How would you handle this dilemma?

[bright sparks]

I would never get rid of a family early to accommodate someone new. The spots open when the spots open and that is that. It doesn't seem like very good business to me to drop someone for something better and that is just not the kind of person I am nor want to be. I know parents do it all the time but so be it.

Some people don't have the luxury of choice though if they are in financial hardship and daycare is competitive in their area and/or it is a dry spell.

Here we are 4 months into 2014 and I have had double the enquiries that I had for the whole of 2013. I understand it isn't ideal, and not something I ever plan to do, but certain situations present themselves and neither of them may be 100% ideal but it is the question of the lesser of two evils. This may not be the OP's situation but....To a provider who is only getting calls once or twice a month, the worry of filling those spots could have really bad consequences. Stress, anxiety, depression, physical illness as a result of the stress, all because you are putting the needs of the other family before yours. If I was in this situation and the family didn't have any back up, no family in the area, I likely wouldn't replace but that would have a really bad impact on my life and my families well being, and even though it may be the "right" thing to do, it is of no benefit to me. It's just not as cut and dry as "Oh I would never do that" What about the providers whose husband gets laid off and their households only source of income is a daycare provider who has multiple days open but nothing they can fill because originally they took part timers on so have days all over the place. How many full time enquiries do they turn away in the best interest of their current clients even though they can't pay their mortgage and are defaulting on their credit card bills? What I am saying is that it's not fair to replace families "just because", and maybe it isn't "best business practice" but maybe it is what some people have to do to survive. Let's not be so harsh in our judgement of others in situations like this when we know not what it is like to walk in their shoes. It is not an ideal situation to be in and anyone with a heart would feel conflicted, but it doesn't make them bad people or bad providers.