Going from free day care or nearly free day care to pay day care is very hard for them to do. It's not uncommon for them to have a transitory day care where they find someone first and then leave because of the money.

They can also have a big problem with rule minding. If they have been in relative care they are most likely not had "group" rules to follow. Often the caregiver just gives up and quits giving free day care without much notice because they are upset about being taken advantage of.

When they start out at a "discount" in your day care they aare actually starting out paying a TON in their minds. If you go into the relationship thinking you have given them a deal and they go into it thinking it's horribly expensive then you have a really hard time meeting in the middle.

The rate you gave them is NOT a discount to them. Free would be best or very close to free. You are only in their life because free didn't work out any longer.

She's being wishy washy because the reality of 750 bucks a month of her money is hitting her hard. It doesn't matter whether they can afford it or not it's their money and they have been slick enough to figure out a way to keep it for a long time. When they run out of options to keep that money they don't want to commit because they really want to just go back to keeping the money.

Often they will make an offer to the person who was caring for the kids for free that gives that person money but no where near what they would have to pay for your discounted rate. If they are still in the same area as the person who was doing it for free they have a REALLY good chance of offering money to that person and still getting it super cheap. Super cheap is not as good as free but it's better than your discounted rate.

Often the free care giver gets burnt out because most folks don't appreciate or value free. They will tell the parent that they won't do it anymore in order for the parent to start the path of appreciation AND offer them some money. Sometimes it's a move on the Free Provider's part to shake them into reality. If that is the case you are just a pawn in the chess game and it won't end up making you any money. Be careful of putting too much time into this and be prepared for them to postpone interviewing while they are in negotiations with Free provider.

What are the ages of the kids? If the free provider has had number one from birth and now number two is mobile THIS is a common time for them to surrender. The closer the "relative" the longer the free lasts so if it's grandma or great grandma it will last a lot longer than auntie or cousin. Whoever is doing it for free feels obligation to the parent and the parent feels entitled to the free. Also, the closer the relative the more liklihood they have at throwing a hundred bucks a week at her feet and moving on. They don't necessarily HAVE to pay that 100 a week. With you they have to PAY the money no matter what. Offering SOME money knowing you don't really HAVE to do it is way better than your gig to them.

If you do take this on CONTRACT for the early out and make it clear that she must pick up by this time or additional fees will apply. As soon as she starts paying for day care she's not going to like not having time to herself because... after all she's paying SO much. She most likely mentioned that she "likes spending time with the kids" because she has found out when searching day care that providers are responding to those words. If you take her you need to make her live up to those words. NO exceptions.

If she is going to bring food be clear of what and when and enforce it. That's almost always the first thing that goes by the wayside when they have to start paying. They think the fee is so high that it SHOULD include a gourmet meal twice a day. She's not going to like putting any more money into it.

Just don't get your hopes up too high and even if you DO take them on if free provider is available they may either go back to her or start having you go down to part time so that they get SOME free days. Be prepared for them to change quickly to raoaming days part time once they lock you into your low rate.

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