Okay, That's The Last Straw - Need Help Writing Term Letter

[SilverSabre25]

I know I've seen some really good generic "sorry but we can't meet your needs any longer" letters but I'm not in a good space of mind to go and find them. Someone give me one, please? I'm handing a family a two weeks' notice tonight at pick-up.

This is the family of the 9-month old, who herself is a dream but the parents are not. The last straw is the car seat issue again...they took her out of the infant carrier this weekend and I saw this morning that they have her forward facing. At 9 months. That's illegal. Furthermore, I saw clearly from my front window that the car seat was NOT tightly secured into the car...that I can see from my window into the driveway that it is WAY too loose is a terrible, terrible thing.

Then the icing on the cake was that the dad told me that they're a bit annoyed that I didn't have her in a hat and winter coat yesterday afternoon while we were outside...in 70 degree weather. She had on a long-sleeved fleecy thing, but that apparently isn't good enough...?

All the other issues combined, I've been looking for a replacement family and have an interview on Thursday. I was going to be terming them soon anyway. This just speeds it up. I feel bad because I love the girl. I'm scared because I've never terminated before. I'm a wuss. I hate confrontation. But I can't do it anymore. I could talk until I'm blue in the face on the car seat issue, but it won't make one bit of difference; it didn't in the past. They don't respect my experience and education; they don't respect my knowledge and my abilities. I just can't do this anymore. Their views are too different from mine. I feel like I'm the one in the wrong for terming over these issues, but I just can't keep doing this.

[nannyde]

Since you are a mandatory reporter you need to call this in. They will take care of the rest of the termination.

Just be prepared for a complaint and an inspection if you are registered.

[QualiTcare]

hmm. i must've missed something. i'm sure you're not terming bc they have a forward facing carseat even though it's stupid.

anyhow - keep the letter as short as possible.


Dear Mr. and Mrs. Smith,

Please accept this as my two week notice that our childcare arrangement will no longer be effective as of April 5, 2011. Feel free to call me with any questions or concerns you may have.

Sincerely,

You
555-555-5555


I have read and been made aware of my child's last day of care.

signature _______________________ date_________________


of course this is assuming that you'll be handing the notice to them while talking to them about the situation. any two week notice i've ever given for jobs or anything else has only said "let this serve as my two week written notice that my last day of employment will be march 22, 2011." that's all that's needed. people get in trouble when they start talking too much.

[SilverSabre25]

Call it in to who? (meaning, which agency, police, CPS...?). I didn't know that misuse of car seats was actually a reportable offense. Are you sure that's the law in every state? (I'm just terrified of turning them in and it being unfounded or something).

*sigh* this family sure has taught me a lot.

[nannyde]

Call it in to who? (meaning, which agency, police, CPS...?). I didn't know that misuse of car seats was actually a reportable offense. Are you sure that's the law in every state? (I'm just terrified of turning them in and it being unfounded or something).

*sigh* this family sure has taught me a lot.

Child protection in your state. Child abuse hotline

[BentleysBands]

Holy Cow!!

I'm not a carseat notZ (sp?) BUT i DO speak up when a carseat is not correct or not used. its for a childs safety!

why are you terming exactly?? just careless parenting and your tired of it? i can see that. i cant stand irresponsible parenting and want nothing to do with it.

wish you luck! but as another PP said, be prepared for retailation.

[SilverSabre25]

hmm. i must've missed something. i'm sure you're not terming bc they have a forward facing carseat even though it's stupid.

Thanks QualiT. No, this is just the last straw in a long, long line of things stretching back to their first week six weeks ago. I should have listened to my instincts back then and let them go after the two week trial, but I wanted another client lined up.

This is the last straw because I can't let myself be a party to something that so blatantly endangers their child's life. They were using the infant seat wrong, too, and I brought it up to them, complete with printed off information on proper car seat usage and how to strap her correctly, but they blew me off (as in, treated me like I knew less than the 9 year old across the street about how to use a car seat). This is the family that brings age-inappropriate food for their infant, that calls every day and acts like they think I might be lying when I say she's had a good day, that in the very first week of care ignored vacation policies and sick policies that they had JUST read and signed, and a few other things that I've posted about in the past six weeks. They're just not a good fit with my views and my policies. I saw it early on, and I ignored it, which is my fault.

[ninosqueridos]

I wouldn't even offer my "call with any questions" line - I'm sure if they're that pissed off they know your number to let you have it. I don't like to say "effective x date" because it's not always clear whether their 2 weeks begins on that date or ends on that date. I would say "Your child's last day of care will be x date." No confusion there (believe me, some folks are morons). You may also want to mention whatever you have in your agreement as far as payment goes..like "Suzy's deposit in the amount of $x will pay for care through her last day as stated in PHB."

Good luck!

[ninosqueridos]

btw I just noticed that the AAP has officially started recommending rear facing until age 2 (just saw article on it yesterday). Oy.

[QualiTcare]

actually i said care will NO LONGER be effective as of X date. i always sign letters, emails, etc. with my phone number but that's just me. technically, she could leave out the word "please" as well, but again it's just what i would write. i would save the "balance due" letter for a later date/different piece of paper. i think saying "you have to find new daycare AND you owe me 400 dollars" is too much to throw out at once. it makes a nice, simple term letter seem nasty IMO.

[SilverSabre25]

Also, can I ask if I was in the wrong not having a winter coat and hat on a 9 month old when it was 70 degrees out, and everyone was comfortable in short sleeves and no coats? She did have long sleeves. I'm just curious...

[Zoe]

70 degrees and a winter coat?!? No, you're not in the wrong. Was it a windy day? If so, then I could see maybe putting on a spring jacket! It has been 50 degrees here and I put the winter coats away! I can't even imagine having any sort of winter attire on with what is, IMHO, summer weather!

[QualiTcare]

well, it depends. it has been really warm here lately, but yesterday the wind was blowing hard and made it cold. if she has a history of ear infections or something i could see them wanting her ears protected from the wind. if they want a coat and hat, i'd just do it - unless and until the child started sweating or something then i would take it off and tell them why.

anyhow, looks like you're about to be finished with the whole situation so don't worry over it.

[Meyou]

I ask the parents to leave winter coats here until mid-April and we use them regularly. But we spend alot of time outdoors and it's chilly in the wind. That being said we've had alot of days the past 2 weeks with the kids in snowpants, rubber boots and no coats because its been nice out. The need the snowpants to absorb some of the mud the get covered in this time of year. .

70 degrees...I wouldn't think even a baby needed a winter coat as long as she had something heavier on to break any wind. I might have stuck a hat on her though with a hoodie just so I knew she was toasty warm.

[Blackcat31]

I try to follow the rule of thumb that if the child arrived in it (coat, hat, whatever) then they wear it when we go outside. If a child is old enough they will say to their parent "Do I have to wear this outside?" and then parent will usually say it is okay to let the child decide but if they are younger then they wear whatever they came in.

Sometimes where I live it is winter-like in the mornings and summer-like at pick up so I hate being the one to decide for the kids since every parent is so different. I let the parents know that as well, and if they have any thoughts on it, they say so then.