Its All About The Money.... (Just My Opinion)

[NightOwl]

Are you charging a high rate for the very long hours?

Exactly what I was thinking. If my kids are present more than 50 hours, the rate goes up by $25 weekly.

[Unregistered]

We run a small business. It just happens to be caregiving. It doesn't mean we don't want to make money. If I didn't care about the money I wouldn't work at all, , for real though. Just because it has to do with kids and most of us are mothers doesn't mean we do it for fun.
We are only allowed so many kids by law. It makes sense to charge for a slot instead of attendance. I can't control illness or other issues and I need to make money

[jenboo]

I pay monthly for the Internet if I even don't use it. I pay monthly for swimming pool if I even don't come there, I pay $$ every month for medical insurance if I even don't visit the doctor many years .... Why do I do so? I do because it is my choice. I think it will seem foolish if I start blame someone because my choice.

Dear parents, don't make a contract with a daycare. Get a babysitter for any hours you need and be happy. Is it not so simple to find a person who will work for you at any moment when you need and will not if you don't need? oh... it's so sad....

PS sorry. I replied without reading the first post entirely

happyface
This exactly!

Plus, I need the reliable income. I can't afford to have luxury days off without pay.

[Unregistered]

I would be lying if I said it didn't kind of bug me when parents take a day off, but still bring their kids. I get it that they need some time to do things without kids, but it still bugs me a little when I know there only plan is to go home and sleep. Nothing I can do about it, though, so over the years, I just try to ignore it and continue on as usual. The hardest part is when you know the child understands the situtation and are upset, because some times they are just desperate for attention from their parent and the parents seems oblivious. I can't imagine not having my kids with me, since they are with me pretty much all the time, so it is hard for me to see the perspective of daycare parents. I have only ever been on the provider side. As ffor my daycare, I run it like a business too, but it is not comparable to a whistle shop. Unless the whistle shop can only serve the same 6 people everyday and those 6 people coming or not coming into the store is how the whistle shop pays the bills to stay open. I doubt the whistle shop would be very successful if those 6 people's attendence in the store is the only way to make money.

[LindseyA]

The only time it bothers me (parents bring their kids on days parents aren't working) is when they pick up their children late! But I am very pleased with all the families right now, (never stays that way, but for now!) and whenever they have a day off and bring the kids, they usually pick them up earlier than usual! As for the business comparison, I don't agree with Mr. Sir. But to each his own!

[laundrymom]

I've not read through all the responses as they started getting me .... Well. (Laundry, move on. Lol)

I start my 28th yr in May. I've got a wee bit of experience. Can I be honest?

There is no ONE WAY to provide care.

There is no magic formula. There is no one answer.

Do what you feel best serves you. Parents will agree or keep looking.

I charge a flat rate. Not all families pay the same rate. Newer families pay higher rates for the same care.

And I STILL have people who keep their kids home a couple days a month to spend time with them.
Parents are wonderfully complex beings. They are much like their children. When Jasper, or his parents, discover that Mariahs mom had the day off work and spent it cuddled with her on the couch,..... Well.... Guess who wants that same luxury?
I promise all of you, stay true to yourself and things will be okay. There is no one way to be a provider.

[MamaB'sKidz]

If I had an unlimited amount of "whistles" to sell I might do things differently but my shop is only allowed to have 12 on hand at one time. If I didn't treat this as a business and didn't use the money to pay bills I also might do things differently. My parents gladly pay for the days I require because they know my shop would be forced to close if they didn't.

[momofsix]

I've not read through all the responses as they started getting me .... Well. (Laundry, move on. Lol)

I start my 28th yr in May. I've got a wee bit of experience. Can I be honest?

There is no ONE WAY to provide care.

There is no magic formula. There is no one answer.

Do what you feel best serves you. Parents will agree or keep looking.

I charge a flat rate. Not all families pay the same rate. Newer families pay higher rates for the same care.

And I STILL have people who keep their kids home a couple days a month to spend time with them.
Parents are wonderfully complex beings. They are much like their children. When Jasper, or his parents, discover that Mariahs mom had the day off work and spent it cuddled with her on the couch,..... Well.... Guess who wants that same luxury?
I promise all of you, stay true to yourself and things will be okay. There is no one way to be a provider.

happyfaceWisest words i've read in a long timehappyface