Talk me down....

[childcaremom]

I have a family that has emailed me off and on about care. She needs care to start in the next few weeks and needs a 6:45 drop off. I've told her that I don't open earlier than 7. She has said they can't do 7 b/c of traffic (I believe her, traffic can be horrid in the mornings).

It is perfect timing for my one spot that just opened.... but the early start isn't.
Yet, I'm still considering it.

I'm crazy, right? I would end up regretting it, right?

I've left it that I told her I couldn't accomodate it and good luck with their search....

[BabyMonkeys]

You would probably end up regretting it, unless you made it worth your time. My normal rate is $175. I would probably charge her another $25 to open that early. Then again...it might be worth that extra $25 for me to sleep in!

Do you need the family? Do they seem like a great fit other than the start time?

[Thriftylady]

If you have already said that, to go back and change it now might sound desperate. I guess my question is how badly do you need to fill the spot? If I needed to badly I would do it, otherwise I wouldn't.

[Blackcat31]

I have a family that has emailed me off and on about care. She needs care to start in the next few weeks and needs a 6:45 drop off. I've told her that I don't open earlier than 7. She has said they can't do 7 b/c of traffic (I believe her, traffic can be horrid in the mornings).

It is perfect timing for my one spot that just opened.... but the early start isn't.
Yet, I'm still considering it.

I'm crazy, right? I would end up regretting it, right?

I've left it that I told her I couldn't accomodate it and good luck with their search....

I don't open until 7 either.

I have one family that arrives at 6:45. I allow it because they pick up REALLY early (2:00) but I also charge a premium for the early drop off, even though it's only 15 minutes. I charge approximately $5 per day ($20 a week) for it. They only come T-F. The extra time in the morning gives me the time to prepare for the day and do any last minute cleaning I didn't do the day before.

I don't offer this service to anyone but this particular family just happen to fit what I was looking for at the time. So far (almost 2 full years later) it's worked out great!

I was VERY clear with them about the extra time and made sure they knew that if they abused it, I would stop doing it. I don't care what the reasoning was.

So, IMHO if you feel everything else is a good fit, try it. Charge for it but try it. You can always term after/during your trial period if you don't think it's going to work out.

I usually approach these types of situations as rather have tried and said no than just wrote it off all together..... especially since everything else seems like a good match.

[childcaremom]

Mornings are crunch time here. So it would alter things considerably. So huge con. Being able to fill the spot almost seamlessly seems almost too perfect.

Most inquiries I get right now are for January which seems so far away. My area it is really hard to fill on short notice. Which stinks but it is what it is.

And yes, Thriftylady, I thought it would make me look desperate, too.

I've got some interviews lined up this weekend, all for January, so hopefully a family will really wow me and I won't mind the wait.

[Play Care]

I don't open until 7 either.

I have one family that arrives at 6:45. I allow it because they pick up REALLY early (2:00) but I also charge a premium for the early drop off, even though it's only 15 minutes. I charge approximately $5 per day ($20 a week) for it. They only come T-F. The extra time in the morning gives me the time to prepare for the day and do any last minute cleaning I didn't do the day before.

I don't offer this service to anyone but this particular family just happen to fit what I was looking for at the time. So far (almost 2 full years later) it's worked out great!

I was VERY clear with them about the extra time and made sure they knew that if they abused it, I would stop doing it. I don't care what the reasoning was.

So, IMHO if you feel everything else is a good fit, try it. Charge for it but try it. You can always term after/during your trial period if you don't think it's going to work out.

I usually approach these types of situations as rather have tried and said no than just wrote it off all together..... especially since everything else seems like a good match.

This. I have one parent that drops off 15 minutes early. I give parents an option with early drop off - either they can choose an earlier pick up (must be before 4:00) or pay a early open fee. So far the few times I've offered it everyone has chosen the earlier pick up time (which is fine with me) I'd much rather start earlier than go later.

[childcaremom]

Dcb would be here until 5. The joys of living in the burbs and commuter traffic.

But I agree, would rather start early and be done early. I get up to go to the gym for 5. So coming home, getting showered, eating breakfast, prepping my own children, etc etc. You all know what mornings are like. I would probably end up cutting my workout short a few mornings and I don't want to do that.

Yeah, it would probably not work out at this point.

[Ariana]

Dcb would be here until 5. The joys of living in the burbs and commuter traffic.

But I agree, would rather start early and be done early. I get up to go to the gym for 5. So coming home, getting showered, eating breakfast, prepping my own children, etc etc. You all know what mornings are like. I would probably end up cutting my workout short a few mornings and I don't want to do that.

Yeah, it would probably not work out at this point.

Even with commuting this is a bit much! They are basically saying that their commute is roughly one hour each way? Mom and dad can't stagger their hours? Seems sad to have a child at daycare for over 10 hours a day. That would be why I would say no.

[littletots]

I think you did right thing to stick to your hours. I find dcp can drop off early so my 830a open can be 822-830a.

[laundrymom]

Even with commuting this is a bit much! They are basically saying that their commute is roughly one hour each way? Mom and dad can't stagger their hours? Seems sad to have a child at daycare for over 10 hours a day. That would be why I would say no.

Jealous of a 7am start time.
I've worked 4:30-5:30 for almost 28 years. Lol
Factory workers.
Gotta love it.

[Unregistered]

My start time is 7:00 also. I'm a morning person and possibly this would work for me if it was an older child - at least late two's! If it was a full time I'd consider it and if the family seemed to really fit.

Then again I love my early morning time to sit on my porch or deck, go for a walk, etc. I would have to consider how much I needed to fill the spot too!

[Unregistered]

If you offer with a fee I don't think it would look desperate.

[Thriftylady]

If you offer with a fee I don't think it would look desperate.

That could be true.

[racemom]

If you decide to take them, I would just say after reconsidering their needs of an early start time and how dcb would be a great fit to your program, you would be willing to accommodate them for $ extra each week.