Unpaid Vacation "Kindness" VENT

[jojosmommy]

Vent! SORRY!

I have a parent taking 3 week long vacations this summer. I explained that she is paid up until her next vacation which she can choose to use her alloted vacation time OR pay me even though she is not sending the kids and save the vacation time (meaning not pay me time) for another week this summer when they are off.

3 seperate convos later, she still doesn't know if she is going to pay this time or next time etc. I know they are good for the cash and not concerned in the least about the money. She just keeps talking about MY BUDGET, my bills etc. She keeps saying she can still pay me even though they arent coming, she is going to still pay, she knows I need the money, and I have been having tough times (:confused. I have all my bills for the month paid and really it doesnt matter WHEN she takes the week off and doesn't pay me, either way 1 week this summer I will not get paid from her and I know that and have budgeted appropriately.

How do you tell someone MY bills/budget are not really a factor in the conversation and either way I will run my business as laid out in my contract. ?????? She is making me feel like I am some charity case which is not true since we have both agreed to the terms of the contract she is under and knowing that I have planned accordingly. Keeps making me feel like she is doing me some favor for paying me as agreed.

[littlemissmuffet]

::

Parents either think we're dirt poor, or we're loaded... because they pay us SO MUCH ::. All of my parents are very aware that thought their money is valuable to us, it's definitely not something that won't be easily replaced by the next family in line waiting for a space in our daycare.

Personally, I would send a similar email to this:

Dear DCM,

I would really appreciate it if when we're discussing amounts owing for childcare that we keep it professional and strictly in relation to payment amounts and payment dates. Frankly, my budget and finances are not any of your concern, nor are they anything I wish to discuss with my clients and I find it offensive when you insinuate that I need the money. I simply need to know when the money is coming in so I can adjust my summer budget. Please let me know.

Thank you for your understanding in this matter,
Me


This is yet another reason that my parents pay me their usual monthly fee regardless of whether or not their child is in attendence.

[bice99]

LMM - what do you do if you need to close? Do you have parents pay less the following month?

[nannyde]

hmmm

Are you sure she's not trying to figure out a way that if she's going to pay you that the kids just come during that time?

She may be saying those words to you but really she's trying to figure out the math of what week the kids for SURE aren't coming and have that be the week she doesn't have to pay???????????????

I can't tell you the number of times I've had parents saying they were going to take the kids out during weeks in the future and ended up having them all or most of the time.

That's just a guess but if she is still on the wire with whatever plans she has for the kids to be gone she may be simply trying to attach the no pay week to a week she knows for sure the kid isn't going to be there. If she has to pay anyway she can still bring the kids?????????

[SimpleMom]

Maybe let her know you really appreciate the offer, but that you've planned accordingly and really want to honor your contract--to be fair to other families, etc.

Or you could just let her bless you, too! What a sweet thing to offer. I wouldn't feel comfortable accepting the money, but would feel grateful that they thought of me

[jojosmommy]

Nannyde-she is actually going to be gone with the kids all 3 weeks so I don't think she wants to send them anyway. She pays me all the time to keep the kids at home. She knows its pay for the spot or move on and she has no problem with that. I think its more a matter of trying to feel like she is GIFTING me with this money or something.



Either way she is going to pay me for 2 weeks of care where the kids DO NOT ATTEND as she is choosing to take them out of state on a vacation.That is the agreed upon contract. Pay for the spot regarless of if they come of not except for the ONE week she has of vacation time to use. The remaining week she is NOT going to pay me and NOT have the kids in care as she is also going to be out of state with the kids. Its just a matter on WHEN she isn't going to pay and really I don't care. She is just making a mountain out of a molehill as I already responsibly budgeted her 1 week off out of my summer funds. The annoying part is the way that she is going about it, making it sound like I am broke and can't pay my bills or something.

simplemom- do you allow your clients to not pay you when they are off regarless of how many days/weeks they are off? "What a sweet thing to offer. I wouldn't feel comfortable accepting the money, but would feel grateful that they thought of me"

[littlemissmuffet]

LMM - what do you do if you need to close? Do you have parents pay less the following month?

I get five paid close days each year. Never had to use the five.

[cheerfuldom]

give her a time limit that she needs to let you know by otherwise you will decide for her. I love time limits!

[wdmmom]

My PHB states that vacation requests must be received 1 month in advance to qualify for 50% off. Vacation is a full week that the child will not attend daycare.

No notice or too short of a notice = full rate.

Tell DCM she has until Friday to decide whether she's paying for this week or the next vacation. Or, tell her to pay half now and half when they are gone again.