Dilemma - what would you do?

[Spixie33]

Back in March I had a current daycare parent refer me one of their friends. I had met this friend once before in a social setting and they seemed like a good family so we signed on starting for July for FT care.

last Wednesday I get a call from another daycare provider I know who says she is closing and would really like to recommend a 15 mo old boy to me and that his parents are great and would I interview them because she has already told this family about me.

I told her - sorry I am full because I have the other child committed for July.

This weekend I got an email from the mother of DC child #1 and she tells me she is having a baby in december and would I still provide care for those 5 months or she would understand if I say no.

I reply okay.

Then this morning a light bulb finally goes off in my head when I think about daycare child #2 who the other daycare provider was referring to me and I wonder if I made a mistake.

Should I tell the pregnant mom I changed my mind and interview the other child? Should I stick with my original commitment? My mind is spinning and weighing things every which way.

Both kids are full time but at least the second option would hopefully be staying longer and he is already older.
What would you do??

[Dreamalittledream]

Oh boy; that IS a tough one. Myself, I would be inclined to stick with the original commitment...just as an honor thing, and on the bright side, you may get another full time (new sibling) down the road? Good luck with whatever you choose

[Bookworm]

Well, before making any decisions, I would maybe interview family #2, since they might not even be a fit anyways.
Is dck#1 planning on staying during mat leave?
I'm in the same position as you sort of. I have to make a decision to keep a boy who is temporary with the potential to be permanent or to take on a little girl with better hours in September.
This is the part of running a daycare I don't like...decisions, decisions.

Good luck with what ever you decide!

[apples and bananas]

I would stay with the first as well... just as a moral thing. If I committed to her then I stay with her. She may decide she wants to leave her child with you Part Time during her mat leave... I had a client sign on knowing she was pregnant in September and with full intent to remove him from care for her mat leave. But, she now loves me so much and he's so comfortable she's not only leaving him with me, she's also paying a holding fee and leaving a deposit for baby number 2!

[Spixie33]

That's where I am torn...

there is the right/moral thing to do to stick to the original commitment and stand united in womanhood since she is preggo Been there and of course I can empathize with where she is coming from. It is a happy time for her to plan her family.

Then again - option 1 only is worth about 5 months of income and could be less if the mom gets put on bedrest or medical leave and I need to also think of it as a business.

option 2 covers my butt financially and might be safer in the long run.

I don't blame the mom for not telling me sooner because she would have already known when she initially made contact with me. She has no obligation to tell me....But at that time I had someone else also wanting the spot who was a great match and I declined them for the sake of mother #1. In retrospect that hurts a bit because I felt a real connection with that original mom before the referral mom. The mom at that time knew I had someone else interested but of course it was in her best interest to keep quiet because I probably would have decided differently.

I guess having two people to choose from isn;t the worst problem one could have but it still sucks and is confusing

[Littledragon]

honestly - i would do whats best for you and your business, financially and sanity.

[Momof4]

I'm sorry, I can't help because I'm in a similar situation. I just had two interviews and I have one space and I like both families a lot and they both want the space and I'm FREAKING OUT!!! What to do, what to do? Good luck with your decision!!!

[Spixie33]

So originally the issue was that I had signed a family in the spring and then found out they were pregnant (mom told me) and she offered that she would understand if I want to back out since I would only have the little DCK in care 5 months before she leaves on mat leave.

I told her I was okay to still do it since she was a referral from one of my current daycare families.

Then last week I had another daycare provider refer me another full time child that I had to decline because of this commitment I made to dcmom #1.

Now this morning I get approached by a lady who I interviewed with 2 years ago...she now has 2 kids and her daycare is closing and she wants to go with me.

is this a cruel joke ...am I being tested to see whether I make the right decision....or is the universe warning me away from DCmom #1?

[playfelt]

is this a cruel joke ...am I being tested to see whether I make the right decision....or is the universe warning me away from DCmom #1?

Interesting that you say that. Mom #1 gave you an out. At the time you didn't take it. Was it because you thought any money for a short time was better than non since you didn't have other options as in you said ok for the wrong reason. We talk a lot on these boards about how sometimes we take the FIRST family that comes along instead of holding out for the RIGHT family.

Maybe you are being shown that you don't have to settle but can do what is right for your group. I think it would be worth interviewing both potential families and then weighing it against the interview information letting the pregnancy part just be an extra piece of info. If that didn't apply which family would you have signed on and then maybe it would be worth actually doing it.

[Inspired by Reggio]

So is my understanding that the pregnant client has not yet STARTED care with you - she was due to start July 1st and is now admitting that the arrangement will be short term because she is pregnant?

Cause that is a tough one ... normally I am a I made a commitment I will see it through as long as the other person is respectful and following my contract - however seeing as the mother has given you an OUT and the child has not even STARTED care yet I might be inclined to call her back and tell her you have been reflecting on her call and initially you said it was ok cause you did not want to put her out and you had made a commitment however you have now been thinking about her CHILD and are concerned that a short term care arrangement might not be in his best interest and were wondering if they had a 'back up plan' and that was why she had given you an out - that you wanted to double check that they really WANTED care and that they too were not just going to send him as some sort of obligation? Maybe they have family who could care for that 'short time frame'??? Plus in addition that it would be easier for the program to enroll for Summer/Fall than trying to find someone in the middle of winter because the pool for new cleints tends to be lower.


Good luck in your choice - sometimes it does not hurt to ask more questions and just explain your point of view and find a common middle ground - might be an arrangement that works out for everyone!!!