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One of my existing families is requesting to bring their children an hour early now due to a new job. This would be an hour before I'm currently open. I don't want to do it. I have my own children to get up and off to school. The dck would arrive before my kids are even awake. Saying no will cause me to lose the family. I'm ok with that but feel like it makes me sound lazy to say no. I have my opening hours for a reason. What would you do?
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Say no. If you have your reasons that is all that matters. -
If you are ok with losing the family, I wouldn't worry about what they think of you. Just tell them that it isn't feasible for your program to open that early.Comment
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"DCM, I'm unable to open any earlier than I currently do. I completely understand if you need to find another care provider than can open earlier. I ask that you follow your signed contract and give me two weeks notice. Do you need me to make today the start of the notice period?"
All said with an empathetic/sincere tone, but without apology. If I were to ask my hairdresser or grocery store or mechanic to open an hour earlier for every time I needed the service, I imagine the answer would be "no." We have business hours for a reason.Comment
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I don't think it sounds lazy. I would just tell her, your schedule makes it impossible for you to open earlier. You don't have to elaborate more, or give an excuse. You can't, it doesn't matter why. It COULD be that you're being lazy, but it doesn't matter even if you are. If you wanted to sit naked in your living room eating cereal from the box for that hour, you could, because it's still your time
Best of luck!
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I had to do this once and I just told them I could not expand my hours .Comment
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It is not at all lazy! It's hard getting everyone ready and out the door! I don't think any of my dcf would like to have an extra kid added into their morning routine, they SHOULD understand (doesn't mean they will)
I used to open at 7:30. I would have all the kids here while getting my kids up and ready and out the door. Then when my middle daughter started kindergarten I had to bring ALL of the kids to the bus stop. We do not have sidewalks so we were in the road, or in the grass very close to the road. In the winter with the snowbanks ugh it was a nightmare! I did that for 3 mnths before I said enough of this! I changed my time to 8:30, after my kids were gone. BEST decision I ever made for daycare so far! I did not lose anyone. Turns out they didn't have to be at work that early, they only came because I was open.
I made an exception for one dcg who is super well behaved. She comes at 8 and comes to the bus with us, but I can manage one extra, not 6 though
I would not open earlier knowing what I went through when I didComment
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I agree with playcare, just say it doesn't work for you. I wouldn't open earlier for anyone.Comment
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As long as you can afford to lose this family, don't worry about what they think. It's more important that your kids get off to a good start in the morning before they head off to school. It can be very stressful for them and you if there are other kids in your care that get in the way of that.
When my kids were school age, my business hours were 9-4. I'm sure a lot of people thought I was just being lazy but I set those hours because I wanted my kids to be able to wake up, get dressed and eat breakfast without having to compete with the day care kids for my attention. Their bus came between 8:30/8:45 and dropped them off in the afternoon a little after 4:00 so I set my day care hours accordingly. When your kids are older, you may be able to be a little more flexible but for now, your kids and your sanity come first.
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