Stick to your policies not matter what

[crafty]

Hey All !

I have not posted in a while but I've been around I just wanted to share with you a little lesson I've learned recently. I've been running my home daycare for over 2 years now and for the most part I've dealt with great families and things have been running smoothly. It has not been perfect but couldn't complain.

So, lately my daycare has been going through a lot of changes one of which is that I will be closing temporarily to catch my breath with our new baby once he arrives

Anyway parents have been great and understanding and the families I care for now have been with me since I opened or almost as long. I've had great relationships with them. However this one particular family started in with these ''special'' request that go against my policies but honestly I felt they were minor and did not really bother me plus since I am closing I guess I kind of felt a bit guilty so I wanted to offer some flexibilities. But then these little request have been increasing and some of which really did displease me. They also seemed to have been ignoring some policies and rules, forgetting things ... So at one point I did feel like I had to say No. I know the parents did not seem to understand my reasoning and I get that but it's still MY decision to make. Anyway after saying yes and rearranging things for them so many times then suddenly saying no to one of the request I guess turned them off as they decided to pull their children out at the end of the month instead of waiting until I close (that was the original plan). So I guess I've learned my lesson ... It does not matter how much you try to please someone...bottom line we are all in it for our own profit and bending the rules will only cause you frustrations.

I don't really want to get into the details of it all as I don't think it matters but I wanted to share this little bit of experience I've had. Don't bend your rules not matter how much you might think you know your parents and how friendly you have become. Remember why you wrote those policies and rules and what you wanted to avoid and STICK with them no matter what.

Now I feel like I am ending a very good business and friendly relationship on a sour note and I absolutely hate it. I am not saying to not develop a friendly and good open relationship with your families but always maintain to your business rules and keep in mind they could become the clients that cause you the grief you wanted to avoid in the first place.

Stay strong my fellow daycare provider colleagues haha !

[Secondtimearound]

Good advice !!! Every family I have bended policy for started acting like none of the policies applied to them .
Had my last day with dcg today , because I had been ill I let her mom choose 2 more days in June , ugh !!! So I got her once a week for the last two weeks ! I'm glad I'm done !!!!

[crafty]

It's if because you bended on some rule they either loose respect for you or just start acting entitled... like kids actually. I always said give them an inch they will take a mile. Lesson learned for sure !!

[5 Little Monkeys]

I agree that some families will take advantage of you if they can! However, I have had some families that I have been flexible with and it's never bit me in the ass lol. It all depends on the person and their morals and ethics. Once they take advantage of me though they would be back to abiding by the rules!

[MonkeyPrincess]

I totally agree. 100%. Stick to your guns. Even if you watch a friend's child, niece, nephew, friend of a friend, etc. Don't bend over backwards for anyone. That goes for daycare and in real life. It pisses me off when people think they are entitled, or when they think the rules don't apply to them. Like this scenario that we probably have all faced...."I know payday is Friday but i am going to pay you Monday because i forgot to run to the bank. Nope. No dice.

I know i have been taken advantage of- more than once. I have had 'that parent'- that despite signing your contract, tries to get you to change all your policies to accommodate her or her child solely. The one who believes she is entitled and holier than thou and when you finally put your foot down has a hissy fit and pulls their kid from your care....after you basically did EVERYTHING for her. I have had 'that parent' who got a sibling discount and still said i was too expensive and tried to haggle my rates like i was a flea market... seriously. Most recently i had 'that parent' who for 8 mos praised me and my daycare, yet never parented their kid, didn't follow my policies, refused to take action for the several issues, and had many verbal warnings to correct their ways, i terminated the contract. They did a complete 180 and berated me, talked crap to me and accused my daughter of being the problem. Now I don't let anyone walk on me, this is my business and i have reached the point where no matter what/who if you aren't following my policies i will deal with it. As much as i love my DCkids, if i am not being treated well by their parents or if they aren't abiding by my policies, they are gone.

[playfelt]

I have made exceptions for parents along the way on some things but yes there are some rules that sorry I will not compromise on no matter what. But the family has to earn that trust first. They have to have shown me that they are willing to go the extra mile to meet my rules before we can even talk exceptions. It is just like raising our own kids - for those that have teens they will understand. Just because you have a curfew rule of 9pm doesn't mean you can't make it 10pm on the night they are going to a movie that doesn't start till 7 etc. It doesn't mean they will take advantage of it every time they are out or argue for the change constantly. They just know that when there is a true need you will consider the change. Our daycare parents are very much like raising teens for sure.

[crafty]

I agree ! Not everyone will take advantage of you and I could work out but in my experience this particular family had gained my trust. We had a great business and friendly relationship for over 2 years it but seems that once I started bending the rules it all went wrong. So I dunno if I'll be so flexible for the next family but I have sure learned a valuable lesson. I really hate de way I feel towards this situation right now so I don't think it will be worth it for me to take a chance.

[mattsmom]

Totally agree. I have learned that the nicer you are and the more you try and help the families out, the more you're going to get taken advantage of. I used to give things such as sibling discounts and looking the other way when they came a bit late, but as soon as things aren't going their way, they don't think twice about bailing out on you, leaving you high and dry!

I had a friend/neighbour that had both her children in my daycare. We had always been great friends, but eventually she started taking advantage of our friendship. She would come late, saying that she had to do some groceries before she picked up,so she didn't have to take the kids. Also sending her kids sick, not paying on time...etc.

I eventually thought that either our friendship won't last as long as I have her kids or I would have to let her kids go in order to save our friendship. Well, I did let her go, and of course she was pissed at first, but eventually we got back to the way we were before. I definitely will not care for friends or family's kids through the daycare anymore.