Originally Posted by Ac114:
I have a DCB 2.5 who was my first client. Being new to being a childcare provider at the time I pushed my hours back to accommodate this family. Close at 5:30, they needed until 6 and because I wasn’t getting anywhere I decided to stay open until 6. All my other families are gone by 5 at the latest, sometimes 4:30. I’m just done being available this late for one child but here’s the kicker, mom and dad both have a day off during the week but DCB is here 5 days a week no matter what. From 7am-6pm. This is the same family that went on vacation, left DCB with the neighbor, came home on weds but brought him to care Thursday and Friday even though they were still off for the rest of the week. He is here Monday through Friday 7am-6pm, goes to the neighbors Friday night to stay the night and get picked up around 4 on Saturday from the neighbor. I’ve also caught on to the fact that they aren’t working until 6 but mom usually goes shopping, goes home and watches tv (posts pictures on Facebook where I can see) or basically anything that involves her kid being here until 5:56 everyday. The incident that kind of pushed me over the edge was me needing to run errands one evening so everyone was ready to go out the door, DCB was sitting on the porch while I started my car. I saw mom pull from a side street (it’s a cul de sac with maybe 10 houses on the street) on our country rd and pull into my driveway at 5:57. So what she did was pull down that rd and waited for idk how long until it was as close to 6 as possible and then came to get her child. I was pissed, like who does that.
Anyways, I am going back n forth on just telling them that my new hrs are that I close at 5:30 and maybe they will eventually leave or term them but I’ve never had any discussions with them that a term would come as a surprise. And they may make the 5:30 close time work but I’m feeling really resentful.
My husband has a completely different outlook to it in that his parents obviously don’t care much about him and that we should provide a safe, loving place for him that has some normalcy blah blah blah but he’s literally not the one stuck providing care for him. DCB is a good child, definitely attention starved but I don’t know what to do. OR should I have a different outlook on this situation? Enlighten me with your advice please!
The parents are only using what they pay for.
You provided a rate and hours. They are using them.
I disagree with your DH because many families view having their child in daycare all day as normal. Because sadly it is.
Also 'saving' other people's children from what we (general we) view as a sad or less-than-perfect life is not our jobs.
If your DH feels that strongly about it, he can always devote his time after 5:00 and spend the time being a mentor figure to DCB. In other words, he can be on your DH's watch for that time not yours.
I would stop worrying about what the family is/isnt doing (actually working or not) and just straight up change your hours to suit YOU. I charge according to pick up time.
I used to have children (almost all of them) here from open to close. No one had any family or friends willing to pick up earlier than on the dot at closing time.
Then I started using the graduated rate scale (the longer/later you stay = the more the rate) and suddenly every single family I had knew a friend, neighbor or relative willing to pick up their kid early so they could save a few $'s.
If you want to close at 5:00; close at 5:00.
The family can stay and accommodate the new closing time or find alternate care. Their choice.
If you want to keep family then close at 5:00 but charge a premium for care after 5:00 if you feel the family truly needs that time. If they do, they'll pay for it. I'd charge atleast 2.5 times more for that last hour.
Personally, which ever decision you make it really should be with YOUR best interests in mind NOT the DC family.
They'll figure it out either way but it's important to remember that this job sucks the life out of you if you let it. So don't let it. YOU COME FIRST!!