Two months out of DC - what to do with daycare

[Anonymous]

Our family will most likely be out of DC two months over the summer and I am not sure what to do with our daycare. Continue paying? Sign out? Feels financially weird to pay 4K+ for a service we will not use. However, will we get a space back in September when we need it again? Get on the waitlist now, but are we already too late?
Have you been in this situation? What did you do?
I have mixed feelings about the center; it ok; no mayor issues. But than nothing extraordinary...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our family will most likely be out of DC two months over the summer and I am not sure what to do with our daycare. Continue paying? Sign out? Feels financially weird to pay 4K+ for a service we will not use. However, will we get a space back in September when we need it again? Get on the waitlist now, but are we already too late?
Have you been in this situation? What did you do?
I have mixed feelings about the center; it ok; no mayor issues. But than nothing extraordinary...

Continue to pay for sure. Spots are limited as there are less daycares and demand is high with parents returning to work.

[Anonymous]

Agreed. You'll regret it if you lose that spot. Consider it insurance.

[Anonymous]

I agree the smart thing to do is simply keep paying to hold the spot.

But I'm a bit confused by your questions because how would we have any idea what the waitlist situation at your daycare is? Or whether you would be able to return in September? Why not talk to the daycare about it, just keeping in mind that obviously they will do whatever maximizes their revenue. But the only way to find out what the potential fallout for unenrolling could be is to talk to your center and find out.

[Anonymous]

Think about it from their point of view. Will they be able to find a family that needs child care for exactly two months when you are gone? For the same age children? I'm sure it's possible but sounds like a risk and a hassle for them. Most daycares a low margin businesses. Some daycares including ours do offer summers off but you specify this when you enroll the previous year. In our case the same company also runs summer camps for school age children so they probably can reallocate staff to that.

[Anonymous]

I would pay for the 2 months. Demand will be high as people return to the office in September.

[Anonymous]

My landlord expects rent when out of town.

[Anonymous]

We're leaving town for July and it never occurred to me not to pay for day care. Honestly. You can withdraw your kid, but there may be penalties depending on your contract, or you may lose your spot.

[Anonymous]

continue paying

[Anonymous]

Don't give up the spot.

Might also give you peace of mind that if you end up coming back home early then you are good to go.

[Anonymous]

I'd pay. We did this for a couple of months earlier this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our family will most likely be out of DC two months over the summer and I am not sure what to do with our daycare. Continue paying? Sign out? Feels financially weird to pay 4K+ for a service we will not use. However, will we get a space back in September when we need it again? Get on the waitlist now, but are we already too late?
Have you been in this situation? What did you do?
I have mixed feelings about the center; it ok; no mayor issues. But than nothing extraordinary...

Well if you can line up something new for september, then by all means stop paying the current daycare. But unless you have a special arrangement with them to take the summer off (I know of cases where teachers were allowed to pull out for the summer) you can expect to lose your spot if you don't pay. You need to ask your actual daycare, not randos on the internet!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My landlord expects rent when out of town.

Yes, you keep paying for the spot. If you don’t you will lose the spot and have to put your name on the waitlist at your current daycare and several others, in case your daycare doesn’t open back up for you.

[Anonymous]

You should also call your mortgage lender and ask if you can not pay for the two months you’re gone. After all, you won’t be using your house.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You should also call your mortgage lender and ask if you can not pay for the two months you’re gone. After all, you won’t be using your house.