Difficult decision

[Meme86]

Thank you for your reply.
I like how you are so strict with your rules, I'm a huge pushover!

I have only had said family in my care (two boys aged 5, before and after school Mon-Fri and 13 months, 2.5 days a week) for the past two weeks after doing a trial period. The 5 year old is friends with one of my sons.
The 13 month old is usually either with his Mum/Dad or his Grandma, so other than the 2.5 days he's with me I'm guessing he gets pretty much undivided attention and I can't give him that, he doesn't nap at all and so the result of this is crazed squealing/crying and yelling everytime he is told not to do something or I'm not paying him attention. I'm not sure he's going to get used to it either because he goes right back to being with family Friday afternoon through until Wednesday and so the cycle begins again. He also stomped on our cat and bit his ear the first day he was here, now my cat keeps away from him!

The older one is also a little bit difficult, he kicks/hits my son at least once a day and he also kicked our cat (maybe where baby brother learned it?) and isn't exactly respectful of the house or anything in it. I speak to him about his behaviour everytime, but he does it again the following day or the day after that.
We are also currently staying with my parents whilst our new house is being built, they work from home and are having a hard time doing so with the 13 month old's screaming.

I had a message from a lady asking about after school care for her children and I had told her the spaces had been filled, but she asked me to let her know if that didn't work out, so I did message her yesterday asking if she is still looking for care and she is, so I'm wondering if that would work out better at least while we are staying with my parents, but I feel guilty for letting the other family down, so I was just wondering other people's opinions on how much they put up with from a daycare client before giving them notice.

[Suzie_Homemaker]

Thank you for your reply.
I like how you are so strict with your rules, I'm a huge pushover!

I have only had said family in my care (two boys aged 5, before and after school Mon-Fri and 13 months, 2.5 days a week) for the past two weeks after doing a trial period. The 5 year old is friends with one of my sons.
The 13 month old is usually either with his Mum/Dad or his Grandma, so other than the 2.5 days he's with me I'm guessing he gets pretty much undivided attention and I can't give him that, he doesn't nap at all and so the result of this is crazed squealing/crying and yelling everytime he is told not to do something or I'm not paying him attention. I'm not sure he's going to get used to it either because he goes right back to being with family Friday afternoon through until Wednesday and so the cycle begins again. He also stomped on our cat and bit his ear the first day he was here, now my cat keeps away from him!

The older one is also a little bit difficult, he kicks/hits my son at least once a day and he also kicked our cat (maybe where baby brother learned it?) and isn't exactly respectful of the house or anything in it. I speak to him about his behaviour everytime, but he does it again the following day or the day after that.
We are also currently staying with my parents whilst our new house is being built, they work from home and are having a hard time doing so with the 13 month old's screaming.

I had a message from a lady asking about after school care for her children and I had told her the spaces had been filled, but she asked me to let her know if that didn't work out, so I did message her yesterday asking if she is still looking for care and she is, so I'm wondering if that would work out better at least while we are staying with my parents, but I feel guilty for letting the other family down, so I was just wondering other people's opinions on how much they put up with from a daycare client before giving them notice.

Your client's would have already been shown the door here. My thoughts, in no particular order :-

1. If any child is intentionally hurting my family (or their peers) including pets, they are in time out fast as can be. They will be required to act as my shadow until such a time I think they have understand. I am not having a discussion with them or talking about the issue - I am stating clearly and concisely that "We do not hurt in this house." End of discussion. I don't care what they think made them do it, they aren't doing it here. Every single time.

2. There is no option to be disrespectful of my home. I have never let a 5 year old run my house before and just because a parent is handing me money, I am not letting their child run my house either. For the small amount of money you get for before and after school care - it would take many months of his fees to replace a damaged couch or carpet. Be firm. He is not in charge.

3. With regards to the 13 month old - there would not be an option to miss nap time. If grandma wants to spoil him on her day and put up with a miserable tired child, that's on her but on day care days, he would be in a crib during the rest period.

Get rid of them. For before and after school 5 days a week and for all day care for half the week, these two children are taking up spaces and only paying part time rates. You don't need this level of disrespect.