Default Style Register
Daycare.com Forum
Daycare Center and Family Home Forum>tempting offer........talk me out of it
daycare 12:53 PM 02-20-2014
back story..... I have a dcf two boys

boy 1 was with me for 2.5 years.

boy 2 about 1.5 years

parents wanted boy 1 to go to private pre-kinder program. took kid out in dec. kid 2 has stayed here.

parents are paying triple my rate at the new school.

well they noticed that since kid 1 started there, he has really regressed in his learning and behavior. child had some issues here, but we worked through them. when kid left me, he could read phonetically. Now he is not reading or writing at all. I told the parents not to worry about it and let him work on the emotional stuff right now.

well, now they are offering to pay me what they are paying the school, they want him to come back.

I am torn on how I feel. They could have just left him here, but they felt he needed more and wanted that PRIVATE SCHOOL status.

They know I have 1 FT opening left, they inquired about it last month, but didn't say who it was for. They have given me great referrals in the past.

WWYD???? BTW this child would leave for good come the fall, only a few months...
Reply
Blackcat31 12:57 PM 02-20-2014
I remember this family.

I remember the story well.

I cant believe they are wanting to come back.






















I can't believe you are even considering it.
Reply
blandino 12:57 PM 02-20-2014
If I am understanding everything correctly...

So he will leave in September for good ? But until September, you will be making 3x as much for his spot. So those 6 months of payments will really equal out to 18 months of payments, and certainly in those extra 12 months that you have technically been paid your full-time rate for you would find someone to fill the spot, so you are still coming out ahead.
Reply
blandino 12:58 PM 02-20-2014
Wait, I totally don't remember the back story of this family. If they were rude or difficult, that would change my tune.
Reply
Blackcat31 12:59 PM 02-20-2014
Originally Posted by blandino:
Wait, I totally don't remember the back story of this family. If they were rude or difficult, that would change my tune.
If I remember correctly (Daycare correct me if I am wrong) but they were downright rude to Daycare. Wanted to negotiate policies and then pulled their child when she wouldn't do what they wanted her to do.

Insisted that their child was better off in preschool and wanted Daycare to suck up the times there was no school for penny's on the dollar.

I "think" they were MAJOR PITA.
Reply
daycare 01:02 PM 02-20-2014
Originally Posted by Blackcat31:
If I remember correctly (Daycare correct me if I am wrong) but they were downright rude to Daycare. Wanted to negotiate policies and then pulled their child when she wouldn't do what they wanted her to do.

Insisted that their child was better off in preschool and wanted Daycare to suck up the times there was no school for penny's on the dollar.

I "think" they were MAJOR PITA.
this was a different family and they did not leave....lol still here.

BUT yes this family has been a pain from time to time. MOther is HIGH Maintenance Mary. or as I call them a Hmm. she can be a pain, but that was when she first started. I think I have her in check.

I guess i am looking at that $ amount like blandino did......
Reply
Sunchimes 01:09 PM 02-20-2014
What about the child? You said he regressed scholastically, but how does he behave? How will he affect the dynamics of your group? If he is a difficult child that will cause problems, that would affect my decision as much as the money.
Reply
mountainside13 01:11 PM 02-20-2014
Originally Posted by daycare:
this was a different family and they did not leave....lol still here.

BUT yes this family has been a pain from time to time. MOther is HIGH Maintenance Mary. or as I call them a Hmm. she can be a pain, but that was when she first started. I think I have her in check.

I guess i am looking at that $ amount like blandino did......
If you can stand the high maintenance mom I say go for it!
Reply
daycare 01:16 PM 02-20-2014
Originally Posted by mountainside13:
If you can stand the high maintenance mom I say go for it!
kid can be difficult at times, I have not seen him since leaving, so I have not a clue how he behaves now since leaving.

The HMM is still here with her other FT child. Part of me can't help but be butt hurt do to them pulling him because they felt my program was not GOOD enough. My husband said I am being childish, that the family pulled compared and saw mine was better..... I am still hung up on that.............should i be?
Reply
mountainside13 01:22 PM 02-20-2014
Originally Posted by daycare:
kid can be difficult at times, I have not seen him since leaving, so I have not a clue how he behaves now since leaving.

The HMM is still here with her other FT child. Part of me can't help but be butt hurt do to them pulling him because they felt my program was not GOOD enough. My husband said I am being childish, that the family pulled compared and saw mine was better..... I am still hung up on that.............should i be?
That makes it a little harder! Maybe do a "interview/play date" to see if you would want to do it.

I get what your saying about not being good enough! I have felt that way before! That is a tough decision!
Reply
daycare 01:28 PM 02-20-2014
Originally Posted by mountainside13:
That makes it a little harder! Maybe do a "interview/play date" to see if you would want to do it.

I get what your saying about not being good enough! I have felt that way before! That is a tough decision!
it has happened to me several times. parents think oh they need those words PRESCHOOL written over a building so they pull. Then a few months go by and they call me back wanting to come back.

I have only ever taken back one and it was because she was my little heart melt. Yeah I played fav's couldn't help it with that one....lol
Reply
dalman 01:35 PM 02-20-2014
You are already dealing with the mother regarding the younger child, why not take the additional money for the next few months for the older one? I don't see the problem. I understand you could be offended, but taking offense is a choice, kwim? They left and they soon found out how wonderful you and your program is. The fact that they are willing to "eat a little crow" and ask for him to come back, speaks volumes. I would take the money and smile all the way to the bank.
Reply
Blackcat31 01:35 PM 02-20-2014
Ultimately the decision is up to you. You still work with this family if you have their other child so only you would know if it would be doable or not. kwim?

If you need the money, that can be a huge influence too.

Personally, I have never and would never take a family back that left. Especially a family that left to see if the grass was greener on the other side.

In my opinion, they didn't value you and your services (for the older child) and found out that you WERE valuable ~ or worse...available now because the grass isn't so green on the other side~ but still I would have MAJOR concerns about them coming across another preschool that costs less and works better and them leaving you all over again.

IDK, Daycare, it's up to you in the end but every time I have allowed a parent to have their way AFTER they screwed me over...I ended up being screwed again.

NOT something I would be willing to do. Even for the money.

But, like I said.....it is totally up to you about what you decide to do. I don't know this family so I really can't judge their sincerity or their moral/values.... if you really feel they learned a lesson (grass isn't greener etc) then by all means....give it another shot.

You KNOW your relationship and your level of trust with this family so YOU know the answer.

You also KNOW I will support you no matter what you choose to do!
Reply
daycare 01:40 PM 02-20-2014
I have thought about that too....wanting to leave to another childcare.......If I do it, I would require them to sign a contract for 6 months until they went off to kinder.

BUT like you said, I don't want the finger to come back on me....SHAME ON ME right..............I thought too, if I take him back what will this tell other families about me. UGH..

I think I need to sleep on this, If I can sleep.....lol I hate insomnia....lol
Reply
Crazy8 01:46 PM 02-20-2014
since you are still dealing with the family anyway with the other child in care I would probably take the other child back for the 6 months if you don't have anyone else lined up for that full time spot.
One thing for me is this is a tough time of year to fill a spot - june-aug. would be easy time to fill so if I could make 3x the money for these few months where its harder to fill a spot I don't see a negative there. And parents should be in grovelling mode, not dictating mode so I'd enjoy a few months of that!
As for other families, I would think its a good thing that they found out other daycares/preschools aren't as good as your program!
Reply
daycare 01:52 PM 02-20-2014
Originally Posted by Crazy8:
since you are still dealing with the family anyway with the other child in care I would probably take the other child back for the 6 months if you don't have anyone else lined up for that full time spot.
One thing for me is this is a tough time of year to fill a spot - june-aug. would be easy time to fill so if I could make 3x the money for these few months where its harder to fill a spot I don't see a negative there. And parents should be in grovelling mode, not dictating mode so I'd enjoy a few months of that!
As for other families, I would think its a good thing that they found out other daycares/preschools aren't as good as your program!
good point. I guess I was worried I would be viewed more as a push over or needy/desperate....................

If I do the 6 months, they will be required to pay half now and the other half in 3 months. it will all be prepaid. This is the way the other school did it and i know they can afford it. Dcd owns 6 coldstone icecream shops and mom is a CPA for cisco systems.
Reply
sahm1225 04:56 PM 02-20-2014
I would take them back! You deal with then anyway, it's for 6 months and it will be looked at by outsiders as someone left for another school and then realized your program was WAY better.

I wouldn't look at it as being a pushover at all. You still have a relationship with them since you have the other FT child
Reply
e.j. 05:04 PM 02-20-2014
Originally Posted by Crazy8:
As for other families, I would think its a good thing that they found out other daycares/preschools aren't as good as your program!
I know it feels like a kick to the gut when a family leaves because they feel your program isn't good enough but.... talk about vindication!!!
I would definitely see this as a win! The only thing that might hold me back would be dcb's behavior. Depending on how challenging his behavior has become since he left you, it may or may not be worth it. Sometimes, there just isn't enough money in the world..... Three times what you normally charge could be a pretty good deal for you, though, if you think you could get him back into day care shape.
Reply
EntropyControlSpecialist 05:06 PM 02-20-2014
Originally Posted by mountainside13:
If you can stand the high maintenance mom I say go for it!
Yes!
Reply
Brustkt 05:20 PM 02-20-2014
I think I would take them back and enjoy that big green piece of humble pie!!
Reply
daycare 05:34 PM 02-20-2014
Originally Posted by Brustkt:
I think I would take them back and enjoy that big green piece of humble pie!!
soooo this is what I decided. I talked to the dcp today at pick up and I said that I would be willing to do a 3-straight day trial period next week with NO guarantee. that since he is in a different place I need to make sure that he has not outgrown our group. THen if he does stay it will be a 6-month commitment since they pay 1800 a month, they are going to pay $5400 now and then in 3 months they will pay the rest. If they leave during the 6 month contract there will be ZERO refund. They said that it sounded fair and that they would let me know in the morning. I told them I needed an answer by closing tomorrow. I was shocked that they did not try to ask for a sibling discount.

I like the term humble pie....
Reply
TheGoodLife 07:56 PM 02-20-2014
Originally Posted by daycare:
soooo this is what I decided. I talked to the dcp today at pick up and I said that I would be willing to do a 3-straight day trial period next week with NO guarantee. that since he is in a different place I need to make sure that he has not outgrown our group. THen if he does stay it will be a 6-month commitment since they pay 1800 a month, they are going to pay $5400 now and then in 3 months they will pay the rest. If they leave during the 6 month contract there will be ZERO refund. They said that it sounded fair and that they would let me know in the morning. I told them I needed an answer by closing tomorrow. I was shocked that they did not try to ask for a sibling discount.

I like the term humble pie....
good for you and good luck!
Reply
Laurel 07:06 AM 02-21-2014
Originally Posted by dalman:
You are already dealing with the mother regarding the younger child, why not take the additional money for the next few months for the older one? I don't see the problem. I understand you could be offended, but taking offense is a choice, kwim? They left and they soon found out how wonderful you and your program is. The fact that they are willing to "eat a little crow" and ask for him to come back, speaks volumes. I would take the money and smile all the way to the bank.

Reply
Reply Up