DCP getting second (third?) job?

Maebb · June 2014

I've posted about my DCP before - she and I have been friends for 10 years, and she used to keep 1 other kid in addition to her 2 girls and DS, but now it's just hers and DS.

I know she already has a part-time arrangement with another company where she does data entry and other computer work from home, and that's ok because she said she only does it when the kids are napping.

Now she got a part-time job teaching a class at the YMCA. She already goes there once or twice a week to take classes, and DS goes in the daycare, and I wasn't thrilled with that because I've never been there or met those people, but I got over it. But now it's going to be more time, and her girls are going to be in the Y daycare too, but I just feel kind if like if I'm paying her to watch DS, I don't know how I feel about all these side jobs.

I pay her $40 a day - maybe I should either pay her more or be quiet about it? Her H works too, but she talks about being tight on finances.

Also I'm having another baby in January, which I haven't told her yet, but it just makes me wonder if she's tired of doing the DCP thing.

I do plan to talk to her, but should I tell her that if I bring DS and a newborn to her next year, I'd rather her not have other jobs during the day? Is that a fair expectation?

theseaword · June 2014

I would not be cool with this. You're paying her as a DCP. So not only should she be watching your kid, she should be engaging and spending time with your child. $40 a day is inexpensive, but not insanely so. I pay $220 a week for 4 days for an infant.

beachy6 · June 2014

No way would I be okay with this. You are paying her a good amount to watch your kid. When we used a DCP, I expected that when I dropped him off, he wasn't being taken all over town and that he was getting quality care from the lady I was paying. Had that not happened, I'd have said something in a heartbeat.

If you explain your stance on the issue and she seems like she is unwilling to change, I'd look elsewhere. If she is tight up for money, she could look to take more kids, but having an outside job while watching someone else's kid seems like a liability to me.

aforst · June 2014

You need to talk to her or find another DCP. We pay $200/week ($40/day) for our 3 y/o and that's at a licensed in-home. I would not be ok with other jobs going on. You are paying her to do a job already. I don't think my employer would be cool with me doing other jobs during the work day

Maebb · June 2014

That's another thing - we agreed on $40 a day when he was 8 weeks old, and now that he's 18 months, I know a lot of daycares drop their price after infant age. Plus daycares generally give a discount for the second kid, so DH was saying $60 a day for both kids, but I think that's too cheap, so I'd probably say $75 for both.

Ugh - tough adult choices - I know I wouldn't be comfortable with some random person (@Fredalina, your story is scary), but a real daycare is tough with our work hours and random days off sometimes. Idk what to do.

jesuisfatiguee · June 2014

I pay what equates to $40/day for DS' to go to a center. That's at the lower range of normal in the city where I work. And I live in a HCOL area.

I would not be ok with this, and would find other arrangements if possible.

[Deleted User] · June 2014

I'm ok with the data entry while napping. The whole YMCA thing is a no.

zeptattoo · June 2014

MarlaSinger& said:

I'm ok with the data entry while napping. The whole YMCA thing is a no.

This is what I was thinking.

angelashly · June 2014

I would look into other care.

angelashly · June 2014

Also I would tell hr about baby #2 as soon as you start telling people in case she doesn't want to watch 2 kids. Better to find out early.

[Deleted User] · June 2014

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missymo · June 2014

Like everyone else already said, this would not be okay with me. You are paying her to watch your kid, and she in turn is going to drop him off at free gym day care? Uh, no. That's you paying her to give him a ride to another daycare, not you paying her to watch your kid.

Maebb · June 2014

angelashly said:
Also I would tell hr about baby #2 as soon as you start telling people in case she doesn't want to watch 2 kids. Better to find out early.

I do plan to tell her at 12-13 weeks. I'm at 10.5 now.

She has said before that it's hard to go out with 3 kids, and I'm kind of like, "Um, sorry?" I don't know what she expected when she offered to watch him in the first place. So I don't know how she'll feel about 4.

I know this is going to be a tough conversation, and I don't want to deal with the stress of finding a new DCP (and what if it turns out to be worse), but it sounds like I need to have a sit-down talk and let her choose to either watch my two kids as her only job during the day, or we'll need to find alternate care.

BootsOrHearts · June 2014

Sounds like she has to decide if she wants to be a dcp or pursue a different career path.

Spoilers · June 2014

Maebb said:

That's another thing - we agreed on $40 a day when he was 8 weeks old, and now that he's 18 months, I know a lot of daycares drop their price after infant age. Plus daycares generally give a discount for the second kid, so DH was saying $60 a day for both kids, but I think that's too cheap, so I'd probably say $75 for both. Ugh - tough adult choices - I know I wouldn't be comfortable with some random person (@Fredalina, your story is scary), but a real daycare is tough with our work hours and random days off sometimes. Idk what to do.

Does your DCP provide snacks/lunches/breakfast? I run a daycare in-home and I charge more after infant stage (uh, babies are super easy, and the parents provide formula, BM, or baby food). Once they are on solids I pay for all of the food. I do get reimbursed at the end of the year for some of the food, but not all, so I'm taking a hit when I feed kids which is why I increase the price (although, I charge $20 for toddlers/preschool, and $15 for infants, it's a bit different here for in-home).

Pips09 · June 2014

I would find new care. Like a pp said, I'd be okay with data entry while the kids are napping, but I would not be okay with her dropping him off at the YMCA daycare to do take on another job. Being the DCP is her job for those hours. For the price you are paying, you should be able to find another solution, either a center or a licensed in-home.

Also, as a side note, our daycare rate dropped at 2 years old.

billybumbler · June 2014

Yeah, I'd be looking for alternate care also. On top of everything PPs have said I would personally always have a worry in the back of my mind with her especially with 2 kids in her care.

Maebb · June 2014

@spoilers, I send his food every day. She sometimes supplements with her own food because DS sometimes wants what her girls are eating instead of what I send. There were some days when I was OOT and DH didn't pack a lunch that we sent milk and paid $5 extra per day for food.

@Chickie79, Primrose is around but they had a year and a half waiting list last time I checked and were $1500 a month with not a lot of flexibility. My mom watches DS many Fridays, and sometimes DH takes him to DCP and his hours are 6-3, so I don't know if a daycare center would be flexible enough.

RondackHiker · June 2014

I know you don't want to find new care, but I think you'll have to suck it up and do it.

You've had complaints before and she's complaining about three kids and going to the Y and all these things would be a major deal breaker for me.

Maebb · June 2014

@Chickie79, I'll check into those, thanks.

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