"Working for the Parents" vs. "Working for Yourself"

[hsdcmama]

As a home daycare provider, it feels like there is this fine line between working "for" the parents, and working for yourself; and it is a unique situation I am having trouble nailing down.

On the one hand, I am self-employed. I make all the decisions about how my daycare will be run, who I will accept into care, and what behaviors/ requests I will or will not accept from the children and parents. I get to decide my holidays, vacation time, salary, and pretty much everything else, and the parents can take it or leave it.

But then on the other hand, it is the parents who pay my salary. I provide a service that they are choosing to take advantage of, and they can choose to walk away from it just as easily. I am held accountable to the parents, yet they are not my "boss". It is an interesting situation that seems to be unique to in-home childcare.

What do you think about it? Do you run your daycare with an iron fist, or let the parents have input into your policies & how your daycare will run? Have you found a healthy balance between the two that you are comfortable with?

[Heidi]

I've found a healthy balance. I see the parent's as customers, and as someone with many years of customer service experience, I know there are times to be flexible and times to quote policy.

[Shell]

I know what you mean. When I first opened, I was new to town, didn't know anybody, and found clients on Craigslist. Fortunately, I had worked in centers for over a decade, so I knew what to do as far as curriculum, meals, relationships with parents, what to buy for toys and crafts, etc. The parent piece was entirely new to me- I just assumed everyone would be respectful and pay on time- as I was taking care of their child and doing it at a fraction of what centers were charging. After learning the hard way that not everyone is kind and considerate, I have gotten more business like. With the help of the forum, I've come to realize that yes, parents are paying me, but it's my business and my call ultimately. Now, I am a little more understanding than a center would be, but that's only if people show me the same respect.

[Annalee]

As a home daycare provider, it feels like there is this fine line between working "for" the parents, and working for yourself; and it is a unique situation I am having trouble nailing down.

On the one hand, I am self-employed. I make all the decisions about how my daycare will be run, who I will accept into care, and what behaviors/ requests I will or will not accept from the children and parents. I get to decide my holidays, vacation time, salary, and pretty much everything else, and the parents can take it or leave it.

But then on the other hand, it is the parents who pay my salary. I provide a service that they are choosing to take advantage of, and they can choose to walk away from it just as easily. I am held accountable to the parents, yet they are not my "boss". It is an interesting situation that seems to be unique to in-home childcare.

What do you think about it? Do you run your daycare with an iron fist, or let the parents have input into your policies & how your daycare will run? Have you found a healthy balance between the two that you are comfortable with?

The first 10 years I worked for the parents, but the last 10 plus I work for myself....not nearly as gullible and have a "take it or leave it" attitude realizing parents are clients, no more and no less...just clients.... Don't mean to sound heartless or rude but "hard knocks with experience" are the best teachers in this business.....

[Indianadaycare]

The first 10 years I worked for the parents, but the last 10 plus I work for myself....not nearly as gullible and have a "take it or leave it" attitude realizing parents are clients, no more and no less...just clients.... Don't mean to sound heartless or rude but "hard knocks with experience" are the best teachers in this business.....

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I try to give where I am able to give but there are definitely areas where I am simply not willing to. At this point, I am at a, "I offer a, b, c, d, e, f, g. " and then I just let them decide if they want to take it or leave it. I know there are areas I offer MORE in than others around here and there are areas I offer LESS in (hours being one of them!). I am not bending much anymore because I am burnt out. Hoping that changes soon.

[therov]

I always give parents a copy of my policy manual when they interview so we're all absolutely clear where the business policies stand. There are a lot of variables, though, and I always tell my clients that we're in a partnership. Since I'm with the kids all day on weekdays--but NOT the parent--we need to communicate about good and bad behaviors, progress on certain skills (self-feeding, toileting, etc.), and the like. But I always lead off with "this has worked best for families so far..." and make them ask for changes, rather than leaving the topic completely open for discussion.

Things that are not compromises:
- Payment amounts or dates
- Vacation time (I plan mine for the year in January)
- Toilet-learning policy
- Foods, unless an allergy (I give them a sample menu at the interview)
- Pickup time cannot interrupt naptime--pick up earlier or later

Hope this helps.

[Blackcat31]

I've found a healthy balance. I see the parent's as customers, and as someone with many years of customer service experience, I know there are times to be flexible and times to quote policy.

This is me too.

There is a very fine line between working for yourself and working for the parents.

Once you find you healthy balance, it pretty much eliminates the common issues you hear/read other providers venting about.

If I could pass only one piece of advice onto new providers it would be to figure out what things are YOUR responsibility and what things are PARENT's responsibility and don't let those two things get blurred.

If we all (parents AND providers) do our parts, the relationship is healthy and productive for BOTH parties.

[hsdcmama]

This is me too.

There is a very fine line between working for yourself and working for the parents.

Once you find you healthy balance, it pretty much eliminates the common issues you hear/read other providers venting about.

If I could pass only one piece of advice onto new providers it would be to figure out what things are YOUR responsibility and what things are PARENT's responsibility and don't let those two things get blurred.

If we all (parents AND providers) do our parts, the relationship is healthy and productive for BOTH parties.

I like that. I tried to include every possible thing I could think of in my parent agreement, definitely including what the parents are responsible for and what I am responsible for. It would be really awkward otherwise. I am still adding/changing things here and there, but for the most part the parents & I are happy with it.

[KayB]

This is me too.

There is a very fine line between working for yourself and working for the parents.

Once you find you healthy balance, it pretty much eliminates the common issues you hear/read other providers venting about.

If I could pass only one piece of advice onto new providers it would be to figure out what things are YOUR responsibility and what things are PARENT's responsibility and don't let those two things get blurred.

If we all (parents AND providers) do our parts, the relationship is healthy and productive for BOTH parties.

This is my way also!