Sounds like you know what you need to do mom-in-alberta! I think if it was me I would say why you are unable to provide care for them. Not paying on time is a huge slap in the face and you don't deserve that! You are taking care of what is supposed to be their most precious asset - their child - and to not pay you on time is a sign of how little they value you (but you already know this, I'm just getting fired up!). I would be upfront and tell them that you can't provide care for a family who doesn't value you enough to pay you on time. And i would give them 2 weeks to find another arrangement, provided they pay you upfront. If you aren't firm about this they will try to take advantage of you again.