Trumped by cheaper rates...again.

[5 Little Monkeys]

I guess it depends where you live. Very few of my kids are here for long days because one parent drops off and the other picks up because they have different shifts. I also have a few who don't even work 8 hours a day but are still considered full time employed.

I just thought it was odd that you assumed the parents wouldn't have factored all that into their decision. I guess I assumed also though and figured the 8 hours they need care for is the total number including commuting! Anyways, doesn't matter, I just wondered! lol

[bright sparks]

I guess it depends where you live. Very few of my kids are here for long days because one parent drops off and the other picks up because they have different shifts. I also have a few who don't even work 8 hours a day but are still considered full time employed.

I just thought it was odd that you assumed the parents wouldn't have factored all that into their decision. I guess I assumed also though and figured the 8 hours they need care for is the total number including commuting! Anyways, doesn't matter, I just wondered! lol

I think you are most likely correct 5LM. I don't like sweeping statements as a rule as in "all full time working parent's work 8 hour days" Well not all full time daycare kids have two parents working 40 hour weeks. Some work shorter hours but have longer commutes, some start very early and finish early or start late and finish late. I have a parent for example who commutes from Niagara region to downtown TO and she leaves at 5:30 to take the GO bus and starts at 8. She finishes at 3:00 and gets the bus home. She doesn't get into the local GO station until between 4:30 and 5 as the traffic varies greatly on the highway. She only works 7 hour days. Her husband starts later and drops off at 7:30 and she picks up as she is back earlier. I have had more families who do not work an 8 hour day or 9-5 job than those who do. Also where I live a phenomenal amount of people commute to TO which is typically 1 1/2 hours- 2 hrs during rush hour, if you are lucky. There are many more family friendly companies now that are allowing for much more flexible work schedules to accommodate working parents. You can't paint everyone with the same brush and the 8 hour working day model is reducing constantly and has been for quite some time.

I do think that the family who I interviewed are foolish to restrict themselves to the 8 hour day. I know people charge for a set amount of hours but I don't. Peoples contracts have their start time and finish time so they aren't making a habit of coming right at opening, and picking up right at the last minute if they don't need to, but if I parent typically picks up at 4 for example and they have an occasional late meeting or appointment or get held up, as long as I know in advance and they are here before closing time there is no additional charge. If it becomes to regular then I discuss with them that these aren't the terms of the contract. They always have to ask my permission in advance of making changes at which time I can say no if it doesn't fit into my schedule. By restricting themselves to the 8 hour day even though the provider is open earlier and later, whenever they are running late, or when the reality sets in the google maps travel time and actual travel time are very different in reality, then they will be paying the same as they would have with me but without the potential hassle that they are "late". They are a nice family and I don't think ill of them at all. I think they are thinking properly about what they need as a family both in quality childcare and financially. I don't think this providers method of charging is a reflection of the type of care she gives, how on earth could I know?? If the family were to come back to me in the future I would certainly entertain them as I respect their honesty and sometimes its just a case of new parent's not knowing any better and this will be a lesson to them. I actually hope for the child's sake that this just works out great for them. They didn't come to me and while my business is my number one priority, in the grand scheme of things, it is the child's care that should be top priority even if that means they are with someone else.