So I have my first daycare family all set ready to begin monday and then got a call today saying they need to push back the start date a week. When asked if they still need to pay the first agreed upon week I told them not to worry about it and we'll just begin the following week. When I mentioned this to my husband, he said I should have either made them pay or told them I was making an exception, that if I start out not following my contract I'm heading toward trouble. I was just didn't want to rub them the wrong way and back out because I had another family previously back out last minute. I know I can't got back on what I said about the money and I'm ok with that, but is there a way to clarify I'm making an exception and expect the contract to be followed in the future? I know part of this is my learning curve since I' m just starting but I want to make sure to be setting myself up for success.

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"The contract goes into effect when john begins daycare on March x, 2014. Here is a copy for your records. Please let me know if you have any questions about the policies."

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I would have done the same thing regarding a new start date and I've been doing this for many years. I would just fill out a new contract with the new start date on it and have them sign it. Did you collect a deposit? For me that is what holds their spot, changing their start date by a week with a logical explaination isn't a big deal for me.

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Thanks for the great advice, I did collect a deposit and will just update the contract with the new start date and get that to them.

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I've done that before too and it's no biggie. Never been taken advantage of for doing so either. If anything it made the family more appreciative of me because of it. I wouldn't worry about it at all.

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I do agree with the others and your husband. After this little set back don't start out with making an exception, that if I start out not following my contract I'm heading toward trouble.

Glad you got great advice here from the others....

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