers they should know better then to not read what comes home!

After having a family show up at my home while I was away for vacation, I now make sure I tell the parents things at least three ways - newsletter, huge notice on the front door, verbally and I put in in the daily note home. No, I shouldn't have to, but it saves me from those situations.

[countrymom]

ok, I'm going to play the parent now. I would be angry if I had to find child care for thur. and friday. Not only did you close for 4 days for personal days but then you want to close for the next 2 days. People just can't drop everything and their jobs because you close. You have to sometimes have to realize that parents do have to go to work. And also, did you remind them last week too. When I have weird closing days then I post a note to the door too as a reminder. I know your going to say that they need back up, but you can only have so many people watch the kids, I know I've been there.