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Thank you so much - that was exactly what I needed to hear (read) right now. Sometimes the very qualities that make us good caregivers are the ones that make the business end harder. I've come a long way over the years - from starting without a contract now to my first termination. I can't imagine it's the kind of thing that ever gets easier to do - but I am now wanting to move forward and focus on the other families because they are awesome and deserve my best (which includes removing the other family from care)
Thanks :)
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You are so welcome Crys. I terminated a couple families in my first year and learned how to really only accept fantastic families into care after that. But after trying and trying to get through to a family for a year and a half I had to terminate them in Feb. or lose my mind. It was absolutely traumatic for me but also for the family because they had not heard me for the past year and a half, damn! Sometimes we really have to take care of ourselves.
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I just wanted to update everybody.
This has resolved in the best possible way. She sent me an e-mail letting me know that she had gotten the message and apologizing for upsetting the balance of my daycare and that she understood. I saw her at our kids school and she spoke pleasantly to me (hey, how are ya?) and she found alternative care somehow. She does still owe me money, but she has always been one to pay late.. and I still have the girls belongings, but it's not that big of a deal. I'm willing to walk away from the money if it means ending this cordially. I am SO relieved. I understand that privately she may hate me, but I think it's more of a case of feeling disappointed and somewhat embarrassed. In any event, the most important thing is that the little girl doesn't seem to have been brought into it - she is still friendly with my daughter. So things could have been so much worse. I am very happy I decided to go ahead as now I feel just this huge sense of relief. It's over, it turned out to be not so terrible and I can now devote all of my time and energy to my other families and my own.
Thanks for all of the advice :)
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Whew, so glad you can put this behind you now. Just take everything that happens as a learning experience. I know I do! I learn something new pretty much every day in this business from all of you.
