Vent About New Kid

[Baby Beluga]

Sorry this is so long... Remember the comment about the girl who is potty trained but still in diapers because she pees around kids? Yeah, she started today.

After many emails exchanged she had an interview on Friday. Mom was nice but seemed like she was missing a few marbles. She was really impressed with my program and daycare room and wanted her daughter to start Monday - great. I explained my policies in detail gave her the paperwork and said if she wanted her daughter to start Monday I would need the deposit, the first weeks tuition and all completed/signed paperwork before Monday. I also explained that I am closed on weekends however since she was in a pinch (she had supposedly given notice to her other provider already) she could drop everything off on Saturday provided she send me a text to make sure I am home. I preferred this over bringing everything Monday morning anyway. She agreed and left. I sent her a follow up email etc and did not hear one word from her over the weekend. I figured she changed her mind and that was that.

Then 7:00 this morning there is a knock on my door and it is her!? She had the majority of the paperwork signed and completed but wanted to leave her daughter with me without paying a dime because she still needed to figure out her work schedule. (Some of her days are longer and she will be paying extended day fees as her regular tuition). Yeah, not gonna happen. I explained to her again that tuition and her deposit are due in full prior to beginning care. Then I pointed it out in the paperwork she just signed and gave me. So I had her pay the drop in rate for today, told her she needed to give me her exact work schedule and pay the full weeks tuition at pick up today or I would refuse care tomorrow.

She also only brought 6 diapers and a handful of wipes in a baggie.

I know a few things about her (at least from what she has told me)
Dad is not in the picture, she just started a new job and moved to my city a couple of months ago. I get all of these things can make one crazy, but really get your stuff together! I just can't help but feel that she is a daycare jumper. I personally don't have experience with one but I know you ladies have. Does she sound like a jumper to you?

At least if she is 1) I am still advertising and 2) I am being paid for today.

[KidGrind]

She could just be disorganized. The paperwork was a good sign. Make sure you have ALL of it at drop-off tomorrow.

She could be a jumper.

Either way, I wish you the very best. Kudos to you for sticking to your guns and not falling for the ambush drop-off tactic.

[Shell]

Uh oh, run!!! So glad you stood firm and didn't let her come without the necessary forms and payments. You handled this well, let us know what tomorrow brings ::

[hope]

I'm thinking you will not be receiving any additional payment or work schedule this evening. Hope I am wrong and she just seems to be flighty. If she does come through you should have a list of things that she will need to bring tomorrow. List quantities. 40 diapers. One unopened package of baby wipes. 2 changes of clothing. Lists may help with her organization problems.

[Baby Beluga]

I'm thinking you will not be receiving any additional payment or work schedule this evening. Hope I am wrong and she just seems to be flighty. If she does come through you should have a list of things that she will need to bring tomorrow. List quantities. 40 diapers. One unopened package of baby wipes. 2 changes of clothing. Lists may help with her organization problems.

I can't say this would bother me, really. I just have a sinking feeling in my gut that tells me this isn't going to work out. The mom and I talked and talked and talked. How she doesn't or couldn't know my policies and procedures by now I am not sure. I have a bullet list at the end of her contract stating everything that needs to be brought in prior to enrolling. Paperwork (listing the title of each page) child supplies and tuition/fees. I am going to type up an additional one and send it home tonight.
The DCG is so friendly and I feel bad for her. She is 3.5 years old. Not potty trained and can't speak very well. Mom brought her with a sip cup full of Hawaiian punch this morning and her teeth have visible decay on them. Plus her poor nose is so stuffed up this morning she can't breathe (what little she can blow out is clear). I just get the impression that she isn't necessarily getting the best care or attention at home even though mom was a SAHM for the first 3 years of her life. Should mom straighten up I think the DCG would be a great addition here. But, if mom can't or won't then she will be termed.

[Baby Beluga]

So...update. Mom picks up and gives me her schedule and says in 3 weeks it will change. I tell her I need her schedule form filled out now and I will give her a blank one to fill out when her schedule changes. I total her tuition and extended day fees based off of the schedule she gives me. She tells me she is short (only by like $10) and asks if she can give me a portion of it now and the remainder on Friday. I tell her no, that this is a business and if I let one rule slide for one family then other families will expect the same.

She then asks if she can take Friday off her tuition and not bring DCK...huh??? Come to find out she doesn't work on Fridays but has it as her "me day" that angered me like no other as her child is here longer then any other child, but I tried to remember that she pays for a service and can use it as she pleases. I begrudgingly let her take Friday off as a one time favor and she payed for the remainder of the week. Now I am kicking myself for doing this since it says in my contract families pay 52 weeks per year regardless of attendance). Sigh, I am trying to be understanding but I don't' see this ending very well.

What would you do? I would really like to fill these last two spots (hers and another) but I don't want to dislike my job either. Term? See if she shapes up and go from there?

[Unregistered]

Off to a rocky start. She sure is pushing you to bend your requirements a good deal right off the bat.

Repeat your own words to yourself frequently with all future requests to bend:

"I tell her no, that this is a business and if I let one rule slide for one family then other families will expect the same. "