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

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

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