Unbelievable!!!!

[Emma H]

So I just had a daycare mom pick up her daughter. This morning I gave her the gift for her baby that's on the way (thank you to everyone who helped with that). She just asked me about switching her daughter to part-time in April as soon as her baby was born :huh: ......I am so annoyed right now I just want to terminate her tonight. We had the interview in December, a couple hours after our interview she called me and told me she wanted the spot. During our interview she asked if she can switch to part time in April once her baby was born and I said no since this opening is for full-time only. Her husband even looked at her and asked her why she would even want to switch her over, she didn't say anything.

Now that it's getting closer to April she brought up part-time. I told her no way and that it would be a 1 year wait list. I had two other families who wanted the spot and I gave it to this family so I am so mad right now. I really feel like they tricked me.

What would you all do in this situation! Terminate, give back the deposit, keep it, any advice would be great!:no:

[mickyc]

I would just say no again. If they end up leaving then so be it but I wouldn't terminate. It's part of the job unfortunately. It's never a guarantee how long they stay. Stand your ground. If she wants to stay it's full time pay no matter what.

[Lou]

No, I wouldn't terminate for her asking again. Just stand your ground and if she leaves, she leaves.

[5 Little Monkeys]

Agree, just say no again and if she leaves, she leaves. Nothing you can do. Families will always leave when it benefits them (as they should even though it sucks for us!)

[playfelt]

I wouldn't terminate at this point but I would consider putting out feelers for a replacement knowing that if you did terminate or they did in April that you would be able to fill the space right away. If it is fairly easy to fill spaces then you can wait till they do give notice - at this point expect that once her 6 weeks of recovery are up she will either insist on part time or pull the child totally - also coincides with the loss of income reality to the family and panic sets in about finances and it becomes harder to justify paying for care they don't need.

Are you able to take the baby next year as that would be the only reason worth them keeping the older child in care would be to secure a space for the baby.

[flowerchild]

I wouldn't terminate her just for asking. She's allowed to ask, just as you're allowed to say no.

I'd stick to my ground and continue to say no. This shouldn't be news to her since it was discussed in the interview. She's probably just testing the waters to see if you've changed your mind.

Full time fees whether or not she sends the child everyday. Full stop. :)

Good luck. It's hard to stand our ground sometimes.

[Emma H]

When we had our interview she asked 3 times and I said NO! I told her if she wasn't planning on staying I had 2 other families who wanted the spot long term. She said no its okay, we will stay full-time, so I gave her the spot. So why would she even bother to ask knowing what my answer was. Either way I told her last night I had a family who wanted the spot so if she isn't planning on staying, I will be giving it to another family no part-time allowed. She told me this morning she wants to keep her full-time spot! Thank god

[daycaremum]

I wouldn't terminate. I would tell her that while she is welcome to bring her child part time she will need to pay the full time rate as that is what you agreed upon when she signed on. If she goes, she goes. If you don't want to lose her, then be flexible. Or you could tell her that you will let her go part time but you will be actively looking for a new full time client and when you find one, she will lose her spot. OR, if you don't want to lose her, let her go down to 3 days a week.

[daycaremum]

Sorry, must have been typing at the same time. Glad it worked out.

[Suzie_Homemaker]

When we had our interview she asked 3 times and I said NO!

That big clue. Already she ask 3 times tell you that she really want what she is asking and not liking your answer. She hoping by asking again, she hear answer she want. She choosing to ignore your answer. If she ask three time and not convinced you mean it, of course she asked again.

It only March, she will ask again at month end because she think you be scared of her leaving. Bottom line, she not want or need FT care come April and she told you that from beginning. Now she reminding you that she not want or need FT care. Plus, maybe not afford FT care when time come. Don't be surprised if they quit.

I not take PT either. But I would not have taken this client knowing she was going on mat leave. Chances are even if they hoped to afford FT care, they might not be able so chance them leave even if not mentioned. But their plan has always be to reduce days.

[Crayola kiddies]

i agree with suzie ...i wouldnt be surprised if she ups and leaves .....she is just saying what you want to hear for now cause she needs you buuuuttt the time will come ....i would be proactive and get a replacement lined up

[Emma H]

Thanks everyone, just an update I sat down and spoke with the mom today and told her how I felt and she told me how she felt bottom line she agreed to keep her in FT care she doesn't want to lose her spot and her daughter had a hard time adjusting so she feels like she will have a hard time next yr when school starts too. Im glad everything worked out for the best, this was close lol

[5 Little Monkeys]

I'm glad it seems to have worked out. I would prepare myself for her to leave in April though, just in case!! If she stays, great, but at least you will be a little prepared if she does leave.

[flowerchild]

I'm glad it seems to have worked out. I would prepare myself for her to leave in April though, just in case!! If she stays, great, but at least you will be a little prepared if she does leave.

I agree with this. Hopefully it has worked out and things will be great going forward. At this point, I'd just carry on with her as per usual. I wouldn't bring it up or ask her about it anymore, BUT I would be sure not to bend on any policies AT ALL over the next few months. The fact that she asked, got an answer she didn't like, and then asked you three more times, tells me that she may be one to push the limits. Do you get paid in advance? Otherwise, I could totally see her agreeing for the full time spot today, but then writing you cheques for the 2-3 days her child actually attended come April making you hunt her down for money etc etc. I think she's just going to push until she gets what she wants or goes somewhere else. And if she's asking for exceptions to other policies and you give in, it's just going to make her feel like she can push for the part time again.

[Suzie_Homemaker]

I don't think she will ask for PT again. I think she will quit come April or soon after. She not want FT for her mat leave, never has. She will do it for little while after baby born and then she will quit.

It better for her to save 12 month FT fees and then in April 2016, she just need four months care for both children before older go to school. Make no sense to pay 12 months fees to keep a spot she only use for 4 month. She will quit by June.

[Emma H]

Thank you for the positivity Suzie homemaker lol I am sure she will stay...she is well aware that her deposit wont be getting refunded if she breaks our agreement. Her husband never wanted to drop the child to part-time she was asking for whatever reason. She needs organic/Montessori/French and if she leaves she won't find that anywhere else in our city....If she does leave there is a child already lined up for April & June so it doesn't matter either way.

[Crayola kiddies]

well its good you have another child waiting but i too think she will pull within a few months of giving birth ....you will be surprised how quickly organic montessori french will become less important then doing what she wanted...... unless she is the type of parent that cant handle two kids at one time full time then she'll pull ....i had a parent that kept her older one in full time after the new one was born but she couldnt handle looking after both at once worked out good for me but most arent like that ...they either pull totally and look for new daycare at the end of mat leave or the go part time to hold the spot if they want to put the second one in too

[Emma H]

Just an update, she ended up putting down a last month deposit for her new baby for 2016 at pick up so now I will have both kids :thumbsup:
I don't think she knew what she wanted until we both sat down to talk and I have learnt to not be so quick to judge

[5 Little Monkeys]

That's good that she did that. I'm just curious....how do you know for sure you will have 2 openings in 2016 for them?

I had a mom leave in September on mat leave. They chose to risk it and not pay while on mat leave. After I thought about it, I couldn't guarantee her 2 spots anyways so it was good she didn't pay to keep her spot.

[Emma H]

One of my current families will be moving next March so my spot will open up. Since the spot is currently taken I am not making her pay unless that family leaves before March.

[kindertime]

A lot can happen in a year, what will you do if that family doesn't move next March?

[MsBell]

if you don't have the spot, just give her back her deposit. I don't take deposits, but I have had many parents ask for their new baby to come when the time comes, maybe its just luck, but it always seems to work out (maybe too, I am never full with all full timers, so I always have some wiggle room) I also had a Mom keep her child in full time with me while on Mat leave with her second, she wanted the same time she got with her first and she found her older one wanted to come hang with her friends. I've had other that keep them in part time (i'm okay with that), in fact I had my daughter continue daycare parttime when my son was born for about 5 months.
I think Emma H we will see flux in demand around here for quality care? At leats in my area, there are not very many Daycare centres, and they are expensive, lots of ladies around me are packing in soon (kids are older time for change) I put an ad out last week for September, I have had a dozen inquires already. I would think your client is really wanting to keep her spot(s), she can claim the expense anyway, and just might be better off down the road?

Also, with Mat leave being a year, and school starting full time at 3/4 we only have these kids 2-3 years MOST (unless we do before and after school care), with the rule only 2 under 2, most of us will be having an opening every year, just depends on the month. If a parents wants you, they will work with the timing.

[Emma H]

They will be moving for sure so that wont be an issue for me. The parents really want to keep their spot and a spot for the baby. I do have a waiting list so if EVERYTHING falls through there is plan b lol .....I have 2 spots opening up in September I already filled them so there is a lot of people looking

[Emma H]

if you don't have the spot, just give her back her deposit. I don't take deposits, but I have had many parents ask for their new baby to come when the time comes, maybe its just luck, but it always seems to work out (maybe too, I am never full with all full timers, so I always have some wiggle room) I also had a Mom keep her child in full time with me while on Mat leave with her second, she wanted the same time she got with her first and she found her older one wanted to come hang with her friends. I've had other that keep them in part time (i'm okay with that), in fact I had my daughter continue daycare parttime when my son was born for about 5 months.
I think Emma H we will see flux in demand around here for quality care? At leats in my area, there are not very many Daycare centres, and they are expensive, lots of ladies around me are packing in soon (kids are older time for change) I put an ad out last week for September, I have had a dozen inquires already. I would think your client is really wanting to keep her spot(s), she can claim the expense anyway, and just might be better off down the road?

Also, with Mat leave being a year, and school starting full time at 3/4 we only have these kids 2-3 years MOST (unless we do before and after school care), with the rule only 2 under 2, most of us will be having an opening every year, just depends on the month. If a parents wants you, they will work with the timing.


What area are you located in...

[MsBell]

Waterloo, close to Conestoga Mall

[Emma H]

oh you are very close!! :) Do you find people are been calling quite a bit too...I just ordered some business cards for the first time so we ll see how that goes lol.... I posted flyers around the summer time and only got one child from that....two weeks ago I got a call from those summer flyers lol how the survived the snow is beyond me lol