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I think we all know how those "my (of insert family member, friend, neighbor here) is going to watch my kids" situations usually end. NOT well. They will be back once grandma sees she will no longer have any freedoms anymore. And you will be full up. They will regret ever leaving you.
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Maybe DCM felt like she couldn't tell you in person because she will get too emotional. I have and have had a few (just a few, mind you) DCFs who were always very good to me and felt a genuine bond, that if they did have to leave prematurely they would probably bawl their eyes out.
Just a nice thought. I am so sorry you got screwed over.:hug:
I agree with everyone on here. I would try to be as professional as possible, while letting them know that I am filled with disappointment also. I wouldn't clarify that my disappointment was not only with the DCKs leaving, but with the way they did it and the fact that I lost so much money by doing the favor, and let them wonder about it.
You will always feel good about giving of yourself, though, no matter how it ended. What goes around, comes around, too. Some day, this family may surprise you with something phenomenal in the future when times are better for them. You never know!Comment
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Judging by that chirpy email she sent, I don't think she was feeling all emotional, but it is a nice thought. And no way would I take them as clients again! I cannot imagine she would even ask. Who would do that? Although I'm not sure if GMA knows exactly what she has signed on for... I do believe the work we do tends to get minimized. I will say that I wish these 3 weeks were already over because I don't like this feeling at all.Comment
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Are you in a position where you can just term them now? I normally am not in the "quick to term" camp but I am so angry that they did this to you and would love to tell DCM since you have already lost 3 months of income on their family (6 months at half rate) that you might just as well end things now. Ok, I know that's probably not feasible or a good way to do business but oh how I would like to!!!!
And I feel your pain, I had a teacher who I bent over backwards for all summer, allowed half days when she was teaching summer school, allowed 1 day a week the weeks she was off, etc. etc. Child was supposed to go to preschool the following year, so had one more year here with me. Until October… suddenly decided they wanted to send him to preschool this year and gave 2 weeks notice. I could have replaced them in June or even in August but by October I had NO ONE interested in a spot. I was/am still mad. And yes, they had the nerve to still ask me about a future opening for their next baby. No thanks.Comment
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DCM came for pickup, and I am really steaming.
She asked if this could be her last week because her mom is ''ready to go.''
I said, Sure, but I'm still going to need the last 2 weeks payment, per her contract. She looked at me as if I were insane. She just assumed that I had another family ready to take her family's place, which I don't.
I think I shot myself in the foot because I really don't want to deal with her these last three weeks, but I just impulsively was not going to let her off the hook because Grandma was ''ready to go.''
I am truly in shock at this woman - I'm not sure where her entitlement has come from all of a sudden. And no, she wasn't emotional about leaving, nor did she express an iota of gratitude about anything. I've never had a daycare relationship devolve so quickly into weirdness like this. I don't know what to do!!Comment
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Thank you, ECS, for this reply: it was literally a wake-up call. I woke up this morning feeling silly for being all emotional and for feeling hurt and not thinking about my business. I've got her money (for the rest of the week) and paperwork ready and I've decided to term her when she picks up. Since her mom is all ready for the kids, I'm not leaving her in the lurch and now I won't have to think about any of this anymore.Comment
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It can be difficult but I am glad you have come to a more peaceful place!
The sad fact of the matter is we do so many nice things and at some point we burn out from truly going above and beyond because all it seemingly does (the vast majority of the time) is bite us in the rear. While I love children and I do enjoy this job (well, except this past month I have been in burn out mode) it is still THE way to make money so I prioritize that. It is how I provide income for my family. BlackCat once said something along the lines of people thinking we do this because we love kids and just so happen to get money but really we work for the money and just so happen to love kids.Comment
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I would totally feel bitter, too. I am so sorry that this family turned out to be so selfish.
I had a situation years ago where I offered care for 2 children from my church for the price of one because of a divorce situation and DCM having financial difficulties. I did it to be nice but it turned out that the older child did not get along with my child of the same age at all. It was a horrific 6+ months. DCM had also said she would pay me for both kids whenever she could afford to (she never did have any extra to pay for the second child) and also started paying for holidays (that lasted for 1 holiday, I think) but then stopped that. In the end, it was apparent that DCM no longer considered what I did a favor but the norm. I didn't feel I could say anything or back out because her dad was the pastor at our church. Luckily, there was a definite time limit so I just had to wait that out. I learned that all charity should be given outside of my childcare business. Caring for children for a price that is not fair to us is just not worth it.
I think it is good that you stuck to your guns and didn't let just let her out of paying for the couple of weeks just because Grandma is ready to go. They owe you that money. I understand that dcp's are always going to do what is best financially for themselves, but that is just too blatantly selfish.
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Well, they're gone and it was not pretty. She actually thought I was doing some kind of April Fool's thing by telling her it was their last day and said she didn't have anyplace to take her kids because when she said Grandma was ready she meant Grandma was ready next Monday. It was an extremely unpleasant conversation and I'm floored that it turned out so sour, and boy is she mad.Comment
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Are you guys getting weary of these updates? DCM just texted me, and this is what she said - I kid you not. "I cannot believe you would dump my family after 3 years of loyalty to you. You have put us in an awful bind because I truly do not have anyone to watch DCKs this week. What are we supposed to do?"Comment
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