Parent request/favour

[Monday 2 Friday Mama]

I think you're perfectly within your rights to charge a "premium" (higher) rate for drop in care. That's very common in this industry, and if your client asks why the higher fee for her sister that's the explanation I would stick with. Also, if you're lukewarm about the extra work associated with another child, the higher rate may "encourage" them to find alternative care for this child. (Hello Gramma ! ) I also think you're wise to set an earlier pick up time. It sounds like this crew are not terribly sensitive to the fact that you are a human being, and even amazing caregivers need to be "off the clock" after a certain number of hours. 6:30 is a really late day ? Do you have any options in your current contract that would allow you to make your hours a little more reasonable. Maybe you could use this opportunity as a springboard to instigate a new policy for your regular daycare babies. (i.e. effective March 31 2013 my hours will be changing from "insert old hours of operattion here" to "insert new hours of operation here" Please make any necessary arrangements in order to allow you to pick your child up no later than "insert your preferred closing time here") My hours are from 7:30 to 5:00. I find every 15 minutes after 5 P.M. too be just brutal. If parents need 10 or 11 hours of care for their child, I point them towards a nanny or a daycare centre where there are shifts of people to cover the long days. I mean really, who is at their best after 10 or 11 hours on the job ?

[Balanced]

I think you're perfectly within your rights to charge a "premium" (higher) rate for drop in care. That's very common in this industry, and if your client asks why the higher fee for her sister that's the explanation I would stick with. Also, if you're lukewarm about the extra work associated with another child, the higher rate may "encourage" them to find alternative care for this child. (Hello Gramma ! ) I also think you're wise to set an earlier pick up time. It sounds like this crew are not terribly sensitive to the fact that you are a human being, and even amazing caregivers need to be "off the clock" after a certain number of hours. 6:30 is a really late day ? Do you have any options in your current contract that would allow you to make your hours a little more reasonable. Maybe you could use this opportunity as a springboard to instigate a new policy for your regular daycare babies. (i.e. effective March 31 2013 my hours will be changing from "insert old hours of operattion here" to "insert new hours of operation here" Please make any necessary arrangements in order to allow you to pick your child up no later than "insert your preferred closing time here") My hours are from 7:30 to 5:00. I find every 15 minutes after 5 P.M. too be just brutal. If parents need 10 or 11 hours of care for their child, I point them towards a nanny or a daycare centre where there are shifts of people to cover the long days. I mean really, who is at their best after 10 or 11 hours on the job ?

Yes, it is a long day and I am changing my hours as you mentioned in a couple months. This is the only late child I have and it's been very difficult with my own family after the other two have left at 4:30. Thank you for your reply!