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rmc20021 06:43 AM 03-25-2013
I got a call from a dad last night wanting his son to enroll into my daycare. We had an interview several weeks ago on a Friday and the child was supposed to start the following Monday. I never heard another word from them.
So out of the blue yesterday he calls and wants his son to start this morning. I decided to give him a break because he's a stay at home dad and the boy was just diagnosed with autism just the day before our last interview. Now dad says he's been diagnosed with some other issues and he has full blown out melt downs.
I was willing to take him on and work with him and try to help.
So, as when we ended the conversation last night we had decided to start him on part time and see how it works out. I looked at my other dck's schedules and saw that he could fit perfectly into a spot that another part time dcg uses and since this new dad was stay at home, he was flexible enough to be able to benefit from this schedule. I sent a copy of the schedule by email to dad first thing this morning.
So now, he's saying the doctor wants the boy in an educational preschool, which they had checked into but didn't like because it was only 2 hours per day...not worth it (dad's words). AND, dad said that he didn't feel comfortable with my 2 week termination because if they were able to get him into a school then it would be an immediate termination and they didn't want to have to pay that. AND, he also said that according to my schedule (4 days per week with 4 hours on 2 of those days and 8 hours on the other two days equally 24 hours per week) he felt he would be paying for 6 hours they wouldn't even be using.
He has a copy of my policy stating that part time was 20-35 hours per week. I told him last night I was in the process of revising my policy because of being taken advantage of by parents...said he understood, and now he's wanting to NEGOTIATE "MY" policy!!!!
I sent him an email back saying I didn't feel we were a good fit, and explaining everything to him...including how his son would be a very high maintenance child and with my fees (60.00 per week part time) I felt it was more than fair and that after speaking with him last night explaining the reasoning why I was revising my policy to be more specific that I cannot accomodate him by flexing the very policy I'd just revised to prevent this type of things.
So, I #1 used my back bone (yay me!) and #2 passed on a potential client I'm sure would have been a horrible fit...which I knew back when they didn't show up on the day they were supposed to start, but tried giving them a second chance anyways.
So out of the blue yesterday he calls and wants his son to start this morning. I decided to give him a break because he's a stay at home dad and the boy was just diagnosed with autism just the day before our last interview. Now dad says he's been diagnosed with some other issues and he has full blown out melt downs.
I was willing to take him on and work with him and try to help.
So, as when we ended the conversation last night we had decided to start him on part time and see how it works out. I looked at my other dck's schedules and saw that he could fit perfectly into a spot that another part time dcg uses and since this new dad was stay at home, he was flexible enough to be able to benefit from this schedule. I sent a copy of the schedule by email to dad first thing this morning.
So now, he's saying the doctor wants the boy in an educational preschool, which they had checked into but didn't like because it was only 2 hours per day...not worth it (dad's words). AND, dad said that he didn't feel comfortable with my 2 week termination because if they were able to get him into a school then it would be an immediate termination and they didn't want to have to pay that. AND, he also said that according to my schedule (4 days per week with 4 hours on 2 of those days and 8 hours on the other two days equally 24 hours per week) he felt he would be paying for 6 hours they wouldn't even be using.
He has a copy of my policy stating that part time was 20-35 hours per week. I told him last night I was in the process of revising my policy because of being taken advantage of by parents...said he understood, and now he's wanting to NEGOTIATE "MY" policy!!!!
I sent him an email back saying I didn't feel we were a good fit, and explaining everything to him...including how his son would be a very high maintenance child and with my fees (60.00 per week part time) I felt it was more than fair and that after speaking with him last night explaining the reasoning why I was revising my policy to be more specific that I cannot accomodate him by flexing the very policy I'd just revised to prevent this type of things.
So, I #1 used my back bone (yay me!) and #2 passed on a potential client I'm sure would have been a horrible fit...which I knew back when they didn't show up on the day they were supposed to start, but tried giving them a second chance anyways.
butterfly 06:56 AM 03-25-2013
Great job!!! 
nanglgrl 07:47 AM 03-25-2013
Great job! I'm happy for you!
MarinaVanessa 07:53 AM 03-25-2013
Woohoo!! I love reading these backbone stories. I love hearing about situations where a provider can keep an open mind but stand firm on the areas that they are not comfortable with in negotiating. Good for you!! You'll be happier for it
MyAngels 08:16 AM 03-25-2013
Did you hear that whistling sound? That's the bullet you dodged with this one 
.
.
Meeko 09:14 AM 03-25-2013
Atta girl!! 
NeedaVaca 10:04 AM 03-25-2013
Good for you! All I could think after reading the post was how hard this little boy must be to deal with if "Stay at home Dad", doesn't even want to stay at home with him!
rmc20021 10:27 AM 03-25-2013
Yeah...stay at home dad says he just needs some time to be able to get some things done which he can't do with boy being there. I asked, as I do every client I speak with, if they qualify for state assistance and he said they make barely over the amount allowed, so I was also afraid of getting paid.
This situation was one of those which made it easy to stick to my guns as I really didn't want them anyways because of all the red flags, so I look at it as practicing for the real thing...LOL
This situation was one of those which made it easy to stick to my guns as I really didn't want them anyways because of all the red flags, so I look at it as practicing for the real thing...LOL
EntropyControlSpecialist 10:35 AM 03-25-2013
Glad you stuck to your policies!
Texasjeepgirl 10:40 AM 03-25-2013
Love love love reading stories of using the backbone
safechner 11:08 AM 03-25-2013
Is your normal rate of $60 per week for a part time or you just increase the rate than normal rate for special needs child??
rmc20021 12:11 PM 03-25-2013
Nope, my normal rate for part time (anything between 20-35 hours) is 60.00 per week. He was complaining that there would be 6 hours per week they wouldn't be using that they would be paying for. HELLO...they were going to be using 24 hours per week, which falls well within that amount of hours. I think they felt they should have the entire 35 hours in order to get their money's worth.
Well, I'm sure I'd probably have ended up using 60.00 worth of care within the first 10 hours per week by the way the described the boy, not to mention getting paid to begin with probably would have been an issue. I just didn't feel comfortable trying to meet their demands.
If they can't afford 2.50 per hour for me to care for their child, then they can try some place else as I'm sure nobody else will do it for less either.
Well, I'm sure I'd probably have ended up using 60.00 worth of care within the first 10 hours per week by the way the described the boy, not to mention getting paid to begin with probably would have been an issue. I just didn't feel comfortable trying to meet their demands.
If they can't afford 2.50 per hour for me to care for their child, then they can try some place else as I'm sure nobody else will do it for less either.
Lyss 12:51 PM 03-25-2013
Good for you!!! Way to use that backbone!
Way to use that backbone!
rmc20021 01:26 PM 03-25-2013
Haha...got the spot filled this afternoon. New dcb is starting tomorrow morning and they are paid in advance. I love when things like this happen.
MotherNature 07:06 PM 03-25-2013
Originally Posted by rmc20021:
Haha...got the spot filled this afternoon. New dcb is starting tomorrow morning and they are paid in advance. I love when things like this happen.
Awesome! Congratulations!Haha...got the spot filled this afternoon. New dcb is starting tomorrow morning and they are paid in advance. I love when things like this happen.
