In a Dilemma

[NightOwl]

I have had dcg2 from birth. When I closed my center and started a home daycare, her parents waited for me to open for 3 months. These are loyal people.

So the dilemma is that mom is pregnant and due in February. I didn't have a spot but I assured her we would work it out. But now, my dcb2 who was planning to start next month has decided to stay where they are. So there IS a space for the new baby.

But that's 8 months away! I wasn't going to charge them anything to hold a spot because I technically didn't have one available. I told them we'd work it out when the time came and not to worry. But I can't keep a spot open for 8 months either. That's $520 a month I would be losing.

I don't feel like I can ask them to pay to hold the spot because of our previous conversation and me assuring them it would all work out. Idk what to do here...

[coolconfidentme]

You can explain that a spot recently came available & it isn't cost effective for you to hold it for 8 months. Thrown in, "I'm sure you understand." (That always puts the ball back at them.) I do a 50% holding fee. If they really want the placement, they will pay. They also have the option to roll the dice & come up empty.

[Blackcat31]

I think in these situations, you have to ask yourself...what is MORE important to me at this time...loyalty to the family OR income for you.

Once you decide that, the rest is easy.

If you need to tell them that you can't hold the space for that long without some sort of payment, tell them exactly what you said above...

You had it worked out but now things are different what do YOU (the family) want to do about that? Pay to guarantee the space or take a gamble?

It really is their decision.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

You can explain that a spot recently came available & it isn't cost effective for you to hold it for 8 months. Thrown in, "I'm sure you understand." (That always puts the ball back at them.) I do a 50% holding fee. If they really want the placement, they will pay. They also have the option to roll the dice & come up empty.

Absolutely! I highly doubt that Mom, despite how nice she is, would pass up $4,000+ for the sake of being nice. That is A LOT of money. I tend to be pretty upfront about spot openings. I have people who are interested in part-time and those ARE extremely rare over here so I give them a time estimate (the next foreseeable available opening for that is in 1.5 years, but I can let you know if it becomes available any sooner...) and perhaps you could do the same? Your reassurance makes it seem like you will make room when the time comes but with ratios and all that just may not be possible.

[NightOwl]

It was definitely a spur of the moment comment. They had just told me she's pregnant and I was so excited for them, so I was like sure! I'll figure it out! I spoke before I thought. It was a mistake, but it's done and now I have to deal with it.

[Shell]

Agree with BC about figuring out what is more important to you. Personally, I wouldn't ask the dcm to pay to hold the spot, and I would try to find a replacement in the meantime. Eight months is a long time- let's say you take on a new family- then in February you can re-assess if you keep all existing families or term one that isn't working out. Another family could lose their job, move, etc. there is never a guarantee in this business!

[cheerfuldom]

Just because you said something does not mean you have to trap yourself into a commitment. Why not have a conversation or write a letter beginning with the fact that you were so excited they were pregnant, you may have given them false hope that you would have a spot 100% for sure for them. In reality, this is what their options will be......and then outline what you can and cannot do for them. A letter would be best. One comment said spur of the moment can quickly be clarified by a professional letter.

[coolconfidentme]

It was definitely a spur of the moment comment. They had just told me she's pregnant and I was so excited for them, so I was like sure! I'll figure it out! I spoke before I thought. It was a mistake, but it's done and now I have to deal with it.

"we'd work it out when the time came and not to worry"...., doesn't sound to me like you were offering to hold a spot for free. It sounds like an opportunity came to work it out came earlier than expected. It is up to her if she wants to act on it.

[Heidi]

Agree with BC about figuring out what is more important to you. Personally, I wouldn't ask the dcm to pay to hold the spot, and I would try to find a replacement in the meantime. Eight months is a long time- let's say you take on a new family- then in February you can re-assess if you keep all existing families or term one that isn't working out. Another family could lose their job, move, etc. there is never a guarantee in this business!

I wouldn't freak out anyone at this time. You never know what changes, and 8 months IS a long time. Fill the spot, and see what happens.

[NightOwl]

"we'd work it out when the time came and not to worry"...., doesn't sound to me like you were offering to hold a spot for free. It sounds like an opportunity came to work it out came earlier than expected. It is up to her if she wants to act on it.

You are right about that! I didn't say anything about holding a spot. Just that we'd work it out.

[jenboo]

8 months is a long time! I would fill the spot and deal with it when the time is closer. Who knows what could happen in that amount of time. You might end up having a spot available. Maybe the new family doesn't work out.....

[Unregistered]

How about a conversation like this:
Hey, Dcm, an opening just came up! I know it's really early for your needs, but as you probably know, it's hard to say when another opening will come up. So, here's how it works: if you'd like to save the space for your baby, the holding fee is $xxx per week/month. If you choose not to hold the space, I will fill it, but you take the chance that I will not have another opening at the time that you return to work. Just let me know by xx/xx date, and we can do the paperwork or I will fill my spot.

[Annalee]

You can explain that a spot recently came available & it isn't cost effective for you to hold it for 8 months. Thrown in, "I'm sure you understand." (That always puts the ball back at them.) I do a 50% holding fee. If they really want the placement, they will pay. They also have the option to roll the dice & come up empty.

I had this happen once, not 8 months, but for 8 weeks and I talked to the clients about splitting the difference.....I lost out 4 weeks of pay, but the clients started paying 4 weeks early...... Just a suggestion that maybe they would split the difference with you......Good Luck!

[NightOwl]

So I could put it back on them; give them the option to pay holding fees or take their chances. So I'm not technically making the decision, they are.

[Crazy8]

Personally I wouldn't even offer it up to them 8 months out - when you said you'd try to work it out when the time came, that to me means 8 months from now. I would just fill the space now and not worry about it till the time got closer. Anything can happen in the next 8 months.