Daycare Parent Due in May/June

I have a daycare mom who is preggers and due in May or June. I'm going to be bringing up the subject of what she's planning on doing with her son while she's on maternity leave. They started out as part time (min. 3 days per week), but since November they have been full time, which has been great! I'm thinking she's going to want to keep him here only part time while on mat leave, but I don't think I can accept part time anymore. My hubby lost his job and money has been very tight and the difference between part time and full time pay is significant! Has anyone else ever told a daycare parent going on mat leave that if they want to keep their spot they would have to pay full time? Anyone else eliminated part time?

TIA!

Yes. I had a family who was full-time. They had a baby and asked if I could give them a reduced rate to hold the spot for the year and hopefully get a 2nd spot for the baby when the time came. I said No. I wasn't prepared to take a cut in pay when I knew I could fill the spot. All spots filled and the mom has been emailing me a few times now. She can't find daycare and is hoping to come back. Unfortunately there is no room now!

It is completely fair to ask that. Unfortunately, your bills and expenses don't also go on mat leave, lol. If she would like to hold her full time spot with you, you are well in the right to ask that she continue to pay full time.

Yup. I'm in that exact same situation. DCG was here for 3 days a week. She's been with me for almost 2 years now. 5 months ago I told DCM that she needs to bring her a minimum of 4 days. DCM is pregnant and due in April. She asked if she could go back down to 3 days a week when baby arrives. I told her no and that I need to fill with a 5 day full time spot. She was upset as she loves my program and DCG loves it here. But unfortunately I too can fill the spot in a few weeks with a full timer. So Goodbye.

She was asking for two spots when she goes back to work. I told her good luck. 2 spots rarely open up in my daycare and if Bill 143 passes, she's going to have a heck of a time finding care for her two children.

I have a mom who is trying to get pregnant and also a school teacher. I am not sure what they plan on doing for the summer or what they want to do if she gets pregnant. I offer school teachers the summer off payment free if I can find someone who only needs a summer spot. If not, they can either send the child and pay full time or keep the child home and pay my holiday fee.

For any mom that wants mat leave off, I will likely offer the same kind of idea. If I can find someone that wants the spot for just a year than great, if not or if the new parent leaves before the year is over the mom on mat leave would have to pay or forfeit the spot and I would just fill it with a new kid.

I feel that its absolutely fair on your part! Since you are having a tough time financially, she can't expect you to cut down the cost and do a part time thing. Not many of the home child care providers who run them for money would agree to what she is asking you for!

Stick to your guns! If you need FT to meet your financial obligations, then do it. The other option is to change your contract to put a premium on the PT care fees.

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Originally Posted by 5 Little Monkeys

I have a mom who is trying to get pregnant and also a school teacher. I am not sure what they plan on doing for the summer or what they want to do if she gets pregnant. I offer school teachers the summer off payment free if I can find someone who only needs a summer spot. If not, they can either send the child and pay full time or keep the child home and pay my holiday fee.

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You sure put a lot of effort into helping out someone who gets paid for the summer anyway. Hope they appreciate it!

It's really not a lot of effort. There are always people needing summer care only and I will likely have a past client who will want a spot as their school aged child doesn't have secure daycare for school breaks.

If the school teacher takes the summer off and pays me the holiday rate and I fill the spot with another child, I don't feel right getting paid twice for the same spot so that is why they get the summer off. Yes, I realize they get paid for the summer but that is not the point. It's about ethics to me :)

**edited..and yes, this family will actually appreciate it. They are a great family and both are teachers and both have 2nd jobs(I'm assuming to pay their student loans off quicker) so they will definitely appreciate a decrease in daycare bills if they can! There are some families that wouldn't appreciate this but I know that this family would.