Originally Posted by KDC:
So, I have a little DCB - 3. I've had him since he's been 6 months old. When I took them on I did NOT charge anything for summers (no holding fee, nothing). I have since changed the rule, but not for them - I grandfathered them in, he's full-time and they've always paid on time, etc.
So this past week, DCD lost his job. He had a 'whatever' attitude about it and said how great it was that he was let go at the start of the summer. Now he and his teacher wife would have some quality time with their kids. He was in no hurry to find a job, he said come August if he hadn't found something by then, he'd start looking full-time.
I have NOT received an end date from them. They pay monthly and paid up for May, but not June. DCM comes at me yesterday and says... so what's the deal with the last day? As you know DCD was laid off, and money is tight. (Which is funny, because DCD said he was looking forward to a summer off and wasn't worried at all about finding a job? hmmm?) I said, um... there's been NO communication on your end for an stop date. I was waiting for you to communicate that date to me, so I could budget. She says " well 'other DCM' works in the same district, so I assumed you knew when school was out" ??? I said well, she's scheduled until the third week in June, is that when you'd like to stop? She said, "Oh, I guess she keeps working - This Thursday is our last day". 
She left it as maybe we could compromise with 1/2 days... I didn't agree, DCK was getting out of control and she left.
My questions, what am I supposed to do with this. They're generally pretty good. He's my only full-time guaranteed next year. This is where I don't want to be the passive aggressive person - have a backbone. I was caught off guard and didn't really respond they way I wanted to - I was wishy washy and didn't really go with an answer. I want to talk to her today with a smile and just state, the end date needed to be communicated clearly by them. Since this was not done, I would ask they pay up until Friday. Does that sound good? BTW, I require a 2 week notice according to the contract, but after 2 years of them giving correct notice, I'm willing to cut them a break this year. I guess at any point I could've asked what their last day was. I knew it was approaching, so I need to take some responsibility for this as well.
Does this sound fair?
I've also been avoiding a discussion with another teacher mom. They signed on in January of this year, and told them I couldn't do a whole summer off unpaid, that I required 2 days a week during the summer to hold their spot for the following year. They agreed and signed the contract. Well, Mom just recently became pregnant with #2. She's due November 25th. He is still full-time and I haven't received a date to go part-time as of yet. I'm worried she will terminate care for summer since, it's unlikely she'll find a teaching position pregnant next year. I'm thinking that she'll be taking a year off =( Guess I need to put on my big girl pants and just bite the bullet and ask. There is a drought in summer for daycare calls 
She's made no attempt to ask me about caring for the newborn next year, so I assume something's up. huh. Just when life was good, curve balls...
I agree, I would ask DCM #2 what her plans are- I've actually seen quite a few very pregnant women get hired as new teachers, so it can happen (schools, being so female-dominant, are usually better with working with pregnancies and such)!