What Would You Do?

[Chellieleanne]

I have one kid I watch full time and two are on call, which I don't mind at all. However that being said I also never made up a contract or anything like that. When I started watching the kids I let their parents know my rate is good for up to 10 hours. Well the child I watch full time for the past two months it has been consistently over that and it is starting to get to me. Especially with Friday when both parents were off work yet still brought their child to me.

I don't know how to bring this up to mom(who is the one who brings and drops off the child) but I can't do these 10 plus hour days anymore. This kid is violent and mean as it is, I have been watching him since October and he has mellowed a little but it is still bad. I am pregnant and we do need the money but it is getting to me and I don't think the mom will agree to a higher rate but I don't want to stop watching the child either. I do know dad gets off early but he doesn't do anything but go home. From what it seems, mom does everything when it comes to the child from drop off/pick up to discipline at home.

What would be the best way to discuss this with mom? As it is I hard a difficult time telling her I wouldn't be able to watch her child if he kept biting, that was 6 months ago and he hasn't bitten since.

Second, is it too late to have the parents sign contracts even though I am not licensed? It would only be for the next 4 months or so though for the contract to be in effect. According to my state regulations I do not need to be licensed unless I have 5 kids that I care for. Which I am not planning on being licensed for a few years with my baby coming in September. I am planning on taking a break so I don't have the stress of watching kids as well as caring for a newborn.

Thank you and Sorry if it seems a bit confusing, this is my first time posting and am excited to have found a forum for childcare providers since I started watching children in my own home instead of being a nanny/babysitter.

[Play Care]

Here's the thing, a contract is useless unless it's enforced. Why are you letting him stay past 10 hours? I would be calling mom immediately and letting her know she is late, the fee is (something steep) and if she doesn't pay it, he can't attend. What did you say when they picked up late?

ETA: I meant to say that it's not too late to get a contract, but be prepared for the family to leave when they realize their caregiver is putting her foot down. These types look for new babysitters to take advantage of.

[josie2014]

I love to come here,they do have experience in this area.I think you should try to talk with the mom about the bitting,how old is the child?You maybe can put him in time out.I think if you are not license you can't make contract.If the mom doesn't wanna to help disciplined the child at home maybe you can replace him.Maybe you can try to deal with the kid till you have the baby.I made wrong choices at the beginning working till 7 at night.Crazy I did stop...Taking care of childrem from 7 to 7 is to much belive me.About the dad going home after work that's normal my 2 DCD do the same thing,they paying we can't say anything.Sometimes they don't wotk still brings the child....hard I know.
I am new here.....God bless you

[NightOwl]

Can we talk, dcm? We originally agreed to 10 hours per day max but you've been exceeding that quite often. It's fine with me that he's here that long, but I will have to adjust his weekly rate to (fill in the blank, at least $5 per day that he's over 10 hours or a weekly flat rate increase of $25ish). But if that's not doable for you, then you could choose to pick him up before his 10 hours are up each day. It's totally up to you. What would you like to do?

With this, you've put the ball in her court and given her options and control over her money. If she's willing to pay it, cool. If not, pick up within 10 hours. But stick to it!! If she agrees to pick up within 10 hours and still shows up late one day, charge the $5 (or whatever amount you previously chose). The first time you let it slip, she'll expect you to continue to let it slip.

[NightOwl]

And welcome!

[llpa]

I agree that you have to be prepared to enforce what you originally said by letting the parents know that they have been consistently later than the ten hrs you originally gave them as a guideline. Just say that you cannot take him past the ten hrs. It's your max and anything over ten hours is considered late. The penalty for being late is $______. If they are late consistently you will no longer continue to care for him. Personally, I would charge a dollar a minute when they are late. But you have to be prepared for them to pull him out of care. Or continue to be frustrated and don't say anything.

[childcaremom]

I am legally unlicensed and have a contract and policy handbook.

When I first started, I didn't know what I was doing and ended up implementing my contract about 6 months into it. One family left and it was the one who was taking advantage of me, so.... not such a bad thing. Everyone else signed and stayed.

[Chellieleanne]

I have been watching him since October of last year. Biting stopped after the third time. That was my last straw and I told her if he bit again then she would need to find a different arrangement for his care as I would not be comfortable continuing to watch him. As of late February(have to look at my logs) She drops off about 7:40am and picks up between 5:50 and 6pm monday-Friday. She works overtime every day because of her husband losing his disability payments. However dad gets off fairly early yet just goes home most days.

I have a contract written up but never did anything since I didn't think it would matter due to not being licensed but now I know it really would have helped in this situation. I get paid on time(bi weekly when DCM gets paid) so not in advance but I haven't had a need to change that for them. The others kids I watch is day of pay, since it is on call care. My rate is $20/day for anything between 4-10 hours right now which is about average for my area though I have seen some as low as $15(makes me question their reason and ability) and some as high as $30/day per child. Sibling rate is $10/day when both are in my care. Under 4 hours(which has only been once) is $10. Again reasonable for my area.

I am just nervous about talking to DCM about it all even though I know I need to stand up for what was agreed on back in October.

[Chellieleanne]

Thank you to everyone who has responded too. I just need to get some guts and bring it up today when DCK gets picked up.


Learning all the acronyms as I go, yay!

[Chellieleanne]

Just wanted to update. So I talked to her last night, turns out she was planning on giving up the position she has anyway that requires so many hours and my talking to her was just the deciding factor in no going back. That is supposed to be effective today or tomorrow and it will go back to 9 hour ish days. More time for my family and more time for him to be with his. Yay

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

Just wanted to update. So I talked to her last night, turns out she was planning on giving up the position she has anyway that requires so many hours and my talking to her was just the deciding factor in no going back. That is supposed to be effective today or tomorrow and it will go back to 9 hour ish days. More time for my family and more time for him to be with his. Yay

That is wonderful!

[Chellieleanne]

Downside though, I also found out they are planning on moving across the state. DCM wants to move ASAP but most likely won't be until their lease is up, which is around the time I will be taking time off due to my child being born. So I won't have anyone by the time I am ready to get back to work:/ oh well I guess it means I can actually start off new kids with a contract and such too since I haven't done that!

[llpa]

Downside though, I also found out they are planning on moving across the state. DCM wants to move ASAP but most likely won't be until their lease is up, which is around the time I will be taking time off due to my child being born. So I won't have anyone by the time I am ready to get back to work:/ oh well I guess it means I can actually start off new kids with a contract and such too since I haven't done that!

This is like a fresh start and you can implement everything you want to change w your new families. Also, there won't be the pressure of having anyone hound you to get right back to work. You can do it at your own pace! So while you are off set up interviews and get some good matches in there with you happyface

[Chellieleanne]

This is like a fresh start and you can implement everything you want to change w your new families. Also, there won't be the pressure of having anyone hound you to get right back to work. You can do it at your own pace! So while you are off set up interviews and get some good matches in there with you happyface

It depends on DH when I start working again since he is applying for police. If he gets it, it would double our income right now without me bringing in anything so I might take a few years off to just be me and my kids, maybe a part time kid or two like the two I have now for cash for me basically but no full time. I don't know though, I will see how I feel come September when the baby arrives! At least I will have time to prep a contract and policy handbook and be prepared for when I am ready!

[llpa]

It depends on DH when I start working again since he is applying for police. If he gets it, it would double our income right now without me bringing in anything so I might take a few years off to just be me and my kids, maybe a part time kid or two like the two I have now for cash for me basically but no full time. I don't know though, I will see how I feel come September when the baby arrives! At least I will have time to prep a contract and policy handbook and be prepared for when I am ready!

Lets hope DH gets in :: that would be great!!