Well my Golden Family turned to Brass..Blah.

[Other Mummy]

Ohhh..the mistakes you make in your first year. I'm on year 2 of doing daycare and have learned soooo much in the last 18 months. when I first started I did not have a contract. My second family to sign on with me (my "golden" family) enrolled their then 2 year old. She is a delight. Continues to be a wonderful child, the best I've had to date! She is now 3.5yrs old and starting Kindergarten in Sept. Last year DCD lost his job. So she went down to 3 days a week and then 1 day a week. I held on hoping they would go full time when DCD got a job. I kept their spot open and did not fill it. (mistake # 1). Mistake #2...not giving them a contract when I finally got my act together and realized thru trial and error that this is a business and I need to protect myself.

Fast forward to today. DCD got a temp. full time position. They enrolled DCD full time into my program. DCM asked me for my new paperwork. I gave her my contract...She returned it 3 days later signed. But she took me aside at pick up time and told me how it was too harsh !! WTH? Seriously. It's a pretty straight forward contract. Nothing harsh in there. Lists all my stat holidays, late fees, etc. It is 10 pages that stipulates out everything. Protects the parents/protects the provider (me). then she said.."I understand you want to do this..but...do we really need this paperwork (contract) for babysitting OMG..I nearly lost it.. Ummm..yes. You are now full time, no longer drop in once a week. This is my business. I am NOT a babysitter (this is actually in my contract) I do scheduled activities, preschool, crafts, etc. Then she TELLS me, not asks....I will be dropping off DCD at 7:00am on thursday cause I need to take my son to the hospital for his pre-op (ear tubes going in). I tell her that I will make an exception this time, but I open @ 7:30am!" She was taken back.

So much for my golden family. I'm this close to terming. Ugh.

[bright sparks]

You should terminate after she treated you with such lack of respect. Sorry to be the one to say this, but you just made Mistake number 3. You allowed her to break the contract by dropping off early at 7am. You can't expect her to take your contract seriously if you will allow her to break the rules. You should have either said flat out no, or offered it to her as an exception as you did but WITH EARLY DROP OFF FEES. You are giving her 30 minutes of your time for free, and she questioned the need for your contract but then you immediatly allowed her to break it without consequence. IMO and experience, you've just opened the door for her to take furthur advantage of you in the future and I think if I was in your situation, a term letter would be given at pick up today. You don't deserve to be treated like this and she clearly has such little regard for you and the no doubt excellent care you provide, that she doesnt deseve you and you should hold out for better.

Good Luck

[mimi]

First sorry this family is being so disrespectful to you! Secondly, congratulations for standing up for your policies and standing up to her criticisms of you and your business.
No one tells me how things are going to go in my daycare. They can ask for something, but the decision is always mine.
The nerve of DCM to question your/our profession by calling you a babysitter. Obviously she thought she was humouring you by signing your contract and let you know this.
Some folks have really no clue how this business is run and how we have so many variables to content with.
Please continue to correct her comments if they don't sit well with you. If she continues this behaviour I would start looking for a replacement. This job can be difficult enough without being disrespected.

[Crayola kiddies]

..... I agree she is just humouring you by signing the contract and really has no plans of following and she proved that to you by telling you she was going to drop her child off before you open.
....NEXT.....

[apples and bananas]

Contracts always seem harsh to families that have never seen them before.

I went through the same thing last year. The family is no longer with me.

They will continue to think they are the exception and continue to take advantage. Make sure you stay strong on your policies you've outlined. They will not take them seriously, expecially with such a short time left with you.

[Monday 2 Friday Mama]

Ugh...it's amazing how much disrespect can be conveyed in one brief conversation. From your note it sounds like the moment to discuss this may have passed, but if it is really bothering you I wouldn't be shy about re-opening the conversation with the family - either in person at pick-up or via e-mail if it allows you more time to compose your thoughts/choose your words. You could explain that a contract protects them just as much as it protects you. You could also point out that in the event of a catastrophe (injury, or a medical emergency) it gives you a legal leg to stand on. A contract proves that you are the child's caregiver, and depending upon how your contract is worded, it authorizes you to help their child - this can be very important when decisions need to be made quickly. You could also point out that it is highly unlikely that they would be able to find a babysitter who would work an 8 or a 9 hour shift for what we charge. I have a babysitter for my own rug-rats and she makes in one evening (4 hours) what I make per child in a 9-10 hour day. No meal prep, no stimulating play or games - she is just a warm body in the house. I tell parents right when I interview them that I firmly believe there is a huge difference between the loving and active role of being a child's caregiver, and being someone who just "watches" children. It's so hurtful when parents don't value what we do.

I don't know how difficult it would be for you to replace the family, but if it is not a huge hassle for you I would give it some hard thought. When/If you find a more respectful family (who don't have a problem with contracts and understand the difference between a babysitter and a caregiver - grrr....) I would simply term this crew. If you're so inclined you could tell them that you are not comfortable working with a family who doesn't view you as a professional, and that you don't appreciate the disrespect. If you are conflict averse (like a lot of us )you can just write a nice, neutral letter stating: "effective this date you will no longer be able to care for (insert child's name here) Wish them well, and bid them adieu. I'm relatively new to the caregiving profession as well, but thankfully I've never had anyone give me grief over my requiring a signed contract before I care for your child.

[Mamma_Mia]

How dare she question your contract as if you're a child as if she pulled you aside to let you "know" dear this isn't right.....WTF? why? because YOU have to follow MY rules? uhhh no. Just the fact that she did that bothers me a lot!

[kidlove]

oh man!!! been there before. There are 2 dif kinds of parents in the daycare field. the ones that value you, your knowledge and your services and those who don't, beware though....quite often the ones who don't are like a wolf in sheeps clothing....they will fool you at first only to show their true colors after it's too late. Let this one go in the fall, and if they ask for before after care...tell them you don't have room.

[kidlove]

I agree with crayola, the best thing you can do to prove to her that the contracts are solid is...the first time she goes outside them..follow through. Give a late fee for late pay, give warnings for rules not followed, she will know your not goofing if you show her. Your biggest mistake was letting them go this long, more than likely 'pushing the envelope'....it's like a kid who has gotten away with poor behavior for so long, when you try and crack down they laugh at you until you send them to their room with no dinner. put your foot down, but be prepared to terminate if things get bad......you chose to be tougher, so get prepared. good luck!

[Momof4]

I hope you are charging her an early fee for the 7am morning first of all. Of course, the 'babysitter' comment and her attitude is completely unacceptable. You MUST show her every day in every way that you are a businesswoman from now on. Our clients are not our friends, they are our clients. We can be nice to them of course and polite and we're relating our days and everything about their child when we talk to them at the end of a day but we always, always have to remember that the parents are the clients. We are providing a very valuable service and we work very hard and we deserve respect at all times. But you have to demand respect from some people.