Contracted Hours or Business Hours

[Nikkisomething]

My contract clearly states that my rates are based on a 9 hour day or a 45 hour week, even though my hours are 10 1/2 a day.
I have a DCF that has slowly begun taking advantage of my time. It started a few months ago, the DCM would bring her little girl to me about 30 minutes early. She started bringing her right at the time I would open, and not pick her up until 5 minutes before I closed. Often times the mom would still be in her pajamas. I started getting really annoyed. The day I decided to do something about it, she showed up right after I unlocked my door for the day, in her pajamas, and said "little girl" was being naughty, so she had to drop her off so she could get ready for work. I was beyond annoyed. I don't ever want my daycare kids to think of my house as being a punishment because the parents don't want to deal with them.
"Little girl" is just over a year old.
So I sent home a letter to all parents (not wanting to target just the one), reminding them of my rates and contract, and advised that I would start enforcing OT if their children are here beyond the contracted hours.
None of my other families had an issue with this, except this particular family. She claims that she needs her daughter to be here those hours because she can't do anything with her around.
She is still ranting and raving about it, and I'm about done. Ready to throw in the towel.
I feel like I keep my rates low (I'm the lowest in our area) and parents should respect that and respect my contract.
This mom just feels that my hours of operation should be her contracted hours and that her daughter should be allowed to be here for 10 1/2 hours a day, because she can't deal with getting things done with the little girl around.
I feel like I'd be willing to be a little more flexible if she needed these long hours because of her job, but in reality, she works part time (does not go to school) and only works about 10 minutes (in traffic) from my home.
Am I being unreasonable by telling her to get over it or find a new daycare for her daughter?

[melilley]

I don't think you are being unreasonable at all! You have contracted hours for a reason and this mom needs to follow your contract that she signed.

As far as her bringing her all day when she only works part time, well that's a whole different subject!

[butterfly]

Looks like you have 3 options...
1. charge her for the time she uses
2. Term
3. let her continue to have her way

Personally, if you've already addressed this with her and she is still complaining - I'd have to term. I would view this as highly disrespectful and I just couldn't continue to put up with it.

:hug:

[Nikkisomething]

Looks like you have 3 options...
1. charge her for the time she uses
2. Term
3. let her continue to have her way

Personally, if you've already addressed this with her and she is still complaining - I'd have to term. I would view this as highly disrespectful and I just couldn't continue to put up with it.

:hug:

To term, it would be so hard, because the little girl is so sweet. I've had her since she was 6 weeks old.

I just don't understand WHY a parent would not want to spend time with their child when they can.

As a mom of 2 myself, I can understand that parents need a break occasionally, but everyday? Come on!

I have a waiting list for infants and toddlers. One mom is desperate to her her DD in here. Maybe I just need to grow a set and bit the bullet and write up a term letter...

[Blackcat31]

I also operate on contracted hours. I charge according to pick up time and NOT drop off time.

So a family that uses care from 7-3 would pay the same as a family who uses care from 9-3.

I also only allow a max of 9 hours use per day. If a family needs more than 9 hours, they have to schedule in advance AND pay the additional cost on top of their regular fees.

Anything outside of their contracted hours that was scheduled in advance pays a $1 per minute. Even if I still have other kids here.

[Nikkisomething]

I also operate on contracted hours. I charge according to pick up time and NOT drop off time.

So a family that uses care from 7-3 would pay the same as a family who uses care from 9-3.

I also only allow a max of 9 hours use per day. If a family needs more than 9 hours, they have to schedule in advance AND pay the additional cost on top of their regular fees.

Anything outside of their contracted hours that was scheduled in advance pays a $1 per minute. Even if I still have other kids here.

My OT rates are $5 for every 1/2 hour portion they are here beyond their contracted hours. This is pretty standard for the other DC homes in my area.

She just doesn't seem to get it. I have explained to her (until I was blue in the face) that most people work 40 hours a week, if they work overtime, they get overtime pay. I work 50+ hours a week and don't get overtime. She huffed and said that maybe I should have thought about that before starting a daycare!

I have done daycare for 6 years now and have never dealt with a snarky mom like this!

[Blackcat31]

My OT rates are $5 for every 1/2 hour portion they are here beyond their contracted hours. This is pretty standard for the other DC homes in my area.

She just doesn't seem to get it. I have explained to her (until I was blue in the face) that most people work 40 hours a week, if they work overtime, they get overtime pay. I work 50+ hours a week and don't get overtime. She huffed and said that maybe I should have thought about that before starting a daycare!
I have done daycare for 6 years now and have never dealt with a snarky mom like this!

Oh hell no!!

She should of thought about your policies BEFORE signing and agreeing to them.

Holy moly...I would have a hard time not saying something to her.

If I were you, I would stop explaining anything and just say "Here is my rate sheet. This is the way it is because this is MY business. If you don't like it or can't make it work for you, then I will consider this your two week notice."

Bet she will scramble to stay...especially if you are already on the lower end of rates. If you want, you can see my rate sheet and how I bill. I bet she wouldn't like mine then either.

I know you can't not take parents that do this (leave their kid in care for soooo long everyday) but you CAN make it worth YOUR while. ..kwim?

btw, I am also in MN.

[CedarCreek]

My OT rates are $5 for every 1/2 hour portion they are here beyond their contracted hours. This is pretty standard for the other DC homes in my area.

She just doesn't seem to get it. I have explained to her (until I was blue in the face) that most people work 40 hours a week, if they work overtime, they get overtime pay. I work 50+ hours a week and don't get overtime. She huffed and said that maybe I should have thought about that before starting a daycare!

I have done daycare for 6 years now and have never dealt with a snarky mom like this!

Term. Please.

[TwinKristi]

My OT rates are $5 for every 1/2 hour portion they are here beyond their contracted hours. This is pretty standard for the other DC homes in my area.

She just doesn't seem to get it. I have explained to her (until I was blue in the face) that most people work 40 hours a week, if they work overtime, they get overtime pay. I work 50+ hours a week and don't get overtime. She huffed and said that maybe I should have thought about that before starting a daycare!

I have done daycare for 6 years now and have never dealt with a snarky mom like this!

Well she obviously doesn't want her child in your care that bad if she would talk that way to you. That's just plain rude. She should have thought about what an "inconvenience" children are before having one!

[melilley]

My OT rates are $5 for every 1/2 hour portion they are here beyond their contracted hours. This is pretty standard for the other DC homes in my area.

She just doesn't seem to get it. I have explained to her (until I was blue in the face) that most people work 40 hours a week, if they work overtime, they get overtime pay. I work 50+ hours a week and don't get overtime. She huffed and said that maybe I should have thought about that before starting a daycare!

I have done daycare for 6 years now and have never dealt with a snarky mom like this!

I'm one of those who, I admit, let things slide, but this? No Way! I would definitely had said something or actually would have termed! How rude of her to say such a thing. I'm in disbelief!

[Nikkisomething]

well she obviously doesn't want her child in your care that bad if she would talk that way to you. That's just plain rude. She should have thought about what an "inconvenience" children are before having one!

right?!?

[butterfly]

Term. Please.

without question, after dcm's comment! :hug:

[e.j.]

Oh hell no!!

She should of thought about your policies BEFORE signing and agreeing to them.

Holy moly...I would have a hard time not saying something to her.

If I were you, I would stop explaining anything and just say "Here is my rate sheet. This is the way it is because this is MY business. If you don't like it or can't make it work for you, then I will consider this your two week notice."

I let a lot slide but never a comment like "maybe you should have thought about that before starting a daycare!" That was such a disrespectful, rude and ignorant thing to say. You deserve a lot of credit for not terming her on the spot.

If this kind of comment is typical from her, I'd feel comfortable giving her a termination letter. If she isn't usually that snarky and I wanted to keep the family, I would speak with her again and say, "You know, you caught me off guard the other day when you said...... I'm sure you didn't mean that comment to come across the way it did. I want you to understand that I gave my hours and rates a great deal of thought before I started my day care business. They work well for me. If they no longer work well for you, I understand and will have no hard feelings if you decide to give your two week notice. Just to be clear, my policy is...... Give it some thought and let me know tomorrow what you would like to do."

[MotherNature]

Yikes. I'd be wanting to term too. So, any updates?

[Nikkisomething]

Yikes. I'd be wanting to term too. So, any updates?

No new updates. She is rather short when dropping her girl off. I have just decided that if she brings it up again, my term letter is written up and she will be handed it.