Wants To Take The Day To Herself? WWYS?

[daycare]

I recently posted about a dcp that I have, single mom that was not paying on time and taking advantage. Well now this.

Next week we will only be open half of a day one day, because I will be going out of the town and did not want to have to leave the DC open all day.

It's not really vacation for me if I leave the DC open because I stress. Anyways, I send out a reminder that we will only be open half day. Many of the parents take their vacations at the same time that I do. They get the time off list at the start of the year and plan at that time.

I normally have to have both of my asst here in order to be within ratios when I am gone. Ratio is 1 to 6 with the age group that I have. I asked all the DCP to let me know if their child will be attending or not. Looks like I will only have 7 kids that day instead of 12. Which means that if I only had 6 kids instead of 7 then I would not have to pay 2 employees to be here.

When I asked DCM above if her child was coming she says, oh well, I have the day off, but I am going to send DCK anyway so I can have a day to myself. I look at her like HUH, blank stare and didn't say anything.

Now, I don't have anything in my policies about this, but I am pretty upset about recent issues with DCM taking advantage of me with payments and the discount that I have been giving her. (in my defense, I have always helped single moms out in the past and have NEVER been burned like this before).
So I feel like I should be telling her that since she has the day off she needs to keep her kid home. If she sends him, it will cost me more money to have him here than he even pays to attend, because I will need 2 employees instead of 1.

Do you think that this would be fair of me to tell the DCM that she has to keep her kid home for that day? How would you handle this? What would you say?

[lilcupcakes09]

It's a tough situation, but I think it's one that you have to just **** up and move on....... she is paying you for your services after all. I have a parent who I absolutely can't stand that does the same thing, it really bothers me that she doesn't spend the extra time that she has available with her child, but who am I to judge her on that, it seems the $$ is more important to some parents always which makes me sad. It bothers me that this particular mom has NEVER other than the first day of school took the time to put her child on the bus, even when she is home for one reason or another, and that the only time she has ever gotten him off the bus or picked him up before I close at 5pm is because she had too, because I needed to close early. But as my husband reminds me, "she is paying you", so I let it go, but cringe inside everyday when I hear them pull up. But for the sake of the child I keep him, I look at it as he needs the environment here, because at home he is pretty much non-existent, they are not a big "activities" family, it's mostly about video games and him entertaining himself in the evenings after pick up

[debbiedoeszip]

If she had said, "Yes, my child is coming.", and you thought she was working that day, would you be upset right now? If the answer is no, then you should just let it go.

[MamaBearCanada]

Is tuition based on attendance or enrollment? If based on enrollment perhaps she's thinking she's already paid for care so why not send him? I don't think it would be fair to ask her to keep him home to save you money but still expect her to pay for the day.

Would you feel differently if she had stuck to policies?

It would tick me off but I wouldn't say anything unless I was willing to credit for the day.

[taylorw1210]

I understand the circumstances you are in, personally, with the ratio issue. That ****s.

However, I would look at it as just crappy circumstances and try not to resent her. I'm assuming your tuition is based on enrollment?

[Play Care]

I agree with the other posters.

That said, I would be changing the way I do business with her in the future (ie: no more discounts)

[DaisyMamma]

If a parent pays for the service then it's not really up to us what they do, especially if we require payment regardless of attendance.

With that said it does make me mad when parents do this. It makes me sad for their child.

[daycare]

Yes you are all right and I guess this just got me because of how forth coming DCM is with her information. Like it's always no big deal.

I already told her no more paying late or late fee and no pay no stay. This just felt like a smack in the face.

Thanks for the reminder.

[JenNJ]

Honestly, if she is off and has been a problem client I would rescind the offer. I would say that all the spaces are filled for the day and that you don't require payment but dc kid must not attend that day. I would not lose money to open for a client who isn't respectful of me.

[MichellesKiddos]

I'm with Jen on this one. If it were a regular paying client that was respectful towards me otherwise, I would **** it up. However, given the fact that she has shown you little to no respect, especially after getting a discounted rate, I would tell her that you just don't have the room for dcb that day. I also would not charge for that day for her either. You already know she is off of work, so it's not like it's inconveniencing her work schedule at all. I'd recommend changing her rate to the regular rate though.

[jenn]

Normally, I don't really care what the parents are doing. The child is here and I'm getting paid to care for them, so what difference does it make what the parent is off doing. I do think it is poor parenting, but I don't run a parent training business so whatever.
However, in this situation, I would feel differently. Since she made it your business by telling you she is off, and you are going to actually lose money by having him here, I would let her know that you can not provide care for that half day. "Due to the reduced number of children attending the half day next week, I will only be hiring one assistant. Since you responded last to needing care and you stated that you are off anyway, I will not be able to provide care for your child on that day as it will put me over ratio. You will not be charged for this day. If you truly need him to come, the fee for bringing in the second assistant is $XX. You will need to include that in your payment."

[Mister Sir Husband]

I can understand your willingness to help single moms, as I will be doing this to some extent myself. In my case, the help will be in the form of possibly not being so strict in late fees, perhaps a discount on enrollment, and maybe watching kids on a weekend if her job wants her to work. You mentioned her being behind in payments. I know this isn't going to help your situation, but she wouldn't be in my program if she didn't pay on time. I would have already cut her enough breaks in other ways, payment is on time.

[momofboys]

is this parent's payments up-to-date? I know you were discussing a parent on a separate board. has she paid you? I would be upset but if she is up-to-date on payments she would seem to have the right to use the 1/2 day. Now if she is in arrears with you, no way!

[daycare]

is this parent's payments up-to-date? I know you were discussing a parent on a separate board. has she paid you? I would be upset but if she is up-to-date on payments she would seem to have the right to use the 1/2 day. Now if she is in arrears with you, no way!

yes this is the same parent and no she is not currently up to date

[Cradle2crayons]

yes this is the same parent and no she is not currently up to date

Then heck no. I'd quickly tell her no.