Single Mother Promo Is Biting Me In The Ass!
So since the day I opened up my daycare over 5 years ago I have always offered one full time space for a single mother at a lower rate. So I took this lady on about a year and a half ago at $400/month on this promo, my regular rate at that time was $500/month for full time. My full time rate now is $650/month. So this lady is saving $250/month on daycare.
Here's the problem: The little boy started with me at 18 months, he is now 3 years old. I have known since the day that he begun care with me that there was something wrong with him and on many occassions brought this up to the mother, she finally decided to get him evaluated now. - He doesn't speak at all...so communication is impossible. - He doesn't listen, no matter how consistent I am, and will often have huge temper tantrums and throw stuff when upset. - He is violent towards the other kids. - He is extremely destructive, he has put holes in 4 of my playpens over $320.00 in damages, among other things that he has wrecked on me. - I can not put him in a bed to nap as he won't stay. I can not put him in a playpen to nap as he will either crawl out or destroy the playpen. He will not cooperate in quiet time because he doesn't understand what being quiet means and disrupts the other children. - I obviously can not leave him unsupervised for even a minute without containing him or taking him with me. On top of that... - He is the first to come and the first to leave (7:30am - 5:15pm). Which means mom works 9 hours? It's only a 15 min drive to and from her work place so I would assume that means she works 8:00am - 5:00pm? Does that mean she gets an hour of unpaid lunch? I got thinking about this today and called the office, she works for the foster association as an secretary, the office was not open at 8:10am. Does she work an hour before it opens? - Mom pushes my policies. She constantly tries to bring her son at 7:10am when she knows I will not allow drop offs before 7:30am. She has tried to bring her son at 1:30pm when he had an appointment when she knows I don't allow pick ups or drop offs during quiet time (12:30pm - 2:30pm). She brings outside food and toys in...another no - no and the list goes on.... I just don't know what to do. I feel that I should raise her rates but I am very close with this mom and know she really can't afford to pay much more and have formed an attachment with the child despite all the stress he causes me. I just would really like some input from others to help me decide what the right thing to do is... Thanks so much! |
Has he been evaluated yet, or are they just starting the process?
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Originally Posted by Angelwings36: |
I would tell her that your rate is increasing effective July 15th.
Tell her that you are raising it $10.00 a week. This is equivalent to $2.00 per day or 20 cents an hour. Then tell her that another rate increase will take effect January 1st. Rate will go up another $15.00 a week. This is equivalent to $3.00 a day or 30 cents per hour. Then her rate will be $500 a month. Tell her that even with the rate increase, she is basically paying for 3 weeks and getting every 4th week free compared to what your current rates are. I had to raise my rates last year. With the cost of EVERYTHING going up, all of my parents understood. :) Good luck! |
They just began the evaluation yesterday so nothing has been established yet.
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IMO, you should set up a meeting with her and go over your policies. Tell her it is your pleasure to care for her son, but she must comply with your rules. If she complies, I would honor your "special" and finish what you started with this little boy. Once he's in kindergarten, you can look back and know you did everything possible to give him a good start in life.
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I personally would term knowing that if I raised her rates, she couldn't pay. I don't give discounts and I would never keep a child that was violent or distructive. Its not just about the mom or you, the other children are having to be around this child and all his violence and tantrums. That would be my biggest concern. It sounds like there is something legitimately wrong with him and very likely, it will get worse before it gets better (if it even gets better). By the time he is 4, he will be too big for you to control anymore like you might do with a younger child.
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I think CheekyChick gave good advice. If you generally like this little boy and the mom, but they're just driving you a bit nutty right now, I'd try to stick it out with the current rate unless you just can't afford to. Give him a good sendoff to kindy. She's got to follow rules though, so you need to have a heart to heart with her on that one. I wouldn't raise rates on her unless you were raising rates on everyone, but what I would do is write up a new contract specifying her special rate and letting her know what will cause her to lose it: early drop offs, naptime drop offs, bringing outside food and toys, and any other rules she is continuously breaking. Give her a 3 strike law?
I wouldn't bend the rules for anyone in the future though! The more you give in life, the more people will want/expect/push for. |
<<There was a quote here that was removed, which I was reffering to>>
I'd be very careful with this. As far as I know it's against the law to charge more a child has special needs. I know you can refuse to take the child on on grounds that you are "unable to meet the child's needs" however I was advised by licensing that it's considered discrimination if you charge more or deny services simply because they are disabled. I know that if your home needs to be modified or the child needs extra help (you have to hire an assistant) then you can pass these fees on the the parent but otherwise you can only charge them as much as you charge your highest paying client. Now I can be wrong and maybe this is just in my state but I always assumed that the non discrimination laws were nationwide. |
Originally Posted by MarinaVanessa: |
Originally Posted by MarinaVanessa: Last year I had a DCM contact me about an advertisement and wanted me to watch her (5 yo) that was wheelchair bound, had a shunt in her head, had a feeding tube and had a breathing tube that would need to be adjusted on occasion. I suggested they hire a nanny or a nurse. Would that really be considered discrimination? I don't think so. |
Originally Posted by Blackcat31: |
Originally Posted by wdmmom: Btw: now that your comment was edited and the part of your quote that I was reffering to was removed it does totally look like I'm picking on you lol. |
Originally Posted by MarinaVanessa: |
Originally Posted by Live and Learn: |
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