I updated my contract for 2010, since I've taken on a couple of new kids. I asked my existing families to read over and sign the new one, and neither family gave me any trouble about it. Well, now I know why! The last Mom dropped off the signed contract today and went off to work. I looked it over, and she has hand written all of these "qualifiers" all over the entire thing! For instance, we often walk to local parks in the neighborhood - there's one that we have to drive to, but it's still only about a mile away and we don't have to leave the neighborhood (ie, go out onto the highway) to do it. My contract states that I'll give notice for any trips OUT of the neighborhood (that may happen once per year if at all). She CROSSES IT OUT and hand writes "I require notice of all trips regardless of distance". Um...excuse me? You require, do you? She literally means that she wants us to call her anytime we leave the house, even if we're walking to the park that's 500 feet from the back door. Where is this lack of trust coming from? We haven't had any problems the whole year before now.
Am I overreacting here? This has really hit a nerve with me this morning, and I'm glad that she was gone before I read over the contract, because I probably would have said some things that I'd regret later. As I said, we've not had any previous problems, Mom and child are great, and they always pay on time. I'd hate to lose them over this, but would YOU confront her with this? I just feel that I spent three months creating MY contract, and as she is NOT my employer, she has no right to qualify MY contract.
Am I overreacting here? This has really hit a nerve with me this morning, and I'm glad that she was gone before I read over the contract, because I probably would have said some things that I'd regret later. As I said, we've not had any previous problems, Mom and child are great, and they always pay on time. I'd hate to lose them over this, but would YOU confront her with this? I just feel that I spent three months creating MY contract, and as she is NOT my employer, she has no right to qualify MY contract.
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