Quote Originally Posted by Tinyones1981 View Post
I just signed up a new client beginning in Sept, great family and lovely child. I am now having second thoughts at the agreement that we signed. They requested only 4 days a week, I was ok with it at first, but now after signing everything and thinking about it I really don't feel ok with it. How on earth am I going to fill a spot for 1 day a week. I know they are set with the 4 days and wont go for the 5. So Yes I know my own fault for agreeing to it and I cant change it now. So I guess what I am wondering is when I renew my contract with them, can I tell them that I am no longer allowing 4 days a week that only full time 5 days is what I am taking on? What are everyone's thoughts?
I have done this.

I had run of vacancy couple year back. Local company closure, mean loss of work for some, lots of Moms tried own day care and it did affect all for a while.

I had teacher come in September wanting care for January. I never take part time and turn away lot of people wanting 3 day or 4 day but vacancies sitting there not getting filled and starting to worry.

This teacher wanted 4 day a week too. Wednesday child go to grandparent. She agreed to pay all summer, sometime he here, sometimes he not here.

I feel I do regret a bit. Took over a year to find someone who want just that Wednesday. So lost income for all that time because broke own rule about part-time. No one work one day a week and if did, small chance of being the same day as empty day.

Child now 2 so I have cycle now of 3 years before he go school where I have another PT child. What happen when this kid go school? I am stuck with finding a 4 day a week person again and the cycle goes on.

I was okay with at first because so relive to fill a place. Course a couple months later, all filled again but one year of empty one day is still 52 unpaid days in a year. About the same as two months money.

What I ended up doing was target advertise to stay-at-home parent who need day to run errands or just have some time off to self or maybe with school age child before/after school. That who took place in end.

I even consider using another FT place for one of the 4-day requests giving me two days between the two which might be easier than one day a week client.

I don't think you can force into 5 days a week. You already know they won't go for the 5 now so why think when contract renewed they suddenly will stay. If thinking you have proved yourself by then, that bit naughty to manipulate that way knowing parent might stress about changing carer.

What you can do is be straight forward and give them notice based on the empty one day proven impossible to fill. I think after a year if that true, then they will understand situation but likely not want 5 days and so need to move on.

If you thinking of forcing change when contract end, why not give notice now and keep looking between now for FT client. I don't understand why you think "can't change now" but willing to change after contract end.