What Have I Done ?! Help

[Pestle]

is delivered here sleeping everyday in the morning

Whoa whoa whoa I missed that one.

"Awake and alert drop off." Never accept a sleeping or groggy child into your care. If they're in the midst of a medical emergency, you could be liable. And that could be the end of your career as a day care provider.

3 hours late for pick up because of car trouble. . . apparently they have no contacts in the entire region who could have come to pick this child up.

Issues of licensed hours and abandonment aside. . . that's a $180 fee by my reckoning. :: I charge a dollar a minute, no negotiation.

[Pestle]

On the plus side. . . think of all the lessons you're learning at the same time instead of gradually as you deal with only-slightly-horrible families. This will save you a lot of suffering further down the road! ::

:hug:

[amberrose3dg]

Started a new child after christmas break, first warning sign was her being dropped off on New Years Day, despite my contract listing the days I'm closed...I let it slide because I had nothing planned and figured the little one could keep my daughter company.

Well, I was completely stuffed up with a cold and it wasn't until my husband came home from picking us up coffees that he pointed out our house reeked of cigarette smoke, and it seemed to be coming off the little one, her diaper bag, and her blanket from home

I stripped her down, washed everything and stuck some dryer sheets in her diaper bag, trying not to judge. We are a non smoking home and are very sensitive to smell. However frustration mounted when mom had car trouble and wasn't able to come until 7:30pm. My hours are 7-4:30pm...but I made excuses, we've all been there with car troubles!

The next day when my regulars came back from vacation the parents also noted the smoke, I was neutral and told them I'd talk it over with the new little one's parents.

The parents deny they smoke I just really really doubt this, as each day her clothing, her body, and her things just absolutely reek again and so do the parents now that I have an unstuffed nose. It doesn't help that the little girl is not on a schedule, she is allowed to stay up until 10pm and is delivered here sleeping everyday in the morning until the time when most kids are just going down for nap so these last 2 weeks have been beyond stressful.

Anyways, add to the fact they have been late every single day, still citing car troubles and new job times, I feel I need to terminate and swiftly.

What's a nice way to do this? In my contract I do have to give them 2 weeks notice and will honor that but I'm honestly dreading when they ask me why and I have to list off the reasons...

I had a family that only made it one week here and they weren't even that bad.
Mom and dad weren't on the same page. Mom was resentful with dad she wanted to work her career and not have to worry about the kids anymore. Dad was clueless and down right neglectful to his children. He dropped off to me each day dirty the 18 month old in a ****ty diaper, every single morning! Diaper bag had like 2 diapers in it for a 9 hour period! They showed up late to pick up each day(usually 10 minutes to 20). Last straw was that Friday I needed to be off on time and they showed up almost an hour late. I termed right then and there. I do not want your money. Please go away quickly.

[rosieteddy]

Its Friday I would give notice today.If you do not have a trial period already then I would institute one today.It would explain the trial period of two weeks .In that time provider or parent can get out of contract with no notice.Give them the 2 weeks and state any late pick-ups or arriving not ready for the day will be automatic term.I would term with 2 weeks notice with that stipulation.Good Luck.

[Mom2Two]

On the plus side. . . think of all the lessons you're learning at the same time instead of gradually as you deal with only-slightly-horrible families. This will save you a lot of suffering further down the road! ::

:hug:

Yes! When I read posts like the OP, the main problems isn't really the dcf: it's the provider, who doesn't (yet) know how to protect herself.

[AmyKidsCo]

Ditto BlackCat.

Just tell them that they're not a good fit for your program and care is terminated effective immediately. If they ask for details just repeat that they're not a good fit for your program. Anything else they can try to argue with (But we were new and didn't know and you took her anyway... But I had car trouble... But she won't sleep at home, But we don't smoke...)