Temporarily Contracting a Reserved Spot?

[DBug]

So I have Fridays reserved til August for one family while their LO attends part-time. I charge half-rate for reserved days, and I was upfront and told dc mom that I would be taking drop-ins to make up for the lost income.

I now have another p/t dc mom who is thinking about using those Fridays temporarily until August, and of course, she knows that it's reserved and will be given to the other family in August.

My question is, would it be ethical to have the second dcmom contract for Fridays until August? I would then be collecting 1.5 times the daily rate for one spot. Having been burned by drop-in before, I'm hesitant to just consider her a regular drop-in (which, at this point, carries no contract).

Or, should I contract dc mom #2, and tell dc mom #1 that she no longer needs to pay the reservation fee for Fridays, even though I will still have it reserved for her? For what it's worth, money is not an issue for this family and it would only be a difference of $12.50/week.

What do you think?

[SilverSabre25]

I would probably go ahead and do it--it's not much different than knowing that you have a child heading off to kindy in September and won't be in your program anymore, and having a newborn lined up to take their place and charging a holding fee for the older kid's spot.

[squareone]

I would probably go ahead and do it--it's not much different than knowing that you have a child heading off to kindy in September and won't be in your program anymore, and having a newborn lined up to take their place and charging a holding fee for the older kid's spot.

I agree. No need to change you arrangement with Mom #1, you already gave her the courtesy of telling er that you would be filling the space until she needs it. What you do with it until she needs it is your business.

[Pammie]

So I have Fridays reserved til August for one family while their LO attends part-time. I charge half-rate for reserved days, and I was upfront and told dc mom that I would be taking drop-ins to make up for the lost income.

I now have another p/t dc mom who is thinking about using those Fridays temporarily until August, and of course, she knows that it's reserved and will be given to the other family in August.

My question is, would it be ethical to have the second dcmom contract for Fridays until August? I would then be collecting 1.5 times the daily rate for one spot. Having been burned by drop-in before, I'm hesitant to just consider her a regular drop-in (which, at this point, carries no contract).

Or, should I contract dc mom #2, and tell dc mom #1 that she no longer needs to pay the reservation fee for Fridays, even though I will still have it reserved for her? For what it's worth, money is not an issue for this family and it would only be a difference of $12.50/week.

What do you think?

Her "1/2 rate fee" for reserved days is being paid to guarantee her that the spot will be hers in August, correct? That's a totally different fee than fee for providing care. I see no reason why you can't do a short-term contract for family #2 (now til August) to provide care on Fridays while still collecting the holding fee.

If mom #1 has an issue, then she can simply stop paying the holding fee - and give up the guarantee of Fridays being available for her in August.

JMHO

[momatheart]

I would go ahead and fill Fridays with the mom who wants it until August.

I would tell the mom who is paying the 1/2 fee that she no longer needs to pay a holding fee since you will be filling her spot until Aug when she needs it. HOWEVER, if the other parent backs out and that spot is open the fee gets reinstated to hold her spot. Let her know this I am sure she will agree with this.

[squareone]

I would probably go ahead and do it--it's not much different than knowing that you have a child heading off to kindy in September and won't be in your program anymore, and having a newborn lined up to take their place and charging a holding fee for the older kid's spot.

I agree. No need to change you arrangement with Mom #1, you already gave her the courtesy of telling er that you would be filling the space until she needs it. What you do with it until she needs it is your business.

[SandeeAR]

I would probably go ahead and do it--it's not much different than knowing that you have a child heading off to kindy in September and won't be in your program anymore, and having a newborn lined up to take their place and charging a holding fee for the older kid's spot.

Agree with this.