The family I SHOULD have terminated!

[apples and bananas]

That's a great idea, to have something in the contract making sure I have notice. I have my reasons for not charging for their vacation and I'm ok with it. I just think the way she's doing it is sneaky... much like other things she's done. There should be a certain amount of trust between provider and parent and I don't trust her at all! Not enough to terminate with good reason... that's the most frustrating part for me I think.

I think I will build that into my contract.

[Inspired by Reggio]

You need to do what feels fair in your contract while protecting yourself for sure ~ if you want to offer them a 'break' but the lack of notice or the concern of everyone taking time at the same time concerns you than work those 'specifics' in to cover ... another thing I would have to quantify if I offered vacation time in addition to notice would be that 'no vacation credit time could be used in December cause those times of year are just so overstretched with family budget for Xmas and so forth and well that is the time I fear most people might want to take a 'break in paying fees' by taking a vacation time!

[kidlove]

have had similar things happen to me also. thats when I look back at my contracts and change things if need be. I think the 2 weeks vaca is just another needle in the hay stack with these people. It really sounds like she had a taste of saving money from the first kid leaving your care and shes addicted. Now she is biding her time until summer is over, who knows she may be usung these 3 weeks to find alternate free care i.e. family members and friends for the rest of the summer, then at the end of the three weeks she might not plan to come back. who knows...you put your best in people and they sometimes dont do the same. I would consider looking/advertising to fill the spot and that way when she comes to you in 3 weeks with her news of not returning, you can inform her you had a feeling that was going to happen so you went ahead and filled the position. Its never the kids that are the problem, its the parents!!!

[apples and bananas]

Thank you,

I'm actually fairly confident that she doesn't want to loose me in September. She wants to maintain her space but not pay for it. She keeps throwing comments at me in the am like "XXX didn't want to leave this morning, he really likes it when XXX cares for him" Like I'm supposed to feel guilty because I'm forcing him to be here???? I have a wait list a mile long! I don't want to start a new kid, but I can and I will if she leaves. I think the most frustrating part is she just won't leave and I really have no reason to terminate at this point. How do I fit this into my contract " I reserve the right to terminate you if I just don't like you" LOL