Ready to Call It Quits

[melilley]

Why can't I just simplify things up nice and neat like this.........oh joy, I have to take the long way around often. Well said

Me too!

I actually used my backbone last night and it felt really good! I was sooo ready for the parents to battle me, but they didn't-of course they didn't battle me when I actually had confidence to stand up for myself... Hopefully they'll take me seriously from now on and if not, I now know that I can be firm...if I need to be.

Just try it once (using your backbone), It'll do wonders for you, it did for me...

[melilley]

I have set days for part time as well. That way if I really need to have another pt child because of financial reasons, or what have you, I could try to find another part timer. I have 2 pt kids, but right now that's all I want. I could take another one, but don't want to, but if I absolutely had to then at least I know the days that I have open.

That dcp would have made me so mad! I can't believe she talked to you like that!

[daycarediva]

I would compromise with pt. Not offering at all is your right, but it doesn't seem smart if enrollment is low. Any money is better than no money.

I would offer them a choice: (prices are examples, just so I make sense)
Full time rate at $150/week
Part time, 3 days week, SET DAYS rate at $100/week. Additional days, if available, billed at drop in rate of $35/day.
Part time rate, 3 variable days per week $120. Additional days, if available, billed at drop in rate of $35/day.

I also make it clear that FT trumps PT. Drop in days aren't always available due to ratio, or your own personal schedule and need to be booked in advance (set time) paid on morning of drop off, etc.

I also charge more for PT.
5 days=35/day or 175 week
4 days=40/day or 160 week
3 days=45/day or 135 week
anything less or drop in is 50/day

and when I do get clients who have alternating schedules, I make significantly more for the space than a FT client. Pt clients (and kids) are typically more hassle, harder to align schedules so that I don't have open spaces, and therefor, they pay more.

[TwinKristi]

My PT family is set days as well. At one point when I was full I was lucky to have a M&F only kid and a T-W-Th kid so it worked perfectly! Then M&F kid left for PreK and the other guy comes 4-5 days a week now anyway! I just charge extra and don't let them pick and choose their days. Like last week they brought him Mon & Fri but Thurs they were gone for a funeral. I still charged them for Fri even though they didn't use Thurs because that's their contracted day. The other days are drop-in days they pay for at the time of service which ****s sometimes when I want to make plans or something ya know? Having low numbers this month has allowed me to get the kids' checkup and dentists appts in since I have Mon & Fri off until school is out currently.