Thoughts? Would you terminate?

[Momof4]

Michelle, you are too kind and it's time to get tough. Do you have a renewal date for your contract? If you don't have anything guaranteed until a certain date then if I were you I would make a new contract and ask her to sign it and make it effective Feb. 1st.

Raise the rate, implement early/late fees for over a 9 hour day, add the policy that children must arrive before 9am. All of that is completely acceptable and it's in my contract and probably most of the other caregivers on this site have that all in their contracts.

As far as being a single mother, I was one of those but I never used it as an excuse to get anything for free. I worked my butt off to support my 4 children and keep us in a nice clean home, well dressed, well fed and off subsidized housing, etc. I don't like it when anybody uses the single Mom card either but that's beside the point and it's time for you to take care of your business.

If you make your new contract date Feb. 1st or March 1st, whatever is best for you, then you can start interviewing to fill the space and if she doesn't abide by all your new policies she can be terminated. I just wanted to give you another idea to think about.

Wishing you strength and determination to correct this problem!