New kid

[torontokids]

So things are going brilliantly with new child. She is happy, ate well, curious and fun. She cried for a couple minutes but went to sleep. Just woke now and has been crying for a bit, fingers crossed she settles down for her nap.

My issue is with the parents. They interviewed a while a go for the spot and I was pretty flexible about a lot of things: start date, part time instead of full time etc. I was interested in being flexible because I liked the family and this is really just my "extra" spot as I've always had 4 DC kids plus my kids but was ready to fill it with something as extra income. We are planning on having another baby so I want the extra money and I wasn't sure if I really wanted 5 DC kids full time anyways.

Anyways. Today mom is clearly having a hard time leaving her kid, understandable. She stays for a bit then I kick her out. At nap time I notice the cheques she left aren't for the full amounts. There isn't a cheque for these first 2 wks (I assumed they thought the deposit covers this) and the cheques are meant to be for full time for the next 2 weeks. I call her at nap to let her know how things are going and let her know about the cheques. She said no problem we can just re-date them. I explain that won't work as she is supposed to be full time for the next 2 weeks to get her "into the routine" (which was my condition on taking a 1 yr old part time) then come 3 days per week. She says that she isn't comfortable with that and she thinks it will be too much for her daughter. We are going to talk at pick up about it. I am so frustrated with them already.

[5 Little Monkeys]

That's awesome that the child is doing so well!!

As for the mom....make sure you deal with it today or you will just continue to be annoyed with her and that's no way to start out the relationship. If she doesn't agree to the full time for 2 weeks like you guys have already agreed upon, than tell her that your daycare is no longer an option for her. Stand your ground! Good luck!!

[MonkeyPrincess]

This is absolutely the time to discuss everything again, they are new and getting into your routine. Remind her about how you do things and why. There are an abundance of reasons why you do what you do- because it works! Remind her that although you made concessions about start date, FT vs PT etc she agreed to your terms. Remind her about your experience in caring for kids and how you weren't born yesterday

[babydom]

I agree. Stand your ground on the two full wks. Or otherwise she isn't welcomed and should find other care. Good luck!

[superfun]

I agree with everyone else. If it was me, I would make sure to remind her that its actually harder on little ones to start off part time. That is exactly why she should be coming full time for these 2 weeks. She thinks that because it's easier for herself if she's only away from her daughter part time, it must be the same for her daughter.

[Suzie_Homemaker]

Does you contract not reflect FT for first two weeks then drop to PT? I always tailor my contract if something is different then normal.

[torontokids]

Does you contract not reflect FT for first two weeks then drop to PT? I always tailor my contract if something is different then normal.

My contract was completed as usual just stating the PT fees. I did not have an additional statement included re: 2 wks full time. We had the conversation in the interview and multiple times via email. I was really not sure if she was truly just confused but I found the emails and it is VERY clear she agreed to this.

Spoke to her today at pick up and she claimed she was confused and thought we had changed it to PT (I hadn't looked up the emails before this conversation). The reason I have this clause is to help the kid settle in. That being said, today went fairly well. If she settles in fine these next 3 days without issue I told her we could discuss it tomorrow and on Friday. If I am not happy with how things are going we look at full time for a stint or they look elsewhere. This whole thing has rubbed me the wrong way I'll be honest. I have already decided that I am going to make her spot a full time spot in September and I will let them know they can either move to full time or move on. This is partially because her spot becomes more valuable in September as she is under 2 yrs old and also because they have plans to move to full time depending on her work situation and with how wishy washy she has been I am giving them a date.