How would you handle this dilemma?

[bright sparks]

It's a tricky one and I can see what 5LM is saying but don't necessarily agree....

5LM you mention...

I don't term one client because a better one comes along

That isn't what is happening here and I too do not do this.

also...

I wouldn't want parents scared to come here because they've heard I term early to fill potential empty spots

This would make sense, but in this particular instance, they aren't potential spots, these children ARE leaving.

If the tables were turned and the provider was expecting and gave a lengthy amount of notice, a huge amount if not the majority of parents would look for a replacement daycare provider and would leave as soon as they found an open spot, out of fear of not finding a suitable placement closer to the time. This makes good sense when the parent is looking out for THEIR best interests even if it leaves the provider suddenly down on numbers. It sucks but they have to look after their best interests not the other way around. I see this situation as similar.

Looking out for the best interests of your business should be your number one priority. I understand word of mouth is important, but you aren't giving notice because someone with shorter hours comes along, or you can charge a higher rate etc you are advertising to fill spots that are coming up and are faced with the option of replacing a family earlier, who are now a short term family, with someone who is more long term and from a business perspective are more financially sound as best as anyone can predict. They will provide you with more financial stability and certainty, versus the possibility of not filling those spots later on down the line which is when you may kick yourself.

I don't have a sure yes or no on what I would do. It would depend greatly on the individuals involved, my financial situation and my gut feeling.

[Lee-Bee]

I personally wouldn't drop the 2 families early to take on this family. It just seems wrong to me. I would continue to advertise for the spaces for when they open up. You should have more than enough time to find a family for a July and a September spot. I can understand ending your contract a week or two before their intended end date for a new family but you are looking at ending the contract 4 and 6 months early which just seems to early to me.

[5 Little Monkeys]

It's a tricky one and I can see what 5LM is saying but don't necessarily agree....

5LM you mention... That isn't what is happening here and I too do not do this.

also... This would make sense, but in this particular instance, they aren't potential spots, these children ARE leaving.

If the tables were turned and the provider was expecting and gave a lengthy amount of notice, a huge amount if not the majority of parents would look for a replacement daycare provider and would leave as soon as they found an open spot, out of fear of not finding a suitable placement closer to the time. This makes good sense when the parent is looking out for THEIR best interests even if it leaves the provider suddenly down on numbers. It sucks but they have to look after their best interests not the other way around. I see this situation as similar.

Looking out for the best interests of your business should be your number one priority. I understand word of mouth is important, but you aren't giving notice because someone with shorter hours comes along, or you can charge a higher rate etc you are advertising to fill spots that are coming up and are faced with the option of replacing a family earlier, who are now a short term family, with someone who is more long term and from a business perspective are more financially sound as best as anyone can predict. They will provide you with more financial stability and certainty, versus the possibility of not filling those spots later on down the line which is when you may kick yourself.

I don't have a sure yes or no on what I would do. It would depend greatly on the individuals involved, my financial situation and my gut feeling.

I totally get that we need to look out for our businesses best interest but imo, in the long run, this would do more harm than good. It is getting rid of one client to take on one that better suits the dcprovider in my eyes so yes it's terming because something better came along. All of the children will eventually leave our care so terming to accept a new one isn't right to me. But we all run our dc's differently.

As far as dcp becoming pregnant...I see your point but don't agree. Parents will have to leave because the dc is closing and have no other choice but to find another dc. We all know that children will leave our care but there are always other children needing dc. Sometimes it may take longer to fill a spot but that's a risk we all should have considered before choosing to open a hdc imo.

Op, all I can say is do what feels right to you! I try to put myself in others shoes and try to think how I would feel if i was the parent and my dcp did this to me after I was considerate and gave months of notice so she could fill the spot.