Did I do the right thing?

[MissAnn]

My policy with teachers is that they pay 1/2 price for spring break when their children are not here. One mom asked if she could bring her son a few days and I said yes. I have mainly all teacher's kids. Today 2 kids called in sick. the mom who asked if she could bring her son in texted me at 11:30 last night to ask if I was open. I told her yes. Well, today....no other kids are coming....so I called her and let her know that there were no other kids coming. I should have told her that I would just be closed....but I guess I thought she would just get the hint. Instead there were those uncomfortable pauses. I asked if she had important plans....(which, if she did, she should have confirmed with me before 11:30 the night before!).....she said she had an appointment to get her car worked on. I'm sorry....but her son is 4....why can't she bring him with her? Shoot....I brought my hyperactive 4 year old and a 14 mo old girl I babysat to all of my gyno apps when I was pregnant with my son! So......she ended up saying that she'd reschedule her appt....that it was silly for me to watch just her one son (especially since it was a day he wasn't even supposed to be here) and she said I could probably use a day off. I said thank you and that I really did need a day off. Did I do the right thing.....or should I have watched just the one kid?

[mac60]

You did the right thing. I will never figure out why parents even bother to have a child. No reason the 4 yr old could not have went with the mom.

[Jewels]

I think it was wrong personally, You said last night she could bring him, and then you changed your mind since other kids weren't coming, I think thats bad buisness, and I would be pretty mad if I were the parent, But that JMO.
This is your job, and I don't think it matters if she were having her car worked on, her hair done, or going to take a nap, It shouldn't matter what shes doing, thats her buisness.

[MissAnn]

I think it was wrong personally, You said last night she could bring him, and then you changed your mind since other kids weren't coming, I think thats bad buisness, and I would be pretty mad if I were the parent, But that JMO.
This is your job, and I don't think it matters if she were having her car worked on, her hair done, or going to take a nap, It shouldn't matter what shes doing, thats her buisness.

This was not a scheduled day for her and in fact it was a "free" day.....me just being nice and letting her bring her son and not charging her for it.

[nannyde]

Last week I had one kid for four days and two kids one day. Never had that happen in 17 years of doing care.

I didn't know about the low attendance until the week before spring break. I stayed open every day because I couldn't ask for any time off without causing conflict with my clients.

Often when you tell clients their child will be the only one they are happy about that. They love the idea of their kid getting you all to themselves. It's not a detterent... it's a bonus.

One to one care for the price of group care is a big bonus.

IMHO If you agreed to do the hours the number of kids in your house doesn't change your agreement.

[MissAnn]

I think it was wrong personally, You said last night she could bring him, and then you changed your mind since other kids weren't coming, I think thats bad buisness, and I would be pretty mad if I were the parent, But that JMO.
This is your job, and I don't think it matters if she were having her car worked on, her hair done, or going to take a nap, It shouldn't matter what shes doing, thats her buisness.

And no, I did not change my mind.....in fact I told her she could bring him if she wanted. I called and told her he would be the only kid.

[marniewon]

If you weren't charging her for the day, then I don't see why you shouldn't have told her not to come. However, I wouldn't have called. I would have wished like crazy that I hadn't said they could come, and hoped they would change their mind, but I wouldn't have called. <--- That's me personally.

[ninosqueridos]

I would never call up a parent the morning of a planned care day and "just let them know" that their kid was the only one hoping that they'd "get the hint" and keep their kid home. And yes, once I confirm I am open and tell them they could bring their child, it becomes a planned care day regardless of their original schedule.

[BentleysBands]

whether 'right' or 'wrong' is each persons opinion but i would have done the exact thing you did. i actually have before....had no kids for whatever reason one day and had a mom who had the day off which i knew about (she will still brings the kids most times which is fine) well, i WANTED a day off so i asked her since everyone else was absent what HER plans were, she said getting nails/hair done so we compromised for 2 hrs of care..worked out fine. dont beat urself up!

[Jewels]

Yes but by calling her, there was an underlying hint, that you didn't want the child there, and you asked her if she had important plans, As a parent I would be like, "okay I get the hint"

[MissAnn]

If you weren't charging her for the day, then I don't see why you shouldn't have told her not to come. However, I wouldn't have called. I would have wished like crazy that I hadn't said they could come, and hoped they would change their mind, but I wouldn't have called. <--- That's me personally.

Had this been a scheduled day for her son, I would not have called. Being that it was a "free" day on an unscheduled day....I called. She knows my family is going through a rough time. My nephew was hit by a drunk driver and broke his back in 4 places. My sister needs me more than DC mom who could bring her son with her to get her car fixed.

[QualiTcare]

Yes but by calling her, there was an underlying hint, that you didn't want the child there, and you asked her if she had important plans, As a parent I would be like, "okay I get the hint"

i agree - the whole "doing it bc i was being nice" goes out the window when you figure out a way not to do it.

[BentleysBands]

Had this been a scheduled day for her son, I would not have called. Being that it was a "free" day on an unscheduled day....I called. She knows my family is going through a rough time. My nephew was hit by a drunk driver and broke his back in 4 places. My sister needs me more than DC mom who could bring her son with her to get her car fixed.

omg, prayers to you and your family!!! stop beating yourself up, you did what YOU thought was good. not everyone agrees but if YOU feel its right then fine.

[ninosqueridos]

I wouldn't offer "free" days if it made me feel like I could cancel the day if I wanted to. JMO. Think about whether you would have done the same thing had she PAID you for the day.

[MissAnn]

I wouldn't offer "free" days if it made me feel like I could cancel the day if I wanted to. JMO. Think about whether you would have done the same thing had she PAID you for the day.

Neither would I.....and I never have.....but there are circumstances in my family that are just a little more demanding on my mind. Gotta go....I appreciate the comments even if I don't agree...She will probably bring him tomorrow and I can go visit my nephew and sister today...it works out.