Originally Posted by mommyneedsadayoff:
I'm surprised you still work with them at all. I wouldnt be able to afford such an unstable schedule unless I was paid a set rate each week whether they came or not. I dont think the parents find their behavior wrong bc it's the agreement they'd always had...they used you when they need you and now they dont need you, so they see nothing wrong with not paying.. You being available and acceptable with that is the only way to end this. Find a new family who needs you on a stable schedule and set a contract that includes set pay, regardless of attendance.
This ^
I will say one thing with no contract and no payment. You do not have to do anything else for them. Find yourself a family that will sign a contract and stick with it. Use this as a learning experience. You can probably find some children to care for while they are "out". When they contact you about coming back simply say you filled their spots as they did not want to pay you to keep them.