Hello I just opened my daycare last week. I am licensed family home. Anyways I have a few kids and they get along just great. On Wednesday a family got a hold of me about watching their 3 year old boy and 18 month old girl. They only need care for MWF and only for 4-5 hours. I really didn't want part time people but with just starting and having openings I agreed to meet with them. The mom seemed nice enough but flighty and didn't stay for the interview and the dad never came at all. She said the kids had just had shots and could she come by on Thursday. Of course I agreed and then Thursday she never showed. Then she called asking if just the son could start today and that she would come over about an hour early to see how he does. She showed up a few minutes before she had to be at work and then rattled off a bunch of stuff like how he has behavior issues and the reason she isn't leaving her daughter here yet is because he is so mean to her. I stated on Wednesday that payment was due upfront and she "forgot" her checkbook. She also doesn't have his immunization papers or his birth certificate. I'm honestly a very patient person, and I know kids need time to adjust, however this kid has been here literally 2 hours and I really don't think it's going to work out. He will not listen, I have to literally yell before he will acknowledge me. He is intentionally trying to break all the toys, despite being told every 3 minutes to stop hitting the aquariums he keeps hitting them, every time another kid picks up a toy he runs over and grabs it from them and keeps pushing my son into a closet and slamming the door on him. He also knows how to "defeat" all child proofing stuff and keeps opening doors and drawers that I tell him not to. And to top all that off I received a phone call from a previous provider to not take this family as they owe her over a $1000 and that they owe several other day cares in the area although she had written in his records that he has never been to a day care before. I looked it up and yes it is in the court records that she does owe several places. The other provider also told me that the mother will trash me all over town...obviously being a new provider that's the last thing I need but I also don't know how to let them go after just one day? I feel for the kid because I really get the vibe that his sister is the one the parents like and that he really receives no attention at home. I would just really appreciate some advice on how to handle this situation....Yes, I know I'm rambling.

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Um, she didn't pay you (or sign a contract? or complete an interview?) so really you just provided one free day of daycare and you owe her nothing.
You aren't letting her go, you are not letting her stay.

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Here's the thing about her badmouthing you...
I AM SURE SHE HAS BADMOUTHED EVERY SINGLE PLACE SHE HAS BEEN!!! The people who knows her will see her "rant" and likely roll their eyes.

Call her for pick-up NOW. I am assuming you have phone numbers for her, child's father, and emergency contacts. Start calling them all. State that they DID NOT PAY and you do not provide free services. I would simply leave it at that. I would never, ever allow them back again either. I would just say, "I'm sorry but the spot is filled." How can you "badmouth" a daycare that filled their spots?

Also, for future reference, if you feel you need to let go of someone after one day you really need to do it ... for yourself. You will run yourself ragged and burn yourself out if you try to keep people happy who do not care about you enough to respect your policies/be honest/pay you. People like that have got to go because, unfortunately, they do not change.

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Hi, First of all your not rambling. Secondly, you need to drop this family. Write up a term letter that says something like this:
Dear ________,
I have come to the decision that I can not provide care for your children. As a provider we must recognize that we can not be all things to all families. Thanks for understanding.
Respectfully,


Try and get her to sign it, (if she doesn't note that on your copy), provide a copy for her, and keep one for your records and forward one to your licensing agency incase she gets weird on you. Don't let her know that you have learned other info about them owing or that they lied as that will just make it worst. You get this family out of your home and quick. Awesoming that you have a contract, make sure that you have a trial period (paid) of course to protect you, and I would ask for the first weeks tuition before there first day of attendance. You will learn to detect the red flags and maybe you wont be put in this spot again. I would love to hear how this ends.
Deb

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"Sorry dcm, I don't appear to be a good fit for what you're looking for. Please come pick your child up now."

If she whines, kindly remind her she didn't pay nor did she provide the proper paperwork so you can't continue to offer care for him. Blame licensing, your policies, or whatever. I'd even call her at work and have her pick up now saying that little Johnny needs his mommy to come pick up now. Call her backup.

If she wants to trash you, it will only make her look bad...she obviously doesn't have her act together.

Lesson learned: no paperwork, no pay, no stay.

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She isn't a client yet, there is no contract and no payment. DO NOT ALLOW THIS!!!

Sorry to yell but please please please don't allow that!
Daycare hoppers are pretty common in this business and those people go from daycare to daycare preying on new, inexperienced or nice providers. Next time make it a REQUIREMENT that she sign the contract and leave payment.

I would also require a 2 week deposit in advance as well that can be applied towards their last 2 weeks of care (if you require a 2 week notice of termination).

I would also require that clients pay in advance of care. Require that clients pay on Friday or Monday and that fee will cover the following week of care (instead of providing care first and then getting paid for that week afterwards).

You are in violation right now for caring for a child that does not have the proper documentation and forms filled out. Personally I think that anyone that is willing to put you and your business at risk like that should not be a client at all.

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I would tell her to come pick up here child & not come back. You're being truthful when you say the family is not a good fit your program- problem DCPs are never a good fit. She'll hit the roof, but she was going to do that eventually anyway. This way you're over and done with it.

In the future to save headaches:
Have all the paperwork including signed contract in hand before starting care.
Always collect payment for service in advance.

Good Luck

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She just used you for a free day of daycare! When she picks up, I'd wait until she's almost out the door to let her know, "sorry, this isn't going to work, good luck!" That is if she pays you at all. No pay= ignore, or outright tell her "sorry, you haven't paid for the care you received; the position is no longer available."

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I had twin boys just like that! 3 hours in I called mom to pick up and told them not to come back...

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when you know, you know. trust your gut and let this family go. Dont get so desperate for families that you take ones you dont really want, that dont provide paperwork or payments, that dont show up on time and keep commitments. There is nothing redeeming about this family at all at this point now that it is only one child, and a completely wild one at that. Clearly mom knows his bad behavior so nothing is likely to change with your part time care. it is okay to say no!

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Ditto MV!

Welcome to the forum, BTW!

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I would definitely let her know that you were made aware that she is a daycare hopper and owes money to other providers. That's reason enough for me to not take them. They'll leave you with a large balance too! I would tell her about the phone call but not who it came from (to protect the caller) because she needs to know that people are on to her and banning together.

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I think you already learned a very valuable lesson. NEVER take a child without an interview, a contract AND a payment. At least you learned this very early on.

I highly doubt she will come in with payment today so when she doesn't pay you I would stand firm and say I am sorry but this does not seem to be the right fit for your family (you know, a provider that doesn't require payment and takes little hellions) and that you won't be able to provide care in the future.

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so what happened???

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I agree with everyone else on here.. she lied to you, didn't pay, didn't give you proper paperwork, her son is trashing your home, and being violent. She is so fired. I'd have called her and all the backups one right after the other. The first to show up is the lucky winner.

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I had something similar happen when I first opened but I did have the paperwork. There were two boys and they caused so much damage in 5 hours! When dcm so showed up (without payment), I said no more. She was not surprised and seemed to almost expect it.

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This is what I would do too figuring it would be the least drama. If I didn't get paid I'd let it go and consider it a lesson learned. Lesson being collect in advance, have a signed contract and no interview then no childcare.

Laurel

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I, too, had this happen early on. Do not ignore the warning bells! Lesson learned! What happened btw?

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This almost happened to me a while back. A parent of two boys came in with no payment and no paper work after we discussed everything she needed before arriving over the phone. I was newly licensed and she knew it. She even Lied and said I told her I would keep both boys for $20 a day. Lady are you crazy! I asked her when she would be picking up her children since she dropped them off at 8:30 am and she had the nerve to say I dont know how long did you say you were open again, 10pm right? I kicked her and her children out so fast, I told her it wouldn't work, and that I had another family who could fill the openings. She was trying to take advantage of me and thought I would let it fly. Silly lady.

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