Your Expertise, Please ;)

[wahmof3]

I would like to take Friday's off this summer.

I care for mainly teachers kids and I have 1 family that is school administration and works all of June and August.

I know they have options (relatives that can care for DCK on Fridays bc when I 1st interviewed they only needed me a few days a week bc DCK would go to a relatives the other 2 days).

For all I know DCM might not work Fridays anyways.

I will adjust her rate and not charge her for the Friday's.

How would you approach this?

Should I type up a letter and just say this is what I am doing and let them make an arrangement?

OR

Do I talk to this mom and ask if this is doable?

TIA

[Cat Herder]

Are you willing to take no for an answer :confused:

You know where I am going with this........ ::

[kathiemarie]

I aslo have mostly teacher kids. Last summer I only had 2 that came for the month of July so I just told them that I would be closed on Fridays for July. They all made it work. But to be honest I was ok with them leaving if they couldn't I have been in business for 13 years and I know what I need to be a good provider. This past summer I NEEDED fridays off.

I would just tell them (in a nice way) that you will be closed,with out pay, on friday durring the summer. Then write out the dates and what their summer rate will be.

[jessrlee]

It would depend on finances for me. If you don't really care if they pull then just tell them. If you can't lose the money approach it like " hey I'm trying to get in some extra time with the kids this summer. Would it become a deal breaker if I closed most/ all Fridays?"

Worst case she says yes, but you didn't ask permission so you still have the opening to say later that you decided that you will.

[crazydaycarelady]

I took Fridays off one summer about 10 years ago and I have done it every summer since! I woudn't see "if it is doable," I would tell her you are doing it and will discount her rate, period. There are a lot of options for parents in the summer and she'll be fine, and you'll be so H~A~P~P~Y!!

[snbauser]

I currently only have teachers kids as well. I am considering actually only being open Mon, Tues, and Wed for the summer. That would still give the parents time to do things they might want to do without the kids or time to spend one-on-one with older siblings. It will keep the kids somewhat in the routine and expectations of here. Although it cuts my income some and will make summer a little tighter than I would like, it will give me a chance to tackle some bigger projects like painting my kids rooms and give me some much needed time with my own kids since they are school-agers. They will be happy to have a break from the dck's and be able to do inexpensive or free things together. I plan on spending time taking them to our pool, to the water park (doesn't cost extra because we are already members of the fitness center), and bowling (our alley has a kids bowl free program for the summer and they have bowling shoes already). It will save my sanity some and give me a mini-break before jumping back in full force for the new school year.

[momofsix]

Go for it! I'd just let her know this is what's happening.
What a great idea! I may have to borrow it for summers 2014 and after. I've been really wiped our lately due to some extra junk we're going through and was thinking about simply closing for the summers (after this summer).
I have mostly teachers kids too and in the summer I get older kids that I don't really enjoy and am not set up for. I've already committed myself to this summer but was thinking about stopping next summer but I think I might start with your idea instead.
Wow, just thinking about having a summer of Fridays off, even over a year away-makes me feel less stressed!
happyface Thanks for the idea! That's why I love this forum happyface