Provider backing out on agreement and changing her hours

[5 Little Monkeys]

I think I understand what jplr...is saying. Yes this is our business and of course we are going to do what is best for us, the business and our family but it can't ALWAYS come at the expense of our business or it won't be a successful one. This is a business where multiple families depend on us daily to be consistent and reliable. If we are not those things we will have issues keeping clients.

Finding the balance of running a reliable and trustworthy hdc and keeping our families needs 1st priority is key but can be tricky. If one were to need to be flexible and always accommodating their family than owning a business may not be the best choice. It's no different than owning any other business. I grew up with a family run business and unfortunately there were times that both my parents couldn't be somewhere for us kids but someone had to take care of the business as that was our income. Taking time off whenever is not a luxury most self employed people have that work for/with clients.

However, I don't think this was the issue with the OP.

[bright sparks]

I think I understand what jplr...is saying. Yes this is our business and of course we are going to do what is best for us, the business and our family but it can't ALWAYS come at the expense of our business or it won't be a successful one. This is a business where multiple families depend on us daily to be consistent and reliable. If we are not those things we will have issues keeping clients.

Finding the balance of running a reliable and trustworthy hdc and keeping our families needs 1st priority is key but can be tricky. If one were to need to be flexible and always accommodating their family than owning a business may not be the best choice. It's no different than owning any other business. I grew up with a family run business and unfortunately there were times that both my parents couldn't be somewhere for us kids but someone had to take care of the business as that was our income. Taking time off whenever is not a luxury most self employed people have that work for/with clients.

However, I don't think this was the issue with the OP.

I agree with you for the most part but in reality when you run a home daycare while having your own children things are very different. I understand taking constant time off and making changes frequently to the original parent provider contract is a recipe for an unsuccessful business and bad reputation but we aren't talking about that. We are talking about a change in circumstances which meant the provider changed her operating hours. This isn't a reflection of poor business practice but a reality of life. It would be the same for an employed person if suddenly their life circumstances required an earlier finishing time. They could ask for a change in working hours or seek employment elsewhere but it wouldn't mean they were a bad employee or person for that matter. My response was directed at the post saying that provider acted unfairly which I think is silly. Just because something didn't work in the parents favour and was a major inconvenience doesn't make it unfair it makes it unfortunate but it isn't personal to them it is just simply that things change and peoples needs change both that of the parent and the provider. It could happen on both angles.

[bright sparks]

Here is an example of things I am dealing with now. My kids have summer camps which I have never enrolled them in before to save the inconvenience of the daycare parents who rely on me. This year I decided that the needs of my children are important enough that I needed to ask these parents to be flexible where possible. I have no issue with parents switching days, picking up late on occasion because their life throws a curve ball at them so I need parents to collect early so I can get to my kids on time or I have given them the alternative option that their children will come with me to pick up and I will drop them home myself on my way back. It's a give and take relationship. If they said flat out no to both of them and got all offended with me that is not my fault, not my problem and not a reflection on how I conduct my business. It is simply that I am trying to fulfill the needs of my daycare families and my own family without neglecting either. It requires some give and take on both ends.