Would this be an issue to you?

[Annalee]

Yes analee the problem is you need to work with someone you can depend upon and trust. Which is usually family and friends. I also have my mom with me but after she leaves I'm going to 6. I don't like to feel as if I have to entertain someone anyways. I like to run my own show. I have found out the hard way friends take advantage and it is more aggravation then it is worth depending on anyone else in this business

No ONE views child care, in my opinion, like I do to the point I would work with them 40+ hours a week except my mom....there are only 16 years between mom and I. We have worked the entire 20+ years together but could NOT do that with anyone else...I have stated before on this forum that we are known as the "pioneer women" in our community....::

[Suzy]

Thank you sign me up! No I think I managed to hold on to my personality.

[craftymissbeth]

My sister and I both wanted to do home daycare, but I convinced her to open up first so I would be able to get experience without quitting my "awesome" *cough cough* government job first.

She quit within 5 months

[daycarediva]

I would suggest you have your next assistant since a non-compete thingy (my mind is blanking, idk what it's called)

I would be upset that she kept it from you and tried to take clients from you. Enough to end the friendship for sure. Not at all upset that she opened up, and she can't help her location.

[Suzy]

I also didn't like the idea she wanted to stay another 6 months. She basically wanted to set herself up first. I felt like she was calling the shots with my business and taking what she needed from it and deciding when she would leave. She was starting to ask me all kinds of questions. I would of felt like I was being interviewed for the next few months. I guess I was just not a good enough friend and I felt a need to protect my livelihood. It was a very sad ending.

[MOM OF 4]

I wouldn't mind her starting a new childcare, even if it were up the street. I would not share my personal stuff with her-I worked hard to develop it, and that's something she should do for herself. If I felt she were capable, I wouldn't have a problem with sending referrals her way, either. I get way more calls than I have space for.

Trying to steal your clients is another story. That would be enough for me to end the friendship.

All of this.

I never showed my contract to 'friends' because I know better. Over the years, friends have come and gone and they'll always do what is best for them. So to protect myself, I do what's best for me: Do not mix business and friendship. Ever.

I had another friend who DID do daycare, but she was in a different part of town. I definitely referred her a lot of clients. She NEVER referred any back to me. She'd get people to try to drive out of their way to her instead of where I was, which was closer to the parent. I found out when she slipped up and told me. There was a lady who called with 3 kids. She said she'd called another provider, and gave me the provider's name. The provider actually has a common name so saying "Christine" would mean nothing to me. It could be ANY Christine, and trust me, there were a LOT of them on the referral list. I got the client! However, I called her up and in my excitement, told her about this new client with 3 kids. (2 were BA school) She slipped up and said "(name)? Oh, I had an interview but she said she was looking for child care closer, and cancelled" Funny, because that parent said the same exact thing, and said nothing about being referred by friend. She DID, however, mention my AD! So it just goes to show, you think you have this awesome friend, and they're not truly awesome after all.

Now, the fact she's trying to TAKE the clientele YOU built up and get them to come to HER new daycare? That's enough to make me want to punch a girl in the face! That's really sneaky, devious and unacceptable behavior. You are RIGHT to let her go. Let her sink herself. People that do that kind of stuff always will.

Good luck, I hope your parents stay with YOU!

[Unregistered]

I would be happy I had someone to go on walks with and to the park with. My good friend started a FDC after I did, and we met for story hour and also met at the park. Her companionship and friendship was such a blessing.

If a friend undersold me and took families from me it would be horrible and upsetting. Otherwise, I'd wish her all the best and I'd be there to share my knowledge and resources.

[Crazy8]

the sneakiness of it would bother me the most. She didn't openly tell you what her plans were and chances are she didn't wake up yesterday and decide she wanted to open a daycare.

I am in an area where getting kids is TOUGH. I would have to view anyone in my area as "competition" and I would not share my info with them. I worked to create everything the way I need it to be - they need to do the same for them. One size does not fit all in the way of contracts - as the hundreds of us here all have different things we choose to have in ours.

[Unregistered]

I would not be offended that an assistant started a daycare. This exact thing has happened to me, twice. However, I do think it shows some nerve that she would be mad at you for not sharing resources and referrals and handing over a ready made business to her. She had a lot of assumptions there that you would just hand over everything to her. I am not surprised that she worked while she was planning her next job. People do that kind of thing all the time. I wouldnt be offended about that......I am sure she just didnt want you to get mad and fire her if she told you beforehand.