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This mom is not working and wants to leave her fresh 1 year old who’s never been to care before from open to close. 7am-5:30pm. To me, that’s insane. I don’t want to care for her child for 10.5 hrs when she is not working... so what do I reply? Even if she was working I don’t want to care for a child that long. Am I wrong here?
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Maybe some version of:
Dear DCM
Katie is welcome to be in care for no more than 5 hours per day unless a parent's work schedule dictates otherwise. Quality time with a parent is ideal for all children thus the limitations in when scheduling. Thank you!
Sincerely
Katie's Daycare PROVIDER not PARENTComment
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You are not wrong in your feelings. :hug:
I, however, deal with it all the time, from birth on. As long as they pay tuition and stay within my business hours, what they are doing with their time is really none of my business.
I find that by keeping score of it, all I really do is interfere with my own peace.
Sure it can be super frustrating when they are the ONLY kid in care, but it is part of the contract, IMHO. (Last year I had one child here 11 days when both parents were off work and no other child was in care. I completely get what you are saying.)
- Unless otherwise stated, all my posts are personal opinion and worth what you paid for them.
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Is the child just getting used to care? What are their normal hours? What is the reason she needs care, if known? I was once a single mom and took days off work to do things like doctor appointments and things I could not bring my kiddos to (custody hearings etc.) I have contracted hours so as long as parents are within those, I am ok with it. None of my kids are here that long of a day though.Comment
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I'd tell her that her contracted hours will be based on her work schedule, but for now, while she's job hunting, she can leave him from 8-4. That means she can still make job hunting her full-time job, and he won't be plunged into 55 hours per week daycare right away....call it a transition time.Comment
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Maybe just straight up ask her why she needs 10.5 hours of care if she isn't working....
I dunno, I have always been in the camp of not really caring what parents do when I have their child but I also have contracted hours and the rate reflects their hours so it's never been an issue and I'm only open 9.5 hours so IF I did have a child needing care from open to close, they'd be paying a fairly high rate for it.
Maybe you can tell her care for 9 hours is $X but for more than 9 hours its $X PLUS $. My reasoning for contracted hours (other than the obvious...knowing when kids are DO/PU) it's because I want parents to understand that care beyond what you truly needs comes as a price/cost.Comment
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Absolutely charge her a premium price for 10.5 hours. I charge my premium price for anything above 8 hours and am only open 10 hours. It is a looong day for little ones. I have two families that pay the premium and one of them is not working but is home on mat leave. The in thing to do here is have your oldest kid in care while you stay home with baby.
I am not too sure I would care if she was working and would actually be worried about this child not getting the care she needs at home. I have always had part time kids so most of them did not have working parents so I am somewhat used to it. I judge them for sure but as long as they pay me then it is their parenting mistake to live with.Comment
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Most of my moms aren't working when their kids are here. It doesn't affect me. I wanted to open a childcare and preschool to work with the kids. I don't care what the parent's schedule is at all. I definitely wouldn't want to work those hours though. I am 9-4:30. I pretty much weeded out dual income households with my hours! Not that I wanted to, but those were the hours I wanted. So, I don't really expect my families to need me all those hours. Also, it's better because I have people who won't be freaking out if I have to close for sickness or appointments. They don't work (well, most do part time) so they aren't screwed when I have to close.
I would just tell this parent those hours don't work. And tell them what hours do work for you. Since it seems too long for you, choose the earlier or later time and see if she would want that. If not, next please!Comment
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I do not care what-where-when-how parents are doing/not doing during the time I care about their kid(s). Why? Because it is not my business.Comment
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If you don't want to take care of the child, say that your opening is no longer available.Comment
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