Should I Take DCM Up On The Offer Of Allowing Her DD To Remain Until I Replace Her?

[MaritimeMummy]

Argh, my ad has been up for my available space for a week and so far the only response I have gotten was "Can I call you to ask you questions?". :-( My DCP said she'd keep her DD in my program until I found a replacement. She's withdrawing her but everything is fine between us, no hostility, etc. I knew it could take a long time but I figured I'd have a few more interested responses, at least...and I feel bad about holding the DCP to her word but fact is, we're desperate for the money. If she's willing to keep bringing her here until someone else takes the spot, is it unethical of me to allow that to continue? Having her stay until we have a replacement means we can still pay our bills.

My handbook says 2 weeks notice but again if she's the one coming to me telling me she's willing to do that, am I wrong to accept?

I won't be offended at responses for or against.

[MaritimeMummy]

For the record, this wasn't meant to go in part of the forum. :-)

[wdmmom]

I think it's entirely your choice.

If you want and need the income and the mom is in agreeance to keep her child there, than why not?!

When interviewing prospective families, ask them how soon they are looking to start. Then report it back to DCM as soon as possible.

I would put a time limit on it though (ask her how long she will keep the child with you or tell her, I'll take you up on the offer, let's tentatively plan for XX weeks.). I doubt she's going to want to keep her child with you for another 8 weeks if it takes that long for you to find someone. KWIM?

[cheerfuldom]

I am always suspicious of a parent offering to help me out.....I know that sounds bad but unfortunately, parents a lot of times have a little angle there or other motive.

its up to you if you trust her intentions. just make sure that your DCM knows that care could end at any time. if you get a prospective parent that wants to start in a few days, then you wont have the time to give this mom a full 2 weeks notice of termination (or whatever your contract outlines).

i am curious why she would continue to pay for daycare and send her child when she has already given notice and doesnt actually need the care???

[MaritimeMummy]

i am curious why she would continue to pay for daycare and send her child when she has already given notice and doesnt actually need the care???

It's sort of a complex situation, but basically, her daughter's been coming here since she was pregnant with her son. Mom works from home. She knew I didn't take babies under 1 year. the plan was that she was going to just tinker with her work from home while simultaneously caring for her son until he turned a year, and then go back to working full time and send him to me with his sister(in Canada, moms get 1 year mat leave normally, so many daycares don't take children until that age), but her daughter needed more one-on-one playtime so she sent her to my daycare (which for all intents and purposes, she has a BLAST at, and her mom tells me this often!).

After a few months she realized how hard juggling a business and a newborn was, so she hired a mother's helper. She tried balancing her budget to accommodate both the helper and me because in the long term, I'd be able to take her son.

Well, she's now realizing that budgeting for two caregivers worked out for them, and works for them at this very moment, but that in a month or two, the money will be stretched and they will no longer be able to afford both.

I told her that I could take the baby now if it meant a matter of a few months (he turns 1 in June), but she is very wary of the toddlers and preschoolers I have...I guess not so much them, but her baby is 7 months old and doesn't sit up, and is very demanding. So anyway, the offer of me taking the baby is on the table, she told me she'd get back to me on it but hasnt' said anything. She knows that her spot is subject to be taken at any time because I flat out said I advertised the spot.

Quite the situation, huh?