Oh, my...

As you may already know, I've been out looking for some new charges since my sweet Andrew left for big-boy school. I found one really great couple who will be dropping their son off 3-5 days per week, depending on Dad's weekly schedule. I'm really excited to get started with him, and have lots of ideas for projects and such.

While that is a success in my book, I'm finding it hard to get that elusive second child. Everyone who is responding to my advertisements is looking for very part-time care. So, this blog entry goes out to you parents who only need me to watch your child for a few hours per week. I feel like I've been writing a lot of e-mail responses to parents needing part-time care, so I thought I'd share one of those responses with everyone so that there are no misunderstandings. Here it is:

"I don't have any minimums listed in the policy handbook, but you have to understand that if I was to accept every child who only needed care one day or a few hours per week I would be in the poor house! The reason drop-in days and hourly care is listed is because some parents have more complicated schedules than others. This allows me to care for someone, say, three days per week, and maybe two hours one day that week as well, without charging a higher rate. It keeps parents from being over-charged, but allows them the freedom to drop their child off only when they actually need care.

"I currently have one child coming 5 days per week, part time; one child coming three days per week, full time; one child coming two days per week, part time; and one child who does random drop-ins as his mother is on-call and works in the medical field.

"If I was to accept another child at one day per week, I'd really be selling myself short. I guess my point is, even though I don't have strict minimums written in my handbook, I'm really looking for someone who will be here more regularly. I'd rather have three kids coming full-time than seven kids dropping in randomly. It really just simplifies things for me, and makes things like field trips far less complicated. Please understand that it's no offense to you or your needs, but if I can make the choice to take on someone who will be here more regularly, I will."

I hope if you are considering using Curious Caterpillar as your daycare that you understand now why I'm looking for that elusive full-time kid. It's no offense to you, personally. Just trying my best to keep my home as care-free and relaxed as I possibly can make it while still earning a living for myself.