Closing - when to give notice?

[gravy_train]

I am closing my daycare mid-end June (if my pregnancy continues to go well). My clients don't know yet that I am pregnant. How much notice do you think I should give them? I am nervous because I don't want them to leave right away but also want to give them enough time to find replacement care.
How do I handle the 2 week deposit they gave me? Would it be awful of me to say, "I'm closing on xxx, your deposit will be used for the last 2 weeks"?
Or Should I ask them to give me a certain amount of notice as a reassurance?? Example: please provide me with three weeks notice if you find alternate care prior to my closing date. Any notice less than three weeks will result in you forfeiting your deposit"?

[Monday 2 Friday Mama]

Congratulations ! Hope you're feeling well, and that your pregnancy is going smoothly. I think it's completely reasonable to explain to the parents that their deposit will be applied to their children's last two weeks of care - it will encourage the families to give you at least that much notice. In the past I had a system where I used the deposit to cover the first and the last week's dues - and wouldn't you know it, the parents had a really tough time providing me with two weeks notice. Hmmmm.... I wonder why that might have been ? You said that you're due in June, I would give some thought to telling them now - it's about three months until your due date, right ? As a general rule, I think it would take parents about a month to find a suitable caregiver. You also want to build in a bit of a buffer for yourself - in case the babe comes early, or if you're just to tired at the end of things to continue caring for other little ones. I've never been in your position, but from what I've heard from other ladies be prepared for your families to leave quite soon after they get the news. If you need the income, and can "hide" your condition for another month - you might be able to get away with not telling them for another few weeks. Good luck, and congratulations again !

[Fun&care]

Good for you for keeping it a secret this long. I have a DCM expecting around the same time and she is HUGE lol. As for the deposit I don't think you can really dictate when they can use it. If they don't want to stay all the way until you close, then technically all they would require is to give you two weeks notice and they're good. I think all you can do is hold off as long as you can and to be nice I would give at least one months notice if it was me.

[Spixie33]

Yay ! Happy to hear the pregnancy is moving along.

Personally, I would tell people the first week of April so that they have adequate time to find good care. I think 8 weeks is the kind thing to do because I wouldn't want my parents to pick someone out of desperation.

June gets to be a hard time to find care because summer faces fill up June - August for school agers who need FT care until September.

[gravy_train]

Thanks everyone! Just to clarify, I am due in October - I'm only 9 weeks now but will be closing in June. I have a herniated disc in my back which caused me a lot of pain in my third trimester with my last pregnancy so am preparing for that to happen again. I also just want the time alone with my two kids and to enjoy a less stressful summer.
I am starting to develop a little belly but am going to pass it off as weight gain for as long as a can! I know that at least one family will leave ASAP once I tell them I am expecting so I'm pretty nervous about that.
Someone suggested that I tell them I'm pregnant when I can no longer hide it, tell them I will be open until my due date and then 'unexpectedly' close in June but I don't feel comfortable doing that especially since it is more difficult to find daycare in the summer.

[5 Little Monkeys]

I think I would tell them your due date is October but you are staying open until June. Let them know that you would appreciate if they stayed until than. If you are willing, I would also help them line up daycare for when you close.

Are you ever re-opening? My reason for closing on good terms is that word of mouth can either be the best or worst advertising for you. If you close on bad terms and than re-open, they may hear of this and warn their friends/family to stay away.

[Polkaroo]

I remember your first post about this. I agree with 5LM (as usual! We seem to have the same way of thinking lol).

I don't think it's unreasonable to apply the deposit to the last two weeks. I advise all clients, and it's mentioned in my agreement, that that’s what the deposit is for. Why take money just to give it back?

If I remember correctly you're closing for good but it's still a good practice to end things on a positive note with all clients. I wouldn't wait until the last minute as I would feel bad about it too.

I think 6-8 weeks notice is good. That way if they leave earlier it's not too early. Most dc will want the 2 week integration so they would still be in your care part-time for two of those weeks. The child also needs time to process this mentally so last minute is not good for them either. I think these things are always hard.

I had to let go of my b/a school kids when I decided to take on full-time dcb and I provided them with only 3 weeks notice since that's when my last FT spot filled. They took it hard (kids and parents) it gave us a bit of time to have a great time together and talk about it a lot before they left. I was lucky that they were able to find alternate care as its hard to find b/a school care in my area.

Good luck with everything and keep us posted

[Judy Trickett]

Congratulations on your pregnancy!

My first question to you is.....what does your contract say in terms of notice to be given? Always follow the contract. Mine is four weeks and, if in your position, I would be giving the four weeks notice.

[gravy_train]

Thanks again everyone. At this point I will be closing at least until October 2015, and most likely for good. I would like to leave things on a positive note and not burn any bridges because 1) I really like my families and could see us being friends when our professional relationship ends; and 2) I would like to open another business and need the support in my community.
My contract says that I require four weeks notice if the client wishes to terminate and that I reserve the right to terminate out contract at any time, without notice.
My issue is that as soon I can no longer hide that I'm pregnant, my clients will start looking for other care arrangements.
I think I will just have to keep my fingers crossed and hope that they stay with me until my closing date. So as for their deposit and considering the circumstances do you think it's fair of me to require 2 weeks notice from them so I can apply their deposit to those two weeks?

[Judy Trickett]

I think I will just have to keep my fingers crossed and hope that they stay with me until my closing date. So as for their deposit and considering the circumstances do you think it's fair of me to require 2 weeks notice from them so I can apply their deposit to those two weeks?

But if your contract says they have to give you 4 weeks notice then that falls within the two week deposit so you will have them pay for the first two weeks of the notice and then they can use the deposit for the last two weeks.