Four on four off???? help!

[StrawberryMoon]

i have a child starting oct (once im reg)
her mum wants me to collect her from afternoon playgroup and have her till she collects..3 hours all together.
however, her dh works something like four weeks away, four weeks at home, and although she's told me this will be changing(??..what that means i dont know)..she has said that when he's off he will prob want to pick her up!

which measn for 4 weks she's expecting me to look after her, then the next im assuming not too!
now obv from my POV she needs to pay to keep her place open, but does this sound like more hassle than its worth?..she seems the type to think im pulling a fast one, and am dreading explaining it to her in playground!
only thing i can think of is to ask if this is actually what she intends to do and explain as im keeping her dd's place open until his four weeks at home are up, she would have to pay me full fee???!!

arrgghh

sorry it will be two afternoons a week so 6 hours al in all.

You could charge a 50% retainer for the weeks you don't have her and full fee for the weeks you do.

But personally, I think I would ask for the full fee, as 4 weeks is along time to expect you to keep the place open.

yeah i know and our first discussion didnt involve this litle snippet!
think im just gunna have to ask her in morn if she 'meant' that when her dh is off, she wont be wanting me to look after her..if she says yes, ill have to say that she would still need to pay for the place as i couldnt find anyone else with same needs to fill it opposite weeks!.argh..am stuttering typing this!

Strawberrymoon - this is why shift worker have uch trouble organising childcare. Police/Fire & Nurses have the same problem.

Unless the Gov funds it better they just cannot afford to work

well i know they are 'comfortable' shall we say..but what would you do?

full fee

I have had a shift child from the start and I have lost thousands cos I didn't stand up for myself (the child is at school)

i would continue the payments of full fees even if dad picks up as his job is changing etc and if your being paid you can be on call

well, what i was thinking was..
as i will only have one full timer plus this little girl for the immediate future..i am going to speak to the mum and explain that if it IS actually the case that she wants her dh to colect dd every other four weeks, then i will do it for now..BUT..as soon as i get another child wanting to start which may clash with arrangements(making things more complicated), she will either have to pay for the hours shes not using or seek other care for her LO..as im just starting out, i dont think its wise to be arsy, as long as i explain, this is not something i will be doing long term.
plus........she go's back to work oct..just before half term, so am hoping her dh isnt home then and i can look after her full time!..plus christmas when schools off too!
i think the clarity of this conversation should be backed up by her specific 'welcome' pack to ensure she understands that if she wants to retain her palce, she will have to pay.
god, sounded clearer in my head!

i dont know if i would do that tbh, i think i would start as i mean to go on - i know you are being nice as you have no other child wanting the space at the moment but if you change things later it could cause problems although you can always give notice.

i would find out exactly what she intends (she may want you to have mindee most weeks but now and again dad might pick up early or collect himself)

i say, when i do the contract, that they set the ammount of hours they need and they pay for the hours agreed wether they use them or not thats up to them.

yes thats what id normally do, but being as she was my first one pencilled in, i didnt want to be awkward and even 4 weeks paid, four weeks not until i get full timer is better than no weeks paid??

thats one for you i havent been doing it that long (only 5 months) so i have nt got much experience myself.

advice for first timers is always always make sure they pay up front.

yeah ive got her down as wednesdays pay in advance and other mindee mondays week in advance!