Originally Posted by A.J.:
Thank you all! Yes I understand it is legal. But as a parent and even someone who works with children too I don't think it is ethical. To chose to help out friends and throw out another child to make it work does not seem right. Legal yes but not ethical in my mind. And I'm thinking of my daughter who is going to have to go through a adjusting to a new place and routine. She has been with the same lady since she was 7 months so it will be hard.
At first you asked if it is legal. I'm glad you understand it is now. Your understanding means you get that she is self employed and can choose her own clients.
It is ethical too. From what you haven't said... meaning she contracted to give you more than two weeks... then she could ethically terminate because she didn't like the color of your car.
There's a good chance she termed for different reasons but found this story to be what she thought would cause the least amount of conflict. She may not be experienced enough to know that parents want to be the one who breaks up with the provider. They don't want the provider to break up with them. Any reason she gives isn't going to go well.
In truth your child hasn't been there very long. After you change daycares and as she grows you will see this as a mere blip in her childhood. I've had kids leave for preschool that I had for four YEARS and I never considered the parents to be behaving not ethically because they did what they thought was best for their kid and family.
If you are paying a high tuition, pay on time, have stable attendance, and follow the rules, you will find daycare quickly.
If you are paying a low amount for long hours that are stable or unstable, it may take more than two weeks to replicate the placement you had with her. The length of time for parents to find daycare is dependent on those main factors imo.
Let me ask you something. If you had an offer from a friend who lived closely to you to take care of your child for free for a year, would you give notice and take your kid for free to someone you really liked and liked your kid? Would you put your child thru the change for that awesome deal? Would it be ethical? Would it be fair to the provider?