Terminating a Good-Standing Daycare Family

[QM]

I have had a daycare child with me for about 2-1/2 years and have not had any problems with this family. The little girl will be starting school in the fall and leaving my care. About half a year ago or so the mother mentioned that she might pull her a couple months early and put her in a French daycare to get her ready for school. Since then I've asked her a couple times what her plans are for the summer, and she has told me both times that she wants to send her until she starts school.

I started advertising for a September opening a few months ago....even though I'm planning far in advance. A family has contacted me two times asking if I have care in June. I told them no both times and that I'd put their name on my waiting list. (I've never had a waiting list before.)

After talking with a few providers on Tuesday morning, I've decided to entertain the idea of taking on a daycare child earlier than September and terminating this daycare child who is currently with me. I don't want to leave on bad terms, so I'll give them a few names and telephone numbers of providers that I know have summer care so that they're not left high and dry.

I've never been in this position before. In one sense it feels wrong to terminate a good-standing family since their daughter is leaving for school in the fall. But on the other hand I feel that I need to look at it from a business point of view. If I don't take on a family earlier, there is the chance that September will come and go and I won't have filled the space leaving me out a lot of money.

Gah! Why am I put in this position?

I contacted the family who contacted me a couple times for June and told them that I can now interview them for June. They've booked an interview for Monday evening. I told the mother on the phone that if she were to decide to send her daughter to my home childcare, to secure her spot, she would have to sign my contract and give a two-week non-refundable deposit that gets applied to the last two weeks of care. She told me that she expected that and that it's fine.

IF this family were to sign on I will not tell my current family that I'm terminating them until the beginning to middle of April. I think 1-1/2 to 2 month notice for finding summer care is fair....especially since I will be handing them telephone numbers of other daycare providers.

I wish this was easy. I would hate to lose a new full time child who will be in my care from one to three years to a family I remained faithful to then couldn't fill the spot. KWIM?

This just isn't easy.

[dancemommy]

Can you keep them both or does that put you over the legal limit?

[QM]

Can you keep them both or does that put you over the legal limit?

Technically, yes. But then I wouldn't be able to transport them in my van because I only have space for 7...and I would need space for 8. Which means we'd be house/neighbourhood-bound for the entire summer. I like taking the kids to parks, splashpads, the library, an outdoor "amusement-type" park, etc. throughout the summer. Plus I want DD1 and DD2 to go to a couple weeks of a summer church camp. Having 5 daycare kids just wouldn't work.

So, no. I only want four daycare children plus my own two.

[annymoll]

I hope I am understanding what you mean. You requested a two week retainer. So I am thinking this means that if they break their contract, you have two weeks pay.They could break their contract the last day of May.If they do this, then you would have two weeks of income, but no one filling the slot.You would possibly be out on both parties sooner, verses later?

[QM]

I hope I am understanding what you mean. You requested a two week retainer. So I am thinking this means that if they break their contract, you have two weeks pay.They could break their contract the last day of May.If they do this, then you would have two weeks of income, but no one filling the slot.You would possibly be out on both parties sooner, verses later?

That's true. Should the "new family" break their contract the last day of May and not come in June, then I could be out two kids...the one I terminated and the one that is to start in June. This is a risk I need to be confident I am comfortable with. Definately something worth pondering.

[QM]

There IS another idea that just might work!! One of the two providers that has summer care told me today that she could take my new daycare baby for the summer only. She'll be full in the fall and won't have space anyways. She said that she's done that for another daycare provider friend before. That way the new baby would have care (from June to September) until my daycare girl leaves and I have space. Mmmmmm.......something worth contemplating for sure!

Then at least if the new family bails closer to September (for whatever reason), then I'm no more "behind" than I am right now.

[monkeywrangler71]

There IS another idea that just might work!! One of the two providers that has summer care told me today that she could take my new daycare baby for the summer only. She'll be full in the fall and won't have space anyways. She said that she's done that for another daycare provider friend before. That way the new baby would have care (from June to September) until my daycare girl leaves and I have space. Mmmmmm.......something worth contemplating for sure!

Then at least if the new family bails closer to September (for whatever reason), then I'm no more "behind" than I am right now.

I think this is a much fairer solution. Personally, I would be really angry if you dumped my kid two months early so that you could accommodate someone new and there would be no way we'd part on good terms.

[Pianolady]

I'd be concerned about the bad word of mouth you could get if the family you drop is upset. If they've been dependable payers in the past, and been with you a long time, they are probably a good reference for you. Just something to think about.

[QM]

Pianolady - They are/would be a good reference for me. Which is why I'm going to tell the "new family" that I have another option since my current family has decided to stay with me over the summer. A good friend of mine (who provides temporary childcare) is willing to take on the baby for the few months until I have space in September. IF the new family is okay with considering that option, then it may just work out in the end. Time will only tell.

[Rhiamon]

That sounds like a good idea. I know when DD was in Daycare we were on every waiting list in the city. I don't know about where you are but if you were to drop the first child 1 and 1/2 months may not be long enough for them to find someone.

I know the waiting lists in my city can be up to a year.

[Libby]

Pianolady - They are/would be a good reference for me. Which is why I'm going to tell the "new family" that I have another option since my current family has decided to stay with me over the summer. A good friend of mine (who provides temporary childcare) is willing to take on the baby for the few months until I have space in September. IF the new family is okay with considering that option, then it may just work out in the end. Time will only tell.

Its great that you're trying to accommodate everyone however are you planning on drawing up a contract that states that you will get that new client (baby) come September?

Its nice to refer others in the business b/c you can't accommodate them but you do run the risk of the new client wishing to stay with the temporary person you provided b/c a bond has been created. Things change all the time. What if one of her FT school year clients falls through, she'd suddenly have a spot open and well, she's already been caring for the baby through the summer so why not just keep the baby there? KWIM?

[LynnLC]

I've never been in this position before. In one sense it feels wrong to terminate a good-standing family since their daughter is leaving for school in the fall. But on the other hand I feel that I need to look at it from a business point of view. If I don't take on a family earlier, there is the chance that September will come and go and I won't have filled the space leaving me out a lot of money.

This would drive me bonkers too...at the end of the day, this is a business. The mother did mention pulling the child early. What are you supposed to do... wait around magically until she decided & then you get left high and dry? Jeez... Do what you feel is best. Personally, I'd tell the parents that they have until June and then, as a business, you need to find a replacement. Will she feel bad if come Sept. you don't have another kid to fill the spot? I doubt it.

[LynnLC]

That sounds like a good idea. I know when DD was in Daycare we were on every waiting list in the city. I don't know about where you are but if you were to drop the first child 1 and 1/2 months may not be long enough for them to find someone.

I know the waiting lists in my city can be up to a year.

I know it sounds bad but it's not ABCDEF's responsibility if the family cannot find backup care. ABC does what's right to bring in revenue.

[QM]

I agree 100% with you LynnLC. However, I made a decision. I got off the phone about 1/2 an hour ago with the mom. She's not interested in splitting the care up between two providers (June to September then September on)...and I totally understand. I tried to make it work, but it wasn't "meant to be". I need to be fair with my current family since they're expecting me until their daughter starts school. I would definately consider a child starting in August since it's not as long a time until school starts, but ditching them in June just didn't "feel" right after much thought. Being self-employed is just so hard. Things will work themselves out. The right family will find me and things will fall into place for September or October or whatever is meant to be. It's still seven months away. I'll try not worry too much for the next few months until parents typically start to search for care for around September.

[LynnLC]

Awesome Q! I agree, it will work itself out. Now let's talk prices...are you charging your worth? Lol. I kid, of course but you sound like a loving, caring child care provider.