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It's quiet time, and I just read a few threads (one about someone unhappy about inconsistent income), then hopped over to check my e-mails. Right at the top was one from my new family, giving notice. This is their second week, and I had just squeezed out a problem dcm to make room for them. What the heck happened??? I don't think they are unhappy with me or my policies. There was no explanation in the e-mail. The only thing I can think is they used me to fill a 3-week gap before they could start them at another daycare they had already committed to. Now I am left to fill 2 stupid spots, A G A I N. I am so disappointed, and a little po'd. Sometimes this job is the absolute pits. And now I don't want to face dcm or dcd at pick-up.
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I just lost 2 too. They were great because they wanted 3-4 days and were flexible with which days. She is staying home with them so I am happy for them but I don't think I will find another p/t fit like that to work around other odd family. So now I really only have one full time opening but my income took a blow!
May we all fill soon! Summer always gets me!Comment
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That ****s!! But please don't be afraid to confront them and ask why. They took the cowardly way in just emailing you. Look them right in the eye and tell them you were surprised to read their email and you would like to know why they are leaving.
I feel your pain though. I have a family I am hanging onto because I have NO ONE looking for care to replace them. Usually I get calls this time of year but the last 2 years have been the worst.Comment
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Thank you. I do feel better knowing it isn't just me. I had a flood of interest just about a month and a half ago. Now...nothing.
With the last few kids I enrolled that were not infants, either the kids or the parents (or both!) came with such bad habits. It is so hard to turn that around. I would love to only enroll newborns, because all those families stay with me from birth to kindergarten, but I lose so much income holding spots for weeks and sometimes months. I have scared away a few potential clients by asking for a holding fee, so I don't think anyone would ever be willing to pay it.
It looks like I am going to have 2 empty spots the last month of summer till the bts calls come in. I guess I just have to tell myself to enjoy the tiny bit less work it will be and not constantly pine the 25% loss of income.
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Good luck! :hug:
This is the last week for one of my twos too - his grandparents want to spend more time with him so they'll be taking care of him beginning next week. I'm bummed because I've got tons of infants on my wait list but because of ratios I won't have a spot for them, and around here children 2+ are hard to find. This is the thing I hate most about this job.Comment
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Well, isn't that interesting?
The older dcg (5 in aug) told me that they are going to their old babysitter that they used to go to next week when I am on vacation. She even told me the gal's whole name, so I will be googling that tonight. The girls do not know yet that they are not coming back here at all.
DCD picked up and he told me that they have the older one going to a strictly pre-k center and the younger one will be babysat by gma and gpa.
This family moved from a neighboring city, and the family dynamics are a little odd from what the 2 chatty girls have told me. Yep, I've been used. Now I will have a 5 kid turnover in 6 wks. Wonder how that looks to the existing clients?:
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This is why you need to do a one CALENDAR month notice and only accept notice on Friday. This stops people who are looking for short term care to use you.Comment
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2wks notice and deposit is pretty common around here and a month would be hard to push for. Even people not trying to pull a fast one knows life can change a lot in a month and that's also a long time to deal with someone knowing they're leaving. I hated that time when my DCM gave me 3 mos notice before moving on to Jr preschool with big sister.
I lost 3 kids in 4 mos (Sept-Dec) and it ****ed! I was so depressed and bummed out. I've had 2 families that came for 2-4wks and gave notice :-( both left to stay home but it still ****ed
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Yeah, idt I could do a month notice. It wouldn't fly around here. I know I'd never collect that much in a deposit. I've been being so much stricter with policies, and I think it's totally turning people off. Sigh...Comment
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I used to be what I call "catch-all" daycare.
I took any family I could catch. ANY family.
Then I wised up and started realizing the error in my ways and really tightened up the reins to my business. I stared enforcing policies and rules for everyone.
I DO think it turned a few families off but in hind sight, those were families that were either already a PITA family or families that wanted EVERYTHING for pennies.
Now I truly and honestly believe the reason I have VERY few issues with any of my kids/parents is because I have tightened up the reins.
I am picky about who I enroll and have passed on several families simply because my gut instinct said no, even though the families were willing to pay and they "appeared" to be a golden family.
I feel that tightening those reins made a HUGE impact on everything. I rarely advertise and am recommended by 99% of clients/families no longer in care. Almost all the kids who have left my program in the last few years have aged out verses being booted out and I feel better about the job over all.
I "know" that with the families I have now, that if I had an issue with one of their children and had to speak to them about it, what I had to say would be listened to and valued. I trust what my families say and feel they trust me equally as well.
Anyways, I just wanted to say that sometimes the very thing that turns certain families off to your program is the very thing that lures others in so don't give up hope of finding that right fit.
I also think that if you've had a 5 kid turn over in a short amount of time it DOES say something to other families but not in a negative way. To me, it says you are willing to do what it takes to make sure a family/child IS a right fit before keeping them for the long haul. I think there are lots of families that appreciate that.
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