Well, for those of your who are faithful followers, you will probably be glad that I have had enough and I have done my very best this week at putting my foot down. My new favorite word is "NO" and I am loving it.
For those of you who are new, I am a home daycare provider who is basically doing care 24/7. I actually have every other Sunday off and usually one evening per week. My Hubby has been laid off for quite some time and even though he is now a substitute bus driver for our local school system, the money is nowhere near the same. So to help make up some of the difference I have been working my hiney off, taking what ever kids and hours come my way.
I am a County Certified Provider and I do care for low income families and the county pays for their daycare while the parents are at work, no extra stops on the way home or anything. We also don't get paid by the hour but by what I call blocks. Here is how is breaks down:
0-6.9 hours = hourly pay
7-23.9 hours = x$ (Part time rate)
24-50 hours = x$ (Full time rate)
anything over 50 hours is paid hourly plus full time rate.
I have put my foot down with the Mom's calling and asking if I will keep their kids for more than what they are scheduled. I am getting good at it too. So far this week I have said "NO" to:
I have also started enforcing my $5 per day late fee when they are late paying me their County Co-pay for childcare for the whole month. Now this amount varies for different families. One has a fee as low as $8 and one has a fee as high as $209. This fee works like a deductible. Let me tell you, I have gotten my pay this month from they families that take forever to pay it.
Have I turned into a Hard *ss? No, I'm just getting back to the business rules.
For those of you who are new, I am a home daycare provider who is basically doing care 24/7. I actually have every other Sunday off and usually one evening per week. My Hubby has been laid off for quite some time and even though he is now a substitute bus driver for our local school system, the money is nowhere near the same. So to help make up some of the difference I have been working my hiney off, taking what ever kids and hours come my way.
I am a County Certified Provider and I do care for low income families and the county pays for their daycare while the parents are at work, no extra stops on the way home or anything. We also don't get paid by the hour but by what I call blocks. Here is how is breaks down:
0-6.9 hours = hourly pay
7-23.9 hours = x$ (Part time rate)
24-50 hours = x$ (Full time rate)
anything over 50 hours is paid hourly plus full time rate.
I have put my foot down with the Mom's calling and asking if I will keep their kids for more than what they are scheduled. I am getting good at it too. So far this week I have said "NO" to:
- Keeping 2 kids an extra 1/2 hour so mom can go tan, because she didn't want to pay me extra
- Keeping 2 kids on Mom's day and then overnight so that she could go somewhere with her friend, it would have been 24 hours and she didn't want to pay for an extra 24 hours of care out of her pocket.
- Keeping 2 boys while mom picks up an extra shift on my Saturday night off. I would not have made anymore money from the county so my theory is why do it for free?
I have also started enforcing my $5 per day late fee when they are late paying me their County Co-pay for childcare for the whole month. Now this amount varies for different families. One has a fee as low as $8 and one has a fee as high as $209. This fee works like a deductible. Let me tell you, I have gotten my pay this month from they families that take forever to pay it.
Have I turned into a Hard *ss? No, I'm just getting back to the business rules.
So, now to my Aloha Friday question:
Do you agree with me standing my ground and saying NO, or would you be upset with you daycare provider for saying NO?
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It is a very hard thing to learn to say NO, as I was in my 40's before I learned and practiced NO!
ReplyDeleteCONGRATS to you!
If you get a chance stop by my blog and say hello!
http://herroyaljoaness.blogspot.com/
Happy Friday to you, too! I'm following your blog!
ReplyDeleteIt really get me about these parents who put their desire before their children. I do not understand it. going through some of that new with someone. so now I say No, unless she agree to the arrangements to me! Love that word No, but it is bad for the kids to learn it.
ReplyDeleteMy Fridays Links for you. This time I have two, Introducing a new type of blog "On The Go". and then AF on my At Home my family blog
I think you have every right to say no. You are running a business - you need some ground rules, and it's good that you are enforcing them.
ReplyDeleteHope you have a great night♥
Happy Friday Follow!! I am a new follower and thank you kindly for joining us today.
ReplyDeleteAs for Aloha Friday question, I agree with the other comments.
~ Lynn
http://www.middayescapades.com
It's a hard thing, but I think they call that "Tough Love". I haven't learned too much of that, and all my kids are grown & married. Guess I'm too late! lol Thanks for stopping at my blog - following you & have a great weekend. The dog commercial was hysterical, but I entered - lol
ReplyDeleteI say good for you! There are too many people that will walk all over you if you will let them. I have a great business that I do from home and it is amazing. I have done it for almost 2 years now and you may want to take a second and go to my website...click on the Video Bank tab...watch the top three videos and see if this is something for you or not. It's getting paid when people pay their cell phone bills...pretty cool concept. :)
ReplyDeletewww.kandiandadam.acnrep.com
Blog site: www.twin-spiration.com
I'm cheering for you! Way to go. I'm glad you are standing your ground and saying no. You cannot allow yourself to be taken advantage of.
ReplyDeleteAnd rules are rules. An emergency, yes, but rules are rules.
If your babysitting for a "Friend" then I can see keeping for running late or over night. If this strictly is a business like you say the it's about dang time!!! I used to have a girl drop off her daughter and go to work. She'd call and ask if I minded if she'd stop at the grocery store. UM HELLO!! YES! Let it go one time and then every week she was asking. She was not paying me and we weren't friends. OUR daughters were in class together but that's all.
ReplyDeletePeople will take advantage of other people when they see that you babysit in your home. THey very well wouldn't pull that with an agency or a PUBLIC day care center. So you shouldn't let them do that to you either.
Good for you! You deserve a little time off too. I know it's hard to say no but you have to do it to look after your own interests.
ReplyDeletegood for you!!! Saying no is right especially in this situation!!!Following you know too!!
ReplyDeleteGood for you!! I used to run a family daycare. I know exactly what you are talking about. Saying no can be so hard. But you totally have to do it sometimes. I wrote a post about my daycare days when I quit - note the sarcasm - check it out - http://www.ourlifeupstate.com/2009/05/reasons-you-should-run-in-home-dayare.html
ReplyDeleteI am proud of you!! Stick to your guns! I've always said (and taught my two older daughters) - Be good to your daycare provider - pay them first (well, after rent) and never take advantage of them. Without a good daycare provider, you can't make the money you need to take care of your kids! The little bit of time you have is yours, and you are totally free to make it yours!
ReplyDelete