I've Got Myself Into a Difficult Situation..Please Advise

[legomom922]

Even if I had given her the chance to go to 4 days though, I still would then be losing out on wednesdays..Finding someone who would just want wed would be very hard, know what I mean?

Isn't there some responsibility that should also fall on dcm#1 knowing that i run a daycare and i can sign someone up at any moment on the days I have open? By her signing a contract for m, th, f, isnt is also common sense to know that you are leaving tues/wed open for someone else? And the dcp is not just going to not take on more clients just in case you switch your hrs or need other days?

This had happened so quick, and I had to give an answer so quick, I had no time to think anything through.

So how can I word this now to dcm #1 so she understands this was mostly a business decision and not a personal one.

[missnikki]

I would tell her in person, face to face. I would say, "I know you had mentioned that you may need to switch Mon for Tues, but I needed to let you know that I can't accomodate that switch as of right now. I picked up some extra business that ties up Tuesdays for me, and it is a regular set schedule so I went ahead and accepted it. I know that you were looking for that slot as a temporary schedule, but unfortunately I am not in the position to offer flexibility on that right now. What I have available right now is Mon, Wed, Fri (or whatever).

[laundryduchess@yahoo.com]

I would just simply tell her that you are happy to change her contract. That you are here to help their lives be easier, not more frustrating. I would just say,.. Hey Monica, I would be happy to change your contract to the new days. I do have a slot open for Tuesdays, however,.. I need to remind you that right now you are contracted for M, W and Th.... I can either switch you to t w and th and you can drop the M slot, or I can simply add the tuesday to your contract and your fees would be for 4 days per week each week instead of 3,.. you could always bring little Viola on that 4th day if you need some time to do anything since it will be one of your contracted days. Its up to you. I just wanted to be clear that if you need to switch to another day in the future I will do it based on availability. If I get someone in for m and f then I wont have room for little viola if you need to switch. Either way is fine with me but I wanted to make sure you knew that there is a possibility of the spot not being available if you need to switch back.
that puts the ball in her court,.. you didnt change your availability,.. she changed her needs. Which is fine, parents need that sometimes, but she cant honestly expect you to hold open a position for her,.. just in case.... She needs to see that there is a possibility that it will not be open if she needs to change again.

[legomom922]

Part of my current problem is that I gave dcm#2 tues/wed as of sat, since I knew dcm#1 was coming on mondays as of oct 18, today. So I need to know how to tell dcm #1 what I already did...I screwed up...I know it...I just wanted that 2 day income for tues/wed since I had it open..Like I said too, if I had even given dcm #1 the option for 4 days, then I would still be out of income on wed... so it was gain 2 or gain 1, but gaining 2 may lose me 3 in the end...

[momofsix]

I would just let her know, as soon as possible. "Mom, i'm not sure if your schedule was going to change again or not, but if it does, i will not be able to accomadate you, b/c I've filled the slots i had open before on Tues/Weds with a child that will filll them regularly. I'm hoping you're able to keep the hours we already have contracted for. "
This sounds very stiff and formal word for word, but it's the general idea of what I would say. If she hasn't already told you that her schedule will change in Dec., I wouldn't assume it is.

[marniewon]

Did she already sign the new contract saying her days were M, Th, F? If she did, you really don't have to say anything to her at all right now. She is contracted for MTF, and if her schedule changes in Dec (which you said it might not) then you can let her know then that you are not available for her except MTF. You could tell her now, but right now, she's not asking for Tuesdays. She may not ever need Tuesday.

[legomom922]

Yes, she handed me her new contract this am for M Th F...

When I had asked her a wk or 2 ago what was going to happen in Dec, she said she didn't know that she would have to re-evaluate it at that time, so her could change, or may not, or she may need to add different days...she didn't know..it all depends on what ever sport she is coaching at that time of yr.

Live and learn...next time. or should i say next clients, I will not allow switching of days, for this reason..Just when you think you have all your bases covered...something new pops up!