Feel Bad but…

[lovemydaycare0912]

I have a dcm who gave me her 2 weeks notice today bc she is having difficulty with payments. Dcb's father isn't helping her at all. I don't mind that dcb is leaving. He is my oldest and is a HANDFULL!

Now the tricky part is said she wants to reenroll him after 2 weeks. (In my head, I said this isn't fair for me to lose 2 weeks payment, then take him back.) However, after talking some more, I learned she wants to reenroll him as 3 days as opposed to the 5 he is doing now.

I feel bad because DCM is a great client. Pays and picks up on time. Very respectful. Kept dcb the one time he was sick. BUUUUUTTTT, I prefer full time over part time. I am going to start advertising and calling my waiting list next week. I will let her know she can come back, but if a full time client wants the spot, she will have to find care else where.

I guess my question is, is it wrong to ask her to pay a holding fee of some sort? If I advertise the spot and a full time person wants it, I can refund the holding fee. If not, what happens if she does reenroll and then 2 weeks later, a full timer wants to start? Is it just a risk she has to take?

Sorry, never dealt with this before. TIA!

[laundrymom]

I would take him on a space available basis while advertising. A slightly higher rate, but if a client interviews Tuesday and wants to start Wednesday, they trump the space A kid.
This is how I pay my bills. How I feed my kids. I love the families but I've had to make decisions before that put my needs ahead of my wants. However. Each decision is its own. No two situations are the same.

[AmyKidsCo]

I'm not sure I understand correctly. She gave 2 weeks notice and wants to re-enroll PT at the end of the 2 weeks, or she wants to enroll after 2 weeks without care?

If she wants to go to PT without a break in care I'd let her, but keep looking for a FT child. (My policies say FT takes priority over PT.)

If she wants a 2 week break in care I'd give her a choice:
1. Pay a holding fee (the 3 days amount) to hold the space.
OR
2. Un-enroll, pay no holding fee, and re-enroll. However, upon enrollment she'd have to pay the usual fees again: enrollment fee, first week's care, and the last 2 week's care.

Either way, I'd still be looking for a FT child, and if I found one I'd give her the option of paying FT or finding other care.

[grandmom]

Grandma is coming to town and she doesn't want to pay?

I'd be looking for a replacement.

[snbauser]

My part time contract says that the part timer gets right of first refusal if a full timer comes along. Basically if someone wants the full time spot I go to the part time family and say you can go to full time or your last day will be xyz.

[e.j.]

If he's a handful and you don't really want him back, I would explain that I need to fill the spot with a child who needs full time care only.

If it were me and I didn't mind him coming back part time, I would only ask for a holding fee if I actually planned to hold the spot for them. If I intended to advertise the spot in hopes of signing a full time family, I would just tell her that there is the chance the spot won't be available in 2 weeks and let her decide if it's worth the gamble. I do have a paragraph in my parent handbook that basically states full time trumps part time. I've never done it but I could ask a part time family to leave so I could take on a full time family. Parents know this when they sign up with me.

[lovemydaycare0912]

Hey guys thanks for the feedback.

She actually lives with her mom. Her mom (grandma) has been out of work for some time due to surgery on her hand. She goes back to work I think in 3 or 4 weeks. So she may very well be having her look after him those 2 weeks. I'm just happy she gave me 2 weeks notice.

She is looking to disenroll 2 weeks from today. Take a 2 week break, then reenroll him but as part time.

I will probably just tell her we are looking for full timers only at the moment. She can either wait and see if the spot is still available for now and keep him pt until a full-time comes along or she can just start looking for someone who offers pt.

She at least will have enough time to do such. I am actually excited for dcb to be gone. I won't miss him.

[rosieteddy]

If you won't miss him I would just take the notice.Explain that at this time you are only enrolling full time.Why torment yourself taking him back.

[daycarediva]

Grandma is coming to town and she doesn't want to pay?

I'd be looking for a replacement.

I don't allow clients to come and go.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

Every client that I have permitted to re-enroll at a later date (who unenrolled due to money problems) has unenrolled a SECOND time due to money problems. All four kids.

I am always full when people contact me wishing to re-enroll again. I'm on to the game.