What Would You Do? - Chicago, IL

We have used four different in-home daycares over the past 6 years. All of them were great - in each case the daycare provider was quitting so we had to switch. However I would never sign a yearlong contract with an untested daycare provider. A compromise would be a contract requiring 2-3 weeks notice to give you some time to find a replacement. If a parent pulled their child without giving notice you would have legal recourse to recoup the lost wages. Just an idea...
Good luck!

N.,

I am also trying to keep 3 kids in my home daycare and struggling (down to one). I think it is the economy, too many people are unemployed. If one parent is working, it seems like the other isn't or is just about to be unemployed. If you took the PT private teaching position, do you have daycare for your little girl?

You'll make the right decision, pray for guidance.

In these times, if you've got a firm job offer I say take it if it's feasible - sorry to disagree with the other mamas, but trying to keep a daycare running is more difficult right now than it used to be.

all the best,

W.

You have a lot of stress on you right now, UGH!
What about a deadline?
Why not set a deadline for yourself, that if you have 3 kids undercontract for daycare by July then that is what you do.....

I would make the people sign a contract (an agreement for services which includes rules and expectations for both sides to keep communication clear) to protect yourself and them. If it is only a few children, you don't have to be licensed. I would google and look for a contract template as well as policies/procedures and hand them to the parents with a signed contract. You have to protect yourself.

You can enforce the contract in civil court under 'breach of contract'. One consideration might be to look at how reliable this income would be? If the people are changing their mind so often? I sounds like you want this to be your ONLY income, not supplementary?

If you don't have 3 kids or whatever number you need, then take the teaching job for one year. First make sure your childcare expense (your kids) is worth the salary you will be making.

Like the other post said, advertise in churches, etc. One nice thing about home day care is when school is canceled (inclimate weather) the day care is usually still available. This past winter everyone was hit bad and the schools left working parents stranded.

Good luck with your decision!

I vote for continuing your inhome childcare. I am an inhome D. provider myself and have found many useful tools to promote business. Firstly try to get to know other providers in your area and network with them. They can pass on clients to you if they are full and you can return the favor when you are full. Offer DROP IN/EMERGENCY CARE. There is a GREAT demand for it. Moms like the option to drop there child off one day every few weeks so they can run errands etc. I offer an hourly or a daily rate for this care.
Have a "2 weeks notice" clause in your contract. It is common courtesy. That way you have a couple of weeks to fill your spot.
Keep in contact with all your inquiries every month or so to let them know if you spots open or if you are offering any promotions. I have a referral special for my current clients. I offer a free day of care for every full day referral. It works like a charm :)
Good luck and I hope it works out for you :)

You sound like a wonderful provider, if I were you I'd continue with the at-home daycare. I wouldn't make anyone sign a yearlong contract, I would run too! Instead I agree with making them give you a certain amount of notice before terminating and have that in the contract.

The secret to any business is just good promotion. If you promote a lot you'll get many clients. Find great ways to promote (churches, passing out fliers at the library or the park, etc.) and you'll have your 3 full timers in no time! Also, network with other businesses. They pass out your card, you pass out their card.

Good luck!

Sounds like you would rather continue with child-care, however, getting the "three children" to care for sounds like a gamble. It sounds like you may even be in school full-time, next year, should you get accepted into a nursing program. You don't say when you have to give these private schools an answer. If you can ride it out for alittle while longer and see if you can secure another child in childcare, it sounds like that may be what you want to do, especially if, right now, your life is a bit unsettled by divorce proceeding. You also have two very young children and it could benefit them to continue in the career path of child care, at least until the older one is in kindergarten, if money is not totally the issue.

I'm not quite sure what you mean by "people judging me...track record of caring for others' children"...has there been a concern with a child in your care, in the past? Sorry...not understanding that statement.

As far as people who "don't make commitments for a year", hopefully another post, who is involved in childcare, may give you guidance on how you can set up a contract with your day care families'. I would think it is unreasonable for your clients to think that they can just "come and go". You should be able to include some kind of stipulations into your contracts to instill a commitment with your clients.

Good luck.

I would do what I could to work from home. It sounds like that is what you would prefer now & the investment in your children is priceless. I did home day care & I found the demand was consistent. Word spread through my church & my children's school community. I actually had more people interested than I could handle.
Good Luck!

Sorry, but I need to agree with the other mom's. Do what your passion lies & it will all work itself out. Finding a really good childcare provider is REALLY hard. We pulled our babies out of their current daycare because of what some might consider "sheer trust" for a new home care provider. The kids took to her very quickly & we were pleased with her passion to take care of children as if they were her own.

Unfotunately she is now taking a position at a daycare & we have less then 3 days to find a new provider for next week. Just like it is hard to find parents who commit - it's hard to find home care providers who have a true committmet for what they do & are not providing home care because it's convenient for their lifestyle.

We now have to try to find care for our 2 baby boys at the last minute - who protects the client? Honsetly, the business arrangements between provider & client should be a 2 way street. There are some GREAT families out there who are desperately looking for a safe, secure, loving, childcare provider who is reasonably priced.

Honest, loving, well trained homecare providers are NOT easy to find! Trust me, there is business out there if you stick to your passion. I know too ment mommies who are STILL looking for GREAT childcare.
I am proof!!!