DCM "Telling" me that DCG will be changing from FT to Casual PT? Ummm no?!

[Sassygirl]

So DCM of my 15m dcg who I have had since March FT tells me a couple of months ago that she was looking for a job closer to home, she currently commutes and works longer hours. She mentioned shortly after that she got a clerical position with the school board in our region. Perfect. Shorter hours for dcg and less commute. Sounded great.
Yesterday she drops off and says that she will be calling me on the days that she needs care effective Sept 9. Ummm excuse me? I asked her to clarify and she explained that her position will be "Casual Clerical" so its like a supply teacher. You don't know how often or what school you will be working for. I just acted surprised and just said "well we will wait and see then." Who knows, she could be getting alot of hours or maybe not. My thought is to give it a few weeks and see how often she is working and if its not a minimum of 3 days a week I will tell her that dcg needs to attend or they pay for 3 days a week or I can no longer provide care. I need the FT income.
Thoughts?

[playfelt]

If she is working varied hours then she still pays full time or very close to it since you are reserving the entire week for her. How many of those days she actually uses is not your problem. I would be letting her know now that that is the way it will be and if you don't get a good read from her then let her know that you can not take the chance she will bail come Sept when her days of care are less than fulltime.

Other option is to go to a daily rate but make it at least $5 more than your rate now and request a 3 day minimum to hold the space. Then you would not be down a lot of money and have some easier days. But if you want full pay then consider yourself warned by this parent they assume they don't have to pay by the space so make it clear now they do.

[Busy ECE mommy]

Even if you could afford the full-time income loss to drop to 3 days a week, she would essentially want you to be "on call" If the days change every week, then she is taking up a full-time spot, and should be charged accordingly, or a much higher daily rate at a 3 day a week minimum to compensate for the loss. Personally, I would start advertising for a full-time spot, and give notice as soon as you've secured a new client.

[Sassygirl]

I have a "feeling" that she will not want to pay for the full weeks fees. DCD works "casual construction" so I have a sneaking suspicion that will not fly.
I have had dcg since March so I am not worried about how reduced days will affect her behaviour here. Its moreso my income.
I will say something to her about needing a minimum of 3 days a week and then I am going to just keep my options open, and see what happens after the first 2 weeks. Who knows.
I am also newly pregnant so if this is going to become an issue and I need to start advertising and interviewing I want to get started on that now as opposed to being hugely pregnant.

[Busy ECE mommy]

I think I'd go $10 a day higher, as it's not just part-time, but part-time rotating days, so you can't fill the rest of the spot. At least at a $10 premium for 3 days, you have regained most of the fees for another full day a week.

[playfelt]

Guessing considering the dad's job that her plan is to only use you on the days dad is not there as there may be days he is home too and they don't need care - especially in the winter as much construction stops.

[Crayola kiddies]

If she is using different days every week but wants the whole weeks availability then she needs to pay for the whole week . I would advertise for a full time spot and see who bites and if I could find a family that would be a good fit then I would tell that mom that since she needs everyday available to her she needs to pay full time fees and when she says no then you can say bye and take on the new full time family.

[Sassygirl]

Thanks everyone! My thoughts exactly. Say minimum 3 days at a higher rate. Prepaid every Monday.
I will start advertising and see who bites. I have a family who dcg was a clingy screamer who was not fitting in. I told them to keep in touch and they have so I will perhaps give them the option of returning for October and in the meantime give them the opportunity to further prepare their clingy screamer. She lasted 1 month here.

[Judy Trickett]

You need to tell her that she has to commit to paying a minimum number of days per week regardless of attendance. And you need to tell her this BEFORE she starts doing her "casual" thing. You are not a drop-in centre. I wouldn't do it for less than a minimum payment of 3 days per week.

[jazmic]

Definitely tell her now. Don't wait till later.

[apples and bananas]

I would tell her immediately that you don't have an opening for part time casual right now. She's welcome to stay of as full time otherwise you will need to start advertising to fill the space.

This is class parent thinking that their daycare provider (babysitter in their mind) is home anyways, the money is just a bonus. Not concerned at all about our budget or our pay day.

If you "wait and see" you will run into trouble. Because you've made it ok by not saying anything.

[daycarewhisperer]

I encourage you to not allow a three day deal unless they are scheduled days and there is no make up days if she is absent for any reason.

If you do allow her to go casual then get double pay. Charge a LOT more per day.

[ladyjbug]

Agreed with all the others. You might also want to consider if this child would be a fit for you part time. I actually did not renew a contract for this exact reason. DCM "told" me that this was how it was going to be now (moving from part time to casual drop in), but she didn't ask me anything about it before "telling" me this. I DO have drop ins, but they need to be over 2.5 years old, fully potty trained, and verbal. Those are strict because I don't want to transition kids again and again and again. I want them old enough to appreciate some socialization, and manage their own business, and then they can join us in our fun.

This kid had none of that and the worst separation anxiety I have ever seen. I pretty much had to increase the days when he was part time or I would have had to tell him goodbye much earlier. Your dcg might really have trouble with the sporadic casual schedule resulting in much more work for you. Take it into consideration, and charge accordingly for how much that trouble is going to cost you. But yes, please set boundaries before any of this care takes place.

[Momof4]

What bothers me about your situation is not just the money. It's the attitude this dcMom seems to have that she's in charge and you are her employee. That is WRONG! I agree that you have to put your foot down and talk to the dcMom now, but explain that you must be able to budget, then decide how much to charge using the advice given here. I'm sure you will charge what is best for you.

However, the sporadic days would bother me more than the money. I plan my weeks and we go on a lot of trips to the parks and different places. I want to know how many children I'm feeding when I plan the meals the night before. I've had part-timers who I insisted came 3 days/week minimum in the past but I wanted their schedule a month in advance so I could plan. That's just me. If you don't mind being a drop-in centre that's different. But decide what is ok with you so your business runs smoothly and remember that you are in charge of your business.