SO Irritated - Am I Your Doormat Now?

[TheGoodLife]

I would say write up a new contract (if you haven't already) and give the new tuition rate with fewer hours- if DCM is working less hours for less pay, and you are getting less pay as well, YOU should have less hours. I think that is fair to you both (more than fair, in fact, for them!!)

[ihop]

I used to have to hunt down my pay all the time. I prefer to get it in the morning so there is no awkward conversation at pick up when I have to ask to be paid. I started texting parents during nap "Hey everyone, I hope your day is going as great as ours is! I just wanted to send out a friendly reminder that payment is due today by 6pm. See you later!"
Worked great because it made them feel like they may forget it if I wasn't reminding them and they all started making the effort to pay Thursday or in the morning.

[SignMeUp]

Fewer child care hours was not an option for them. It's a complicated mix of their two jobs and when I'm open. (I do four days per week.)
I could have done the fifth day, which I just finished doing for another family and do not want to do again. They could have cut one day here, but they would still need the day that I'm not open.
I offered to do this because it was a solution for them. Like I said, they have been that perfect DC family. They are great, their kids are great, super nice, super respectful of every rule, just everything, for all these years.
I figured that if I didn't do the fifth day (which they can't afford to do anyway) I might lose them altogether. I will have the younger child for the next four years, and the older one in the summer.
So I presented it as a temporary solution. When their oldest is back in school, the money won't be as tight and I doubt that it will be a problem. Also, DCM is looking for a new job with fewer out-of-town hours, and if she finds something, they will pay the full rate. I did set it up to reassess every few weeks; I spelled it out on their contract.
Maybe I am just having inappropriate "seller's remorse" but they don't ever forget to pay me.
I did send them a message, but no response so far.

[Heidi]

I agree with Cheerfuldom. Maybe they forgot? My very best parent has forgotten before. I would wait until p/u and see if they pay, if not I would bring it up. I have to do this with one of my families often, I hate having to do it-they should remember, but I need to get paid.

"Did you forget something this morning?"

Or

"Hey, did you put your check somewhere that I didn't find it?"

[TheGoodLife]

I will have the younger child for the next four years, and the older one in the summer.
So I presented it as a temporary solution. When their oldest is back in school, the money won't be as tight and I doubt that it will be a problem. Also, DCM is looking for a new job with fewer out-of-town hours, and if she finds something, they will pay the full rate. I did set it up to reassess every few weeks; I spelled it out on their contract.

Good luck, hopefully they have it ready at drop-off and it was just one of those forgetful moments!

[melilley]

"Did you forget something this morning?"

Or

"Hey, did you put your check somewhere that I didn't find it?"

:: I wish I had the guts to say something like that, especially to the family that always seems to "forget".

[SignMeUp]

Update: DC Mom paid me tonight. Both of them emailed to apologize
Maybe I am just nervous because I am downsizing my group until mid-winter and I am a bit anxious about the finances.