Trying to get revenge will only hurt you and your family by extending the period of anger. Your son will not be hurt by not saying good-bye or by the sharp transition. My five-year-old barely remembers the daycare center he attended a year ago. And your husband is providing a perfect transition for your son, even it is inconvenient for the two of you. Just be glad you saw the daycare's true colors before you enrolled any future children.

The thing I'd be ticked off about too is the money that was paid for the last week. Childcare is so expensive. But you have to ask yourself, is it worth YOUR time and the money involved to take them to small claims court. If its just for the principle of it, I'd probably let it go. But if we are talking enough money (when I had DS in daycare it was $700 a month for 3 days a week...), I'd probably go after getting my money returned.

Its really stinky that they are being such jerks. You followed the terms of the contract, and its too bad that they didn't atleast pretend to be happy that your son was moving on to preschool. Sounds like these people are only in childcare for the money. Sad, very sad.

Your son will do great in preschool and make lots of new friends. And congrats on the potty training! :)

I can't believe it ended like that.

Is this the first time someone ever left their daycare or something?  They are taking it so personally.

When you run a small, local business, it is so stupid to be a jerk to people.  What about their reputations?

It's all business, not personal.  You followed the contract, they had no right to do what they are doing to you.

Also, it is very bad form that they are not having some sort of little sendoff for your son and cut you off from that last week.  Will your son or the other kids be scarred for life?  No.  But kids do know each other and have friends and feelings.

So sorry it ended like that.  I can imagine how hurtful that is.  Totally, totally unnecessary on their part.

I wouldn't go after them for the money but I am lazy and it wouldn't be worth the aggravation to me.  

Whatever their feelings are towards you, it's really cruel to take it out through a child.  I echo the others; aside from the fact that a daycare is thought of as more than a moneymaking venture, their actions show really poor business judgment and extreme unprofessionalism.

Word will get around about them. You are in Hennepin County, right?  I used to work for an organization that did daycare referrals for Dakota & Ramsey Counties.  I think you can contact the counterpart for Hennepin Co. and give them a report.  These organizations frequently work with single or low-income parents, and a daycare that would leave a parent in a bind like that is not someone they would want to be referring to their clients.

You have every right to be angry, Minnmom - if for no other reason than it inadvertantly made you break a promise to your son!

I also think you're on the right path in reporting the incident to the county assessor. Yeah, it's motivated by personal emotions, but god forbid this behavior is only the tip of the iceberg with these people. Maybe I'm being dramatic, but I think people who care for children have to be held to an incredibly high standard, and if they're screwing around like this, what else are they doing?

Suing? I'm not sure - I think I go along with some other posters above and say wait for the first rush of emotion to fade a bit and then consider if it's worth your time to do it.

So sorry it happened, though, but good luck with preschool!

I am so sorry! What idiots! Did they not realize when they started the business that kids would leave? Hello! How stupid to take it so personally and then cut the parents and child off in such a manner.

My younger son's in-home daycare fell apart suddenly on us. Thankfully when he was right at the point to be ready for pre-school. One day the wife just told us that she had to kick her husband out because he was abusing her! Yikes! And just two months before, she had gone out of town to be with her daughter who had just given birth and left the care to her husband and a hired assistant. We picked up Alex in a ridiculously full diaper one of those days and immediately made arrangements for one of us to stay home until the wife returned. We were about to report that incident to the county licensing board when she closed up shop.

I think reporting to referral agencies and the licensing board is sufficient. Don't sue. The week home with your husband is probably a really excellent way to transition anyway.

They sound like jerks.  The home daycare my sons' attend is run by a couple but the wife is in charge.  Her husband is retired so he's around and the kids call him "Pappy" since some of them are really his gradnchildren.  He helps but mainly he's in the background.  Something about the way you describe Joe really gives me the creeps.

I don't know about reporting them.  Maybe when you are less emotional you could make a better assessment.  I would wonder about what else goes on when they are not upfront about the money and how one withdraws.

So, so sorry to hear this ended this way.  I would be very angry, but it's sort of an impotent anger - not too much you can do beyond what you've done.

Focus on the upcoming transition for your son - those cupcakes will be more then welcome at his new school - and that will help you put this episode behind you.

I wonder if it would be at all worth it to call the woman to see what she wants. With the goal being to get her to agree that your son could come back for an hour or 90 minutes on Friday to say a proper goodbye to his buds, and they to him.

As peeps have mentioned above, he's not going to be scarred for life by the rough transition, it would just be sweeter (and a bit of victory heh heh) to do a nice goodbye as you planned.

And then those jerks can eat your dust. They're crazy.

RachelD

consider writing them a letter, explaining your read on the contract that you agreed to and request that they refund your money for the time that they made themselves unavailable.

Generally speaking, caveat - i am not an attorney, but have filed in small claims court in Texas - you have to give them a certain amount of time (usually 30 days) to comply with your request.

I would close with that you expect to hear from them to work out a reasonable conclusion to your business arrangement or you will have to turn it over to your attorney.  Often the idea of lawyers, and court appearance is enough to make them willing to give you back your money. (Seems to me they owe you the whole 2 weeks).

As for transition, i agree with someone above who said being home with Dad would be excellent.  

When you first posted, i have to say i was very disturbed by their behavior.  I think you should consider yourselves blessed to be gone from there.  There may be much more going on there than meets the eye.

these people sound like a couple of asshats.

I would give it a few days to simmer down, wait until you are no longer in the moment, before pursuing anything.

But what a couple of jerks.

If someone had done that to MY WILLIE (who is 2 and a half) I would have lost it on them.  Mamabear pissed.

Reading your diary, the thing that really gets me is how they told you on the Sunday before your child's last week that you would not have childcare for the week.  That is completely WRONG; what if your husband couldn't stay home, and you all couldn't afford the week (considering you already paid for it)?  

I would definitely report them b/c they do sound kind of creepy; and, depending on how much money it is, take them to small claims court.  They can't say they are allowed 5 days vacation per child; that would be ridiculous.   They are just pissed at you and trying to make your life miserable.  Well, maybe its time to make their lives a little more miserable.:)  I like the threat letter -- tell them you want a refund or you'll be contacting your lawyer and exploring options.  Maybe say how much emotional distress these events have caused you and your child.  

Or, like the other posters said, maybe letting it go is the best way, you don't want to let the daycare jerks consume your life.  Just depends on how much extra time and energy you have to pursue it!:)