All I Can Say Is DID THIS REALLY HAPPEN?

[Texasjeepgirl]

This is going to be LONG...
Oh wait..
If you ever read any post from me... THEY ARE ALL LONG..

Almost 3 years ago.. in April...
I lost 2 clients...
Sisters..

Sister 1 had 2 children... had been in my daycare for 2 years.
single mom.. on assistance.. originally a student...then graduated and was a working mom

Sister 2 had 2 children.. she enrolled her children about 6 months after sister 1.... she started out self pay...but later was on assistance.

Story...

In October of 2009 I gave all clients notification that I was revising my PARENT HANDBOOK for 2010...would provide them with a printed copy within the month...
November of 2009... provided each of my clients new PARENT HANDBOOK...
The main revision was.. I began charging for 2 weeks of vacation per year.
Basically tuition is due 52 weeks per year.
I gave each client a written letter that said please read new handbook completely... either sign CONTRACT by end of year... or give written notice that you will leave daycare... (if they couldn't/wouldn't agree to new policies)
This gave all of them about 45 days till end of year.. with plan to implement new handbook beginning Jan 1.
I made it very clear in writing and verbally that any client on assistance would be responsible for paying vacation ... as the assistance program DOES NOT PAY...
These two moms both said they understood...agreeed...and would stay.. and pay when necessary...

January 1 of 2010... I give all clients written notification of vacation date...
April 12-16... OVER 4 months notice...
I state that anyone.. assistance or self pay clients.. can pay it out ahead of time if desired... to avoid financial burden...
Over the months I send out several reminders.. posted on bulletin board.. emails... etc...
and several times these sisters make comments that they DO want to pay out the vacation week..
remember they each have 2 kids.. so.. $$$
Fast forward to 2 weeks before vacation.. neither of them has ever paid it out...
The first sister ...who had been with my daycare longer...
arrives to pay monthly parent fee for assistance program..
she asks how much will she owe for that upcoming vacation week..
I tell her..
she says.. that will be a check from my dad...
I just say.. oh....ok...
in other words.. I'll get the money from my daddy... because I never took care of it myself..
Well.. allot more details but basically.. her dad told her no..
she flipped out... and.. she took her kids out of my daycare because..
she is a single mom.. and no way can she afford to pay me out of her pocket...
wow.. really...?
It was an ugly mess...she left with NO notice... end balance on her ledger...
$580... for the two kids together..

Meanwhile.. I point blank ask the other sister..
now what is your plan?
She stood right in front of me.. told me that just because her sister did that... she would not..
she had full intention of paying.. although she had not done so ahead of time...she would take children to alternate care for the vacation week... and return after.. she said she was PROUD for her kids to be in my daycare... that she did not want to leave...
However... she had not made financial arrangements to get it paid before.. so she assured me she would have full payment Monday after vacation..


Yeah.. you see where this is going..
Monday arrives... no kids..
Tuesday..
Finally on Wednesday I text her... Kids? sick?
She texts back.. Oh.. I was going to call you..
I decided to enroll at the other place... later closing time is better for my job..
she left owing $608..

On top of all that.. the dad of these two grown sisters and I end up exchanging several ugly letters about whether or not I should be charging for vacation...etc..
The whole thing was just a mess...
The two sisters sent some very ugly texts...we also had ugly phone conversations... it was really a terrible mess...all because they agreed months ahead of time.. had full opportunity to add a few dollars per week to payment.. yet refused..

I wrote posts about this back when it happened...

I've seen sister #1 at grocery store once.. with her kids... dirty looks.. uncomfortable.
Sister 2... her son came down with some type of cancer about a year ago... the boy that had been in my care...
It was real sad.. but I think he has done well with treatments...

Fast forward to this week... almost 3 full years later.
Tuesday of this past week.. I'm out to dinner with a girlfriend...
I look across the restaurant..
SISTER 2...
I think oh great...
confrontation? I hope not..
next thing I know.. tap tap on my shoulder..
I turn.. it's her..
I think.. oh man.. here we go..
she says..
I just want to apologize to you...
I think... what...?
I stand up.. and she says.. I just want you to know I'm sorry for everything that happened...
I think my mouth had to have been visibly HANGING OPEN...
she continues... You helped me out... you were good to my kids.. and I am ashamed of everything that happened...
I know I left owing a balance..and I'd like to contact you tomorrow to pay it..
I just stand there...speachless..
I thank her for the apology... and she goes back to her table...
later.. .the two kids come over to see me.. hugs.. kisses...
etc..
When I leave ...she stands up and repeats same things again.. will contact tomorrow to pay..
I leave..
Next day...
5:15 p.m.. I'm in another room...my assistance comes to get me..
you have a visitor..
I walk in to main room...and there she is..
I nearly faint..
She says... I have $200 cash..
I don't know if you had a chance to look up the balance.. if you would do that in the next day or two.. here's my phone number and address.. let me know the remaining balance..
I said.. wow... you weren't kidding...
she said.. well... you helped me out...and were good to me and my kids..the
rest of it never should have happened...and I'm going to pay it and make it right..
I wrote her a reciept.. she left...
and my assistant and I just stood there...
did that
REALLY JUST HAPPEN????

I looked up her balance.. made a copy of the page... put it in an envelope and mailed it to her...

I'll update if I ever recieve the remaining $408...
but..
just that $200 cash.. and the things she said..
WOW...

[MamaBearCanada]

happyface:hug:happyface

Wow!
1. You must have really done a good job with her kids
2. Reminded me you can never write people off - they can change lovethis

[melilley]

happyface:hug:happyface

Wow!
1. You must have really done a good job with her kids
2. Reminded me you can never write people off - they can change lovethis

So true!

[Zoe]

Wow! That's incredible. It's nice to hear that she realized all that you did for her and her children. That's the stuff daycare dreams are made of! happyface

[DCMom]

That is an awesome story Honestly, if I never saw another dime the attempt to pay her debt would mean the world to me.

Having a sick child certainly must have changed her perspective as to the things that are important in life. Seems as though she is making amends for past mistakes.

[MyAngels]

So you see, there is hope for humanity yet ::. Just kidding .

That's awesome. It sounds like she did some growing up since she left your daycare .

[mom2many]

That is awesome! happyface It's great that she acknowledged what she had done was wrong and wants to make it right now.

[cheerfuldom]

that is honestly amazing. I would bet many of us have NEVER had a parent apologize for something like this.

Why did you not take these sisters to small claims court? Its well over $1000....I would have.

[Starburst]

At least some parents nowadays still understand and recognize the hardwork that goes into a quality program happyface. And at least some people are still honest enough to repay old debts and admit they were wrong- which sets a better example for their children than just skipping out on their legal responsiblities/promises.

[juliebug]

Wow that is great! so glad she came and apologized and is working to make it right

[saved4always]

That is so awesome. It had to have been really hard for her to face you and admit that she had behaved badly and to say it twice. Rarely do you find that. Thank you so much for sharing this.

[countrymom]

wow I think my mouth was hanging just reading your story. But why didn't you take them to court.

[momofboys]

WOW! Very happy for you!

[Blackcat31]

It is always nice to read a story about something great a parent did/does!

I am glad there are still parents out there that realize their responsibilities.

Even when it is years later!

Great post Tammy!

[Meeko]

BIG SMILES here!!! How wonderful!