Giving Notice and Ending Childcare

wow...that was rude of her. She should have abided by the 2 week notice. That is standard for work and day care.

I'm sorry. I think I would be upset too.

I thought two weeks notice meant you say you will be done in 2 weeks and they will have an opening when your time is finished.
She's dropping you a week early (well maybe - IF this other wants to start on your last week - that right there would irk me) and that's rude on her part - but she wants that space filled and is courting the new client - but the space wasn't available yet!
Yeah, I'd be upset with her - but this seems to be her style - her not respecting your schedule.

Since she's dropping you - even though you intended to pay her for 2 weeks - she only gets paid for the time you are there and not for the week she's kicking you out early.
I'd be mad too, but at the same time I'd be happy to put her behind me.
Insist on a written contract next time.
It protects both parties and spells out what is to be expected.

She was wrong, but as you know, your best bet at this point is to wash your hands of her and be done.

You don't need to pay her after today because she found someone to take your spot. If your new provider cannot take your son next week, you can simply let your current provider know that you had an agreement with her that included child care for next week and your son will be in her care next week. That is your right.

It sounds like you don't feel confident that she would take care of your son next week because of this conversation. I can't believe that to be the case. Childcare providers do not provide substandard care simply because of awkward conversations with clients. Their reputations are too important.

If you need her to watch your son next week, just let her know. If you can begin a week early with the new provider, then smile and move on.

It sounds like she agreed to your hours and found that they were too inconvenient for her lifestyle. That doesn't mean she doesn't like your son or doesn't take good care of him. She's just finding it difficult to keep him so late. She's probably just eager to be able to end her day sooner.

Is this the same provider you posted about in June who wanted you to pick up your son earlier? She has your son in a carseat so that you can pick him up and get out of there and she can move on with her plans. If she doesn't have him in the carseat and ready to go, she has to wait for you to pick him up and hug him and kiss him and put him in the seat and ... She doesn't want to work that late. She's done for the day. My SIL's babysitter did that everyday with my nieces - had them ready to go and sitting on her porch - because otherwise it was one thing after another and it took forever to get them out of her house. This simplified things (greatly!).

You can be upset if you want, but I think that's a waste of energy. This situation is not working for her. She's not providing substandard care. She's just looking for a client who can fit her hours. Don't take it personally. Just move him to the other provider and let it go.

If there is a place to leave a public review of her daycare I would, it is entirely unprofessional for her to ask you for two weeks notice and then not follow through with care during those two weeks you gave her as a curtesy to her.

Sounds like she's trying to stick it to you and "have the last word." You were looking for someone else, she knew it, and you both were sort of hanging there waiting to see who found a better deal first. You did, but she's mad. I'm assuming she's not planning on using you as a reference.

Having your child in a car seat when you arrive? Really? How long was he sitting that way? Unprofessional, in my opinion.

You're right, I think, but if you didn't have a written contract, there's not much you can hold her to.

Either take the time off or see if you can find a high school or college student who would fill in for 3 days. Best to move on at this point.

She is so unprofessional. I also think it is terrible she would have your son strapped to his car seat waiting for you. You certainly have no obligation to pay her for hours she didn't watch your son. Good luck!!!

normal? no. most people abide by the two week notice. are you wrong to be upset? no. she was contracted to watch your child and shes backing out. i would be upset too.

it is also not normal for a daycare provider to strap a child into the carseat. and only time i know a provider to do this was when mom was running late for the childs dr appt and wanted them ready and in the seat so she could grab and go and be on time for the appt.

I don't understand the problem. According to both you and she, today is his last day, and this works out well for both of you.

What's to be upset about?

After today, you won't see her any more, so being upset only hurts you. Let it go.

She is rude and unprofessional. I certainly wouldn't pay her for anything past today.

While I understand that she's looking out after her own priorities, no, it's not cool of her to up and drop you a week early.

No professional would do this. I did childcare for years, both privately and through child development centers and a couple privately-run preschools. I had those details in writing, both in the contract with families (regarding notice from both parties, parents/provider) and in my preschool handbooks.

Make sure your next provider has some written agreements so you have a leg to stand on in this regard if it comes up again. I used to believe that written contracts weren't 'nice' or 'necessary' in my line of work until I got wise-- and got screwed over by someone who up and decided at the last minute to put her kid in a different preschool after committing. Overall, it was okay as I didn't particularly like the woman, but at the time I had to scramble to fill her kid's slot. I was running a business, not a drop-in daycare.

So, again, make sure you get everything in writing with the new provider, even if you have to write it out. Even with the provider I hired for my son when I was working-- I had it all written out. Times of care expected, pay rate, any other concerns... it in writing.

Ugh... I just re-read this. Strapped in a car seat? NO. That's questionable care at best, downright dangerous at worst. That's a really bad sign of low-quality care. I'd wonder how much time he was getting to move around, develop his little muscles, etc. That goes entirely against what good caregivers would do. There are plenty of ways to care for children which honor their need to move and develop in that regard. Sounds like you are wise to move on. Good luck in the future.

You don't mesh with her. Your opinion of her changed during this question.

You gave notice. She watched your child part time, hardly anyone in child care will do that, ever. They have to pay that staff person for their 40 hours per week if your child is there or not or if it's home care they aren't likely going to get a child that only wants the days your child isn't there.

Home child care is way more....personal...than a full facility will be. A home provider has things come up, they have no staff to fill in, if they have a doctor's appointment they have to close for that time frame, if they are going on vacation they have to close during that period of time, they are it. There is no one else. To keep their license they can only have "fill in staff" that has gone through the same background checks and training that the home provider has gone through. They have to be approved.

A full child care facility will have set hours from the start. This is when they open and this is when they close, period. If you are not there to pick up your child by closing time they charge you a late fee.

She is darn lucky to have filled your upcoming vacant spot so quickly. You could look at this as a good thing for both of you. You were only part time so that's an inconvenience in a big way, she took your son and took care of him, whether she likes him being there or not, she did her job, and now she has a full time kiddo coming in.

So you want her to not take this new child that will bring in almost double what you're paying? She has to take care of her family and provide an income for her business.

Did she cut you off? Yes. Did she do something mean to you? Maybe, but all in all if you have anyone else that can watch your child those 3 days then you could be happy she found someone that will help her make more money and you can move forward.

Well that just stinks that now you are left to figure out child care next week. You gave 2 week notice and your kindness at not dropping her care was met with her being a bit of a jerk.

Here's hoping that your next care giver is a more loving person who hasn't been doing it long enough be a resentful like this lady seemed to be.

Pretty crappy.

She wants to fill the space and is willing to do so even if it means inconveniencing you. She likely doesn't think you'd give her a good recommendation or maybe she's just thinking dollars at this point. Or maybe she is just as anxious to move on as you are. Who knows. It sucks but I personally think if you can make it work (today be his last day) then you'll be happier. I agree.

I was in a situation like yours - while we parted on very good terms (we weren't inconveniencing her so much as she was just too busy after 5 pm to care for our son - it was apparent) - I actually gave her 2 weeks pay without sending my kids. Just because we got a spot on short notice at daycare, and we just were done with it.

I hope you will have a written contract with your new provider!

Can you start talking him to the other daycare instead of sacrificing more time off and putting your job in jeopardy? I don't think the new daycare will have an issue with your son starting a week early, considering they already had the room there to accept him in the first place. You can explain the situation and just say the old daycare filled his spot, or the woman is taking a vacation and your son has nowhere to go and because you and your fiance work, you're kind of in a bind. If they have been sympathetic and welcoming enough so far, they should have no problem letting your son start earlier than planned.