Terminating a Family

[wdmmom]

I've written about this family before and I had every intention of terming in August but I don't think I can wait that long. It's to the point that even the little things this family does just irritate me to no end! No intentional policies broken just DCM saying she was coming early one day and never did and DCD texting in this morning saying DCB will be in eventually. (40 minutes late)

DCB just turned 1 year old last week. He REFUSES to eat, drink and sleep and I'm at wits end! DCM insists he takes bottles and drinks out of sippy cups at home but he is lucky to drink 2 ounces of milk while in my care! Yesterday he refused baby food. He was so overtired he slept for a whopping 20 minutes and today he slept for 40 minutes! This is coming from the same child that I don't even put down for a morning nap just so he will sleep in the afternoon!

Well, in looking at the schedule, I am contemplating on when to tell them that I can't comply with their schedule anymore. They need a 330pm pickup time on Fridays and during the summer I close at 2pm. Last year they made it work for 4 weeks but this year, I'm not looking at changing my hours back to 330pm closing. With the kids enrolled, most days I should be off by 130pm on Fridays until October then it'll go to around 230pm on Fridays. I know they can't accommodate either and I need to make room for a sibling coming in October anyway.

So with that being said, how much notice do I give them? I have vacation scheduled over July 4th so do I charge for this time or do I just suggest they find someone between now and my return or how should I approach this?

[Cradle2crayons]

I've written about this family before and I had every intention of terming in August but I don't think I can wait that long. It's to the point that even the little things this family does just irritate me to no end! No intentional policies broken just DCM saying she was coming early one day and never did and DCD texting in this morning saying DCB will be in eventually. (40 minutes late)

DCB just turned 1 year old last week. He REFUSES to eat, drink and sleep and I'm at wits end! DCM insists he takes bottles and drinks out of sippy cups at home but he is lucky to drink 2 ounces of milk while in my care! Yesterday he refused baby food. He was so overtired he slept for a whopping 20 minutes and today he slept for 40 minutes! This is coming from the same child that I don't even put down for a morning nap just so he will sleep in the afternoon!

Well, in looking at the schedule, I am contemplating on when to tell them that I can't comply with their schedule anymore. They need a 330pm pickup time on Fridays and during the summer I close at 2pm. Last year they made it work for 4 weeks but this year, I'm not looking at changing my hours back to 330pm closing. With the kids enrolled, most days I should be off by 130pm on Fridays until October then it'll go to around 230pm on Fridays. I know they can't accommodate either and I need to make room for a sibling coming in October anyway.

So with that being said, how much notice do I give them? I have vacation scheduled over July 4th so do I charge for this time or do I just suggest they find someone between now and my return or how should I approach this?

Does your policy say two weeks notice or four weeks?? Or does it say you can terminate at any time??

[Blackcat31]

If you are ready to be done with them now, why not just tell them that you will be changing up your closing times (for a longer period than in the past) and you wanted them to be aware now so they could start their search for new care?

As far as the eating issue goes, I would take a tip from Nan and ask DCM to SHOW you that DCB eats from a bottle or a sippy cup?

[AmyKidsCo]

ITA with BlackCat - if you're done with them and can afford to terminate now, I say do it now. Just think how much more you'll enjoy the summer!

[wdmmom]

My policy states if the family terminates, they must provide me with a 4 week written notice but I can cancel at any time for any reason.

And

I had the mom SHOW me he eats and drinks at home. She has posted several videos and showed me at pickup yesterday. I offer him a bottle and he pushes it away. I offer him a sippy cup he might take a swig or two and tosses it. But he'll slam an 8 oz bottle at home in less than 5 minutes.

Either way, I know I'm terminating. I just need to know how much time I should give them and if I should still charge them for vacation.

[cheerfuldom]

I would just get them off right now. Give them two weeks and get them out the door. If they get huffy and want to leave right away, just let them. If I term with a notice, I dont charge if the parents want to leave immediately so just be prepared for that to come up. I would not charge them for vacation because at this point, you just want them gone. If they decide to stay for the notice period, make sure you include a stipulation that ALL policies must still be followed and any rule breaking is grounds for immediate termination. Parents that are one foot out the door have a habit of trying to do whatever they want those last few weeks

[daycarediva]

I would up my closing time on Fridays and give them notice. No way would I want to deal with that. Will he take a bottle/eat for anyone other than Mom? I had a dcbaby in care, same age, who wouldn't eat for ANYONE else. EVER. It was insanity and I didn't make it to his first birthday. ::