I just finally remembered the correct username/password combo!! I really need to write this stuff down somewhere...
But today's complaint...why do people think that it is ok to give a 2- or 3-year old gum...and then send them to daycare?!? Why does it never occur to them that it is going to end up carpet/hair/clothes. Even when I say this to them, they give me that blank look. "Oh my child always keeps it in his mouth!" Yeah, right.
And stickers. Not opposed to the occassional sticker coming in on a shirt from the doctor, or even as a potty reward. As long as the child understands that if the sticker comes off the shirt once, or even partially off, said sticker is in the trash and no more will be allowed. However, I once had a child come in every single day with a freaking huge sticker on the back of her hand. Then said child would refuse to to wash her hands because of it. After a few days of that, I mentioned it to mom (dad was the one bringing child in the morning). Guess what never happened again. Of course, the same child shortly thereafter came in with approximately 52 stickers plastered all over her shirt. Guess where I later found about 40 of them...attached to the bathroom wall. Guess who was banned from ever having another sticker at Sophie's again.
Sophie
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Friday, October 7, 2011
Do They Think They Know Better?
You drop your child off at 7:30 in the morning, along with seven other parents. You have no contact with us until you come to retrieve your child at 5:15. You have no idea what our day has been like or what we have already done or not done. So then why is the first thing out of your mouth "oh, I thought you would be doing xyz??
Also equally annoying are the parents who don't bring in the proper outdoor attire as required by the contract, because they didn't think we would be going out that day.
My contract also clearly states that kids are not allowed to bring toys from. But there are always those parents that say oh, "but I thought maybe you'd let him keep this one". Some parents think their child is so special that I will most certainly make an exception.
They most certainly thought wrong.
Sophie
Also equally annoying are the parents who don't bring in the proper outdoor attire as required by the contract, because they didn't think we would be going out that day.
My contract also clearly states that kids are not allowed to bring toys from. But there are always those parents that say oh, "but I thought maybe you'd let him keep this one". Some parents think their child is so special that I will most certainly make an exception.
They most certainly thought wrong.
Sophie
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Dumb Questions
Why is the response to the text/phone call saying "your child just threw up" always get the response of "do I need to come get them"? Would I be calling/texting you if you didn't???
Sophie
Sophie
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
More Interview Warning Signs
Years ago, I took on a family that I thought would be perfect because mom was a former daycare provider. Surely she would understand! Surely for the next year I listened to "well, when I did daycare". It was during that time that I swore I would never take another former daycare provider on as a client.
I have since relaxed that policy, and had wonderful working relationships with two such families. However, this was because I did some careful screening during the interview process.
Recently, I received a phone call from a lady who was looking for spots for her grandchildren. Turns out that the parents were divorced and shared custody, and Grandma was calling for her son (the father). Big red flag - why is Son not calling daycares himself? Grandma goes on to tell me about problems with some of the other daycares THEY have interviewed.
She then began to ask about the fees. Not a red flag. The red flag came when she questioned me about Son having to pay for the weeks when the mom had the children. Well, yes, I explained, he would have to pay for those weeks. Her reply? "Well, when I did daycare..."
I knew very early on in this conversation that Grandma was going to be overly involved, and I learned years ago that this is going to lead to problems with grandmas. I had one grandma in the past that was such an issue that my contract now has a section all about how I only discuss things with the contracted parents, and what my expectations are of grandparents or anyone else picking up the children. I have turned clients down because grandma came with on the interview and I could tell she was going to be an issue. And this grandma having formerly "did daycare", was going to make working with this family a nightmare.
Grandma ended this conversation by saying that she hoped that I would consider the fact that Son is a single dad. I told Grandma that I hoped she would consider the fact that I have a family to feed and house.
Needless to say, this family has not been, nor will they ever be, enrolled.
Sophie
I have since relaxed that policy, and had wonderful working relationships with two such families. However, this was because I did some careful screening during the interview process.
Recently, I received a phone call from a lady who was looking for spots for her grandchildren. Turns out that the parents were divorced and shared custody, and Grandma was calling for her son (the father). Big red flag - why is Son not calling daycares himself? Grandma goes on to tell me about problems with some of the other daycares THEY have interviewed.
She then began to ask about the fees. Not a red flag. The red flag came when she questioned me about Son having to pay for the weeks when the mom had the children. Well, yes, I explained, he would have to pay for those weeks. Her reply? "Well, when I did daycare..."
I knew very early on in this conversation that Grandma was going to be overly involved, and I learned years ago that this is going to lead to problems with grandmas. I had one grandma in the past that was such an issue that my contract now has a section all about how I only discuss things with the contracted parents, and what my expectations are of grandparents or anyone else picking up the children. I have turned clients down because grandma came with on the interview and I could tell she was going to be an issue. And this grandma having formerly "did daycare", was going to make working with this family a nightmare.
Grandma ended this conversation by saying that she hoped that I would consider the fact that Son is a single dad. I told Grandma that I hoped she would consider the fact that I have a family to feed and house.
Needless to say, this family has not been, nor will they ever be, enrolled.
Sophie
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Warning Signs
I recently interviewed a very lovely family. I would have gladly enrolled them into our daycare family. The parents were lovely, the child was well-mannered and well-behaved, and I was quite confident that this family would work out beautifully.
We, however, had one not-so-little issue - they would not be able to pick up by our closing time every day.
I was not willing to budge on this one.
This is not the first time this has been an issue for a family. I once had a parent quit a new job because she didn't realize she would have to be at work until my closing time. She thought she got off a half hour sooner. I have had parents go to their employers and ask to change their work schedule or take a shorter lunch break to work into my schedule.
This family thought they might have a solution, but needed to talk it over and try to work it out. That would be great! I told the family that I was not planning on scheduling any more interviews for the next four days. The spot would still be available to them as long as they called me by the end of the fourth day.
I did not hear from them by the end of Day 4. I was ok with that, figuring that they just couldn't work out the issue. I proceeded to interview a couple more families, and enrolled a child on Day 7.
On Day 8, they called me wanting the spot.
Was I disappointed? Did I consider calling the other family and saying sorry, I can't take your child? Did I get mad at myself for not waiting a bit longer?
No, I felt like I dodged a bullet.
One of the things I look for in a potential client is signs that they will be respectful of my time. I do not conduct interviews during operating hours. I will explain this to a family when we schedule their interview right after my daycare day ends. When a family shows up a half hour early, I take it as sign that they are not respectful of my time. If they show up more than just a few minutes late for their interview without calling, I take this as a sign that they are not respectful of my time. This tends to be something that will continue throughout our relationship.
Because this family was not respectful of the time frame I had set, especially a family that already had the potential of not being able to meet our pickup time, it is likely that they would not have been respectful of my closing time throughout our working relationship.
They were genuinely shocked the spot was no longer available to them. They said they weren't available to contact me before that. However, in the age of cellphones and email, I find that rather hard to believe. Had they even contacted me to say they needed a few more days, I probably would have obliged.
Now...I just feel relief.
Sophie
We, however, had one not-so-little issue - they would not be able to pick up by our closing time every day.
I was not willing to budge on this one.
This is not the first time this has been an issue for a family. I once had a parent quit a new job because she didn't realize she would have to be at work until my closing time. She thought she got off a half hour sooner. I have had parents go to their employers and ask to change their work schedule or take a shorter lunch break to work into my schedule.
This family thought they might have a solution, but needed to talk it over and try to work it out. That would be great! I told the family that I was not planning on scheduling any more interviews for the next four days. The spot would still be available to them as long as they called me by the end of the fourth day.
I did not hear from them by the end of Day 4. I was ok with that, figuring that they just couldn't work out the issue. I proceeded to interview a couple more families, and enrolled a child on Day 7.
On Day 8, they called me wanting the spot.
Was I disappointed? Did I consider calling the other family and saying sorry, I can't take your child? Did I get mad at myself for not waiting a bit longer?
No, I felt like I dodged a bullet.
One of the things I look for in a potential client is signs that they will be respectful of my time. I do not conduct interviews during operating hours. I will explain this to a family when we schedule their interview right after my daycare day ends. When a family shows up a half hour early, I take it as sign that they are not respectful of my time. If they show up more than just a few minutes late for their interview without calling, I take this as a sign that they are not respectful of my time. This tends to be something that will continue throughout our relationship.
Because this family was not respectful of the time frame I had set, especially a family that already had the potential of not being able to meet our pickup time, it is likely that they would not have been respectful of my closing time throughout our working relationship.
They were genuinely shocked the spot was no longer available to them. They said they weren't available to contact me before that. However, in the age of cellphones and email, I find that rather hard to believe. Had they even contacted me to say they needed a few more days, I probably would have obliged.
Now...I just feel relief.
Sophie
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Working with Families
I can work with almost any infant, toddler, or preschooler. I very readily admit that I find the school-age set to be a bit more of a challenge than I am willing to take on. I know my limits, and am very willing to admit to them. Doesn't work for someone? That's ok, I'm not the only game in town. I'm also secure enough to not get offended if someone doesn't feel my program works for them. I've outgrown being a people-pleaser, thank God! I used to think I had to bend over backwards to make my program work for everyone who called my number. Not anymore! I no longer feel guilty if I can't make it work.
Parents, however, are an entirely different story. I know that there are certain families that I will definitely not be able to work with or reasonably be able to get along with. I'm ok with that now, too, and have gotten pretty good at being able to weed them out. I have learned what warning signs and behaviors to watch for during the interview process. I have even learned how to tell a potential client that they won't become an enrolled client. Not easy, rather stressful, but better than a long-term relationship of not easy and rather stressful!
That doesn't mean there are never issues. Most of the time, because of my selectiveness, we are able to work through any issues that arise. With that said, there are things that pop up that aren't exactly issues that really, truly involve the daycare, but drive you crazy anyways. You just can't imagine why they do the things you do. So...you let it go and find a place to bitch about it. Because it really doesn't affect you anyway.
Sophie
Parents, however, are an entirely different story. I know that there are certain families that I will definitely not be able to work with or reasonably be able to get along with. I'm ok with that now, too, and have gotten pretty good at being able to weed them out. I have learned what warning signs and behaviors to watch for during the interview process. I have even learned how to tell a potential client that they won't become an enrolled client. Not easy, rather stressful, but better than a long-term relationship of not easy and rather stressful!
That doesn't mean there are never issues. Most of the time, because of my selectiveness, we are able to work through any issues that arise. With that said, there are things that pop up that aren't exactly issues that really, truly involve the daycare, but drive you crazy anyways. You just can't imagine why they do the things you do. So...you let it go and find a place to bitch about it. Because it really doesn't affect you anyway.
Sophie
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Having It All
Some people are under the mistaken impression that I have it all together. They say how organized I am, but it's usually because they are only seeing one of those little areas of my life that is micro-organized, the one little part that I'm actually willing to let them into. While certain areas of my life and home are beautifully organized areas of totes and neatly placed labels, other parts make me feel like I am one misplaced shopping bag away from being featured on "Hoarders".
I'm told that I'm very good at my job, by people that have the knowledge and authority to be credible in this claim. I'm told by my family and my clients that I am good at my job. Sometimes I feel like it's a smoke-screen waiting to dissipate and that will be the end. I don't feel like I'm that good at my job, but rather just convincing others that I am.
So what is the purpose of this blog anyway? I'm not really sure, I guess we will all just have to wait to see what it evolves into. At this point, I'm thinking it will be a good place to bitch. To whine. It will probably actually become a place where I can make peace with the life that I have built and chosen.
Sophie
I'm told that I'm very good at my job, by people that have the knowledge and authority to be credible in this claim. I'm told by my family and my clients that I am good at my job. Sometimes I feel like it's a smoke-screen waiting to dissipate and that will be the end. I don't feel like I'm that good at my job, but rather just convincing others that I am.
So what is the purpose of this blog anyway? I'm not really sure, I guess we will all just have to wait to see what it evolves into. At this point, I'm thinking it will be a good place to bitch. To whine. It will probably actually become a place where I can make peace with the life that I have built and chosen.
Sophie
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