Originally Posted by canadian_daycare:
Hello everyone,
This is my first post on this discussion forum. I am a daycare provider and have been for 2 1/2 years. I have one family out of all my families that just have a hard time following rules. They are very young (mid 20's) and it seems their social and work life is more important than they two boys. They constantly pick up late, or a mere MINUTES before my late fee kicks in. They are always asking me to babysit in the evening to which I say no can do. And when I take a personal day (which I do not get paid for) they always have something to say. For example, I closed the week of New Years. I am open every day of the year except for stats. My daycare runs 6am to 6pm. I take two weeks holidays in the summer UNPAID and then this year decided to take another week UNPAID to spend time with my own kids. And they emailed me saying "is this going to be an annual thing?".
Now to add to their issues, the week before Christmas mom lost her job. She was a manager at a retail store in the local mall. She had been there 6 years. I do not know the exact details as to why she lost her job, but something "happened". So of course, I felt bad being the holidays. I did tell her though that we will discuss in the new year how things are going. I know she goes to interviews... or so I assume she does. Since then, the boys come maybe 2-3 half days a week. And at that, getting paid is like pulling teeth. Before, I was paid every two weeks without having to ask them. Now, mere small amounts like $60-70 bucks I have to send a "gentle email" reminder.
So here we are in the new year and I need to get through to Mom and Dad that I will not continue holding two full time spaces and losing income. I am out of pocket almost $1000 a month. That hurts!!! How can I word a polite but direct email to them??? Any advice??? I have had the oldest (he is 3) since May 2007 and the youngest since day one pretty much as I was watching him at 5-6 months old until she went back to work full time.
Thanks....
You just need to firm with them on everything, stick to your guns!! abide by your contract. I have really learnt the hard way, thru making exceptions to alot of different things, being nice, etc. then it bites me in the butt!!!!!!