I agree with Mac60. What a shame to hear your wife's Daycare parents who won't pay to hold their spot. That is disrespectful. I would find someone else who needs it.
DC Parents Who Are Teachers...
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I loved it when I had my daycare parent who was a teacher. She would pick her Son up at 4pm everyday and he would never be with me on Christmas break, Spring break, or any days off the school had she still had to pay full rate but when she was off for the Summer I just made her pay a 2 week depoist for me to hold the spot and the 2 weeks went to his first 2 weeks back I didnt mind it at all plus she was a great daycare parent.- Flag
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I haven't had teacher parents but I have the same problem with a few parents who have older siblings (or less expensive teen babysitters) so they want to pull the younger one out for the summer months to save $$$ (which I totally get) but I can't afford to lose the money so I just simply tell them they are welcome to make whatever choices they need to make so that it works best for their family. We all have to.
But I will NOT hold spaces for anyone unless the space if paid for. They are welcome to call back in the fall and see if I have any availability but if not, then they must go elsewhere for daycare. Where I live there are lots of choices but I think most do not want to have to keep switching their kids to new care settings so most of them (except one) have just stayed through the summer.
The one who said she would take her chances lost her space. It was not available when she called in the fall and now is on my wait list and calls monthly for updates but so far she hasn't been able to get back in. I was sorry to lose the dcg but I have to pay my bills and I was clear about that when the situation came up. Mom understood and isn't mad at all, just regretting her choice though.- Flag
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I take off every summer. I set a savings goal at the beginning of the school year, and save a portion of my weekly pay every week until June to cover expenses when I'm not working. I ADORE this situation. It does make it easier that I have SA's and teacher's infants.
I don't charge for holidays or a holding fee for the summer either.
I realize that it's probably way too late for your wife to do the savings thing. Maybe she could fill in with summer only kids?- Flag
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Most of my parents are teachers and I have them pay 50% to hold a spot. Which pays for 10 days a month, so they are welcome to use up to 10 days if they give me advance notice.
My parents play it gladly, they know I am holding their spot at a loss to me. Honestly, I think if a parent chose to "risk it" I would tell them I no longer had a spot whether I filled it or not. That is very disrespectful.- Flag
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wow I would love to be able to just be open during the summer. for those of you that do that how long did it take you to find just teachers kids to be able to do this? And how did you advertise for it or where?- Flag
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I charge a higher rate throughout the year and save a portion to cover my lack of income during the 2 1/2 months that I close for summer. I rely on my income 110% 12 months a year.
This has been my work schedule since I opened for my first teacher seven years ago. All of my business is generated by word of mouth. All of my teachers work for the same public school district.
My backyard touches school property and I am within a five minute drive of 5 other schools.- Flag
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Several years ago I had a group of teachers, they picked up jobs in the summer and worked. I kept the kids yr round. I wish your wife loads of luck and am interested to hear what ends up happening.- Flag
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I do have a parent this year who has decided to risk it. She'll be having a baby at the beginning of the summer and won't be working so it makes financial sense for her family to keep the oldest child (who is currently with me) home. She wants to return in the fall and I'll gladly take the family back if I have two openings available.- Flag
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To be honest, I've never looked at it as disrespect on the parents' part but that's probably because I've been lucky to have had a good working relationship with them. Until this year, all of the parents who had asked about taking the summer off chose to keep the child in care rather than lose their spot for the fall. If they had decided to risk it, though, I don't think I would have been offended. Day care is expensive, especially if you're paying for it and not using it. I see it as a families trying to cut costs where they can. As much as I dislike the thought of losing them, I can totally understand why they would want to save that money. They have to make decisions based on their family and financial needs and I have to make my policies based on my own family/financial needs. I don't take it personally.
I do have a parent this year who has decided to risk it. She'll be having a baby at the beginning of the summer and won't be working so it makes financial sense for her family to keep the oldest child (who is currently with me) home. She wants to return in the fall and I'll gladly take the family back if I have two openings available.
The two states I have provided care for, the teachers are paid in the summer as well.- Flag
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I guess I view it as disrespectful because I am offering to hold their spot at a loss to me for a portion of the normal cost while still offering 10 days of care a month. I feel like if they do not want to do that it is saying to me I am not worth it and my care is equal or lesser than the other choices available to them. I understand they may be trying to cut costs, but I cannot personally hold a spot for 3 months with no pay. It is hard to do so at 50% too, but I am willing to do so for the families I have.
The two states I have provided care for, the teachers are paid in the summer as well.- Flag
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I can see why others would feel differently too. I think it is something that could definitely vary depending on the provider and the family.- Flag
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