Not sure what to do....

[Momof4]

One hard lesson we learn in our business is that it IS A BUSINESS. We use our hearts for the children but our business minds to make the financial decisions and to make sure the parents follow the rules of our contracts. That's the best lesson I've learned so far anyway.

So if I were you I would fill the space. Be careful to always let families know that we have unexpected events happen in our business like new babies and families moving away, etc. So always let families who want you to promise a future space know that it isn't really possible to make long term promises since this is an ever changing business. Don't feel guilty about filling the space now and give the other family notice that they must make other arrangments. It isn't personal, it's a business decision.

I have a pregnant Mom in my daycare right now asking me what will be happening in Feb. 2014. I can't answer that question!

[cfred]

Okay, you're in the exact same situation I was in last year. Here's what happened to me. I had a girl 4 days per week. I got attached and Mum got pregnant. She said she couldn't afford to keep her in 4 days per week for mat leave, so I dropped her down to 2 days AND held a spot for her unborn child. Everything was going swimmingly and she seemed so grateful....had even talked about switching schools to keep the girl with me when she was 4. Then, 6 weeks before the 2 kids were to start full time, she had a friend tell me that she was putting the kids into a larger centre closer to her home. She knew very well that I was turning people away while she was cooking this up and she even tried to get her friend to pull her daughter out too so the girls could stay together. I've never in my life had anyone do anything so underhanded and crappy to me. End of the story, I lived in a rural area, couldn't find another client quickly enough, had to move.

The moral of the story....fill the spaces. It's a business and you need to pay your bills. It was a hard lesson to learn, and I'd rather you not learn it the hard way.

[mommyof2princesses]

Thanks for posting your story cfred! I think I know what I have to do now even though it will be hard!