I was watching a 16 month old girl at my house 3 days a week. I felt her parents were taking advantage of me (showing up late, forgetting to pay me etc). I gave her mom 1 months notice a week ago, that I couldn't watch her anymore after a month was up. I asked her today how the babysitter search was going and she said " oh, I have barely looked, I haven't had time". Do you think when the month is up and she still hasn't found anybody that it is mean for me to tell her too bad, your time is up?? I think she thinks that if she doesn't find anyone I will feel bad and keep watching her. I have given her a months notice, that is fair isn't it?
2007-10-29 13:08:22 · 9 answers · asked by Stuck in the middle of nowhere 7 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
You are definately right. I had to do the same thing at the beginning of the summer. The parents had their children at my house for 60 hours/week, would conveniently forget to pay me, and were consistently late - up to an hour!! They would always pay the late fees because they could but didn't ever apologize or try to be on time. I gave them two weeks, which had been my policy in the contract I had them sign when they started. The mother did the same thing and acted like things were going to continue. When the time came, she tried to leave them at my house and I had to stand my ground by telling her that her final day was Friday (I even reminded her the Monday before!). She just kept yelling and saying, "what do you expect me to do, I haven't even started to look for child care!" I had to walk into my house and shut the door so she would leave.
I have been doing this for 6 years and there will always be people who will try to take advantage of you. Just have them sign a contract - and stick to it. My hours were 6am to 6pm and I made it clear (nicely) that at 6:01 my family time starts ( I have four kids) and every minute after 6 there will be a $1/minute charge due upon pickup.
Email me if you need some forms. We went to a lawyer and had him help us design a contract that would help protect us.
By the way, how would she feel if her boss forgot to pay her? Hmmm...
2007-10-29 15:16:09 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
That is much more than fair and yes, you should still terminate your service. Do not feel bad about it.
I think you are correct in what this lady is about.
I had a family member do something similar to me. I had been letting her know the whole time that I could babysit only until she could find someone permanent, essentially six months notice. She could not recall that I was a high-risk pregnancy and that I would be "out of commission" for at least a month after my daughter was born. The Friday before my baby was born, my mother had come down to help with my older daughter and SHE was finally able to convince this relative that there was no way I would be permitted to watch her children whilst I was in hospital. The relative wanted my mom to take over, but my mom put her foot down saying she was there to take care of me. LOL
Don't even let me start on what it took to get all of the money I was owed. ; )
I wish well on this.
2007-10-29 20:30:22 · answer #2 · answered by tantiemeg 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My wife does day care as well. We learned early from a similar situation that you really need to have a little contract signed by the parents stating what is acceptable to you and what is not. For instance and time that the parents are late they are charge a higher rate per 10 minutes that they are not there. And for non-payment on the due day that a fee will be applied for every 24 hr period that passes without receiving payment..... Remember that even though it is hard to get past the humanistic aspects of childcare... you still run a business that is very hard to become trusted in, you still have your own personal life to manage outside of this, and if they cannot comply then, you can take action, and trst me parents do not want to pay anymore than they already are!
2007-10-29 20:24:01 · answer #3 · answered by Mad Town Ghost 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
You have given her plenty of time to find someone else. When the month is up make it absolutely clear to her that you cannot provide services to her and her child any longer. You are not conscience-bound to continue providing services for which you are not getting paid. The day care problem is not yours, it's the mother's.
2007-10-29 20:18:17 · answer #4 · answered by Richard B 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, that's fair. At the end of the month, time is up. She's being selfish. If she's been taking advantage of you up until now, she will continue to do so to the very end.
2007-10-29 20:13:09 · answer #5 · answered by berrel 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That's way more than fair i've gotten less notices than that you just need to be firm and say that your sorry but you can't watch her anymore. maybe then she will get the picture and not bring her daughter good luck
2007-10-29 20:17:50 · answer #6 · answered by herrera_jovita 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think you gave her plenty of notice. If it were me I would say too bad. Doesn't sound like she respects you.
2007-10-29 20:13:39 · answer #7 · answered by xoxo 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
on her last day there, just say, well it was nice getting to know you guys and i wish you the best of luck and i will miss emma soo much... blah blah blah
to make it perfectly clear that you have no intention of her comming back again.
2007-10-29 20:44:44 · answer #8 · answered by 3 girls call me mommy 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
yes, its fair. don't ask her again the same question and just remind her a week before that its her last week.
2007-10-29 20:13:34 · answer #9 · answered by jennifer 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋