What do I say?

[Suzie_Homemaker]

I have a slight dilema, next wednesday I have six parents needing child care for the day. This is the situation, I have two that are starting Jk so next week is their last week with me, and then I have two new ones starting (then I have two that are remaining) Due to the Jk staggered entry, the two that are leaving me, wont start school until thursday and friday. Anyways, of the two that are remaining, the one has been taking at least one, sometimes two days off every week for the past three months. I don't charge parents for sick days (I just explain that I would rather they just keep the child home), so this little one has been "sick" at least once a week....My thoughts are to tell that parent that I just don't have room for their child for that day. I feel like they have not been fair to me with all the sudden "sick" days (she has missed what has added up to two full weeks care, not including her scheduled holidays, so in the past three months she has missed a whole month), if they had just come to me before hand and said they wanted to take more time off this summer I would have been fine with it, instead they just wait until the morning off and text saying she is not feeling well, which doesnt give me any chance to change plans. Do i just say "Im sorry but I can not care for X next wednesday" and dont give them a reason, or should I piont out that they have not been reliable with their spot so I want to give it to parents that are?
Ps I am planning on opening up the spot for later in the fall, but first I would like to transistion the two new ones I have. then I will tell them that I can not hold a full time spot for them for just part time hours.

I not understanding fully.

So you limited to 5?
You have contract to start 2 before the two they replacing leave?
Do you not have notice with firm end date?
Or if these new ones replacing aging out childrens, did you not know when school starting?
I just think odd that the one parent who been in care, not knew, and not leaving, is the one be denied care on overlap day. Surely of all children, that one's place should be assured since she is the constant.
I do understand it been big pain with her level absence especially when they not pay but if those your terms, I would be annoyed if my child's carer suddenly asked me not come one day because it inconvenience those leaving and those just coming in! Surely if they contracted for place, it should be avail to them. What if Mom is already in trouble at work having so much time off with her sick child? It seem if she been home for almost month in the last 3, then another day off might be last thing she can get.
Likely you knew for some weeks that this day might be issue. What would you do if this child not been out sick so often?
How were you planning on deal with over ratios when new contracts were signed before knowing leave dates?
Since you want this client to stay until you transition two new ones, and then are opening the place up, why risk this parent get cross when care denied on Wednesday? It seem like new persons have more consideration than existing client. Mom might think that too.
Why not ask parent of child going school on Thursday to have extra day home? It seem maybe she not give firm leave date and with her child not going school as expected, it is maybe why new child contract for start was too soon?