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I always agree with them! I always say "yes daycare is a crazy expense...almost a second mortgage for some families". Mainly because it is and it's not my fault. We are all human trying to make it. Daycare fees are outrageous, I think we can all agree with that and most of us don't even make what we are truly worth!!Comment
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And if a couple decides to have child/ren they have the choice to work or stay home with them. Most families can make that work somehow. You might not afford an iphone or a 2nd car or vacations but life is full of trade-offs. And once a child starts school options are more open.Comment
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Nope
I feel very little sympathy for most people. We all have a story, and frankly, I find it funny that parents can't pay the fee but can pay for everything else. What they really mean is that if they pay you, they can't have all their luxuries they are feeling entitled to.Comment
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You could always offer her a loan. I mean we are all rolling in the dough with this job.
Side note, I just went to the Dollar Tree(LOVE that place)and bought stuff for the dcf's kids' Easter fun here, to the tune of 50 bucks. I don't think parents(for the most part) have a clue what we put into this job; our hard earned money, time, emotions, so much of ourselves not to mention a piece of our heart gets taken too.
To them, they drop their child/ren off, pick them back up at the end of their day. But they're clueless of what we've accomplished getting everyone fed, keeping everyone safe, healthy, happy, entertained, learning, clean(ok, that's only partly true
), and with any luck at all, well-rested. Not to mention the off hours when we're shopping for them, trying to plan menus they'll eat, learning new tools of the trade, and activities, trying to follow all the rules and regulations, paying all our dc bills, trying to please every child and parent so all are happy enough to come another day so we don't all go broke. Some days I feel like I'm walking a tight rope, just thinking of all that could go wrong in the blink of an eye. And I am Blessed with awesome parents!
Ok, who stuck this soapbox under my feet?
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Crazy8, Just rereading my post I think you need to up her rates to the level of everyone else you have!!
Seriously. Does she know she pays $25 less a week?Comment
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Yes, she knows!! It came up because I was going to charge more for an extra day a week for a few weeks. I told her she has already paid $500 less in fees than other families since she's started that if I am going to work on my day off just for her she is paying the higher rate or can look elsewhere!
She is just the "woe is me" type and I am getting tired of it!Comment
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Yeah! I can totally relate. I think sometimes parents don't realize what they are actually paying for child care. I think they see the lump sum and think that's a lot of $$.
In recent years I have found it helpful to break it down for them as far as our rate per hour. Just to drive home the issue. I use a tuition worksheet that I give to them at the tour, so they can see how LITTLE they are actually paying.
If you would like a copy of the worksheet, just send me a PM and your email and I would be happy to share.Comment
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Did you know that states spend between $195 and $555 a week per student in school? And that doesn't even include school supplies, which are a huge personal expense for daycares. I think most daycare parents spend significantly less per week. If we don't charge enough (or offer services for "free"), we go into the negatives with our budgets. And people wonder why extra cheap daycare doesn't last long or quality suffers.Comment
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True Story:
I changed rates last fall and gave the notice to parents at drop off. At pick up, I had one dcm sit in my entryway with a super sullen look on her face. Then she got up, pacing back and forth... I'm sitting there thinking "wth, is she sick or something?", but no, she wasn't. She was contemplating what kind of spin she could put on my rate change to benefit her.
Then she proceeded to say "I just don't know what we're going to do", "I'd hate to have to find another provider", "this just isn't fair to us", "I'd hate to have to leave if we can't find a solution".
Over $3.
Yes, $3 -A WEEK. Less than the Starbucks coffee she totes with her every morning.
This was ultimately the last straw for me and I terminated services for that and other reasons.
In your case, if it's really just money that the parent complains about, I'd put it back on them:
"I understand, and we can date your two week notice today since you're uncomfortable with my fees".Comment
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