Major Miscommunication Possibly Lost Parent Her Space...

[Angelwings36]

I had an interview last Wednesday with a potential client that was looking for a full time space for her daughter to start in April 2012. She was a teacher so the hours she needed where Monday - Friday 8:20am - 4:00pm. I LOVE, LOVE teacher hours! In the interview I gave her my parent handbook, my deposit and holding fee form, the child information form and a teacher form for her to fill out and return to me if she chose to take the space.

For teacher families I offer July and August at a 50% discount. This is a new thing for me. I know I should be charging full price but not enough providers in my area are doing that yet and I LOVE teacher hours and don't mind having less kids in the summer so I thought this would work for now. I also stipulated that children are not allowed to come during any times that the school is closed unless pre arranged with me for an additional $5/hour. This would help to supplement the lose over the summer months.

Dcm sounded extremely pleased with everything and came by yesterday at 3:00pm to drop off her deposit and holding fee for the month along with all of my forms. At that time she let it slip that she only needed care for April, May and June because she is waiting for the daycare next door to have a space available for her daughter.

I told her that I do not accept temporary children. It is too much 'extra' on my end. First off I interview for the space I have open, then I transition in a new 12 month old child, then I have to re-interview 3 months later for the same space and re-transition in a new 12 month old child again.

Dcm said she didn't realize this. Why she had not told me she only wanted a temporary space to begin with completely baffles me! I also cancelled the interview I had that afternoon because I was under the impression that the space was filled as she set up a time with me to drop off the deposit.

Dcm asked me if she could have a night to make a decision. I said yes, but I am going to try to uncancel the interview that I had for this afternoon and I can not guarantee that my space will be available by tomorrow.

Would you have done the same given the situation? Would you even consider taking this client on now? Maybe she will say that she has decided to only commit to my daycare just to get the space and give me notice in June? Thought?

[MarinaVanessa]

I would have done the same as you. This is something that I personally fear also when I'm doing interviews. First of all, I hate doing interviews. It's so tedious and nervewracking. There's also a lot of work for me to sift through the initial emails and phone calls to try to weed out the bad apples blah blah blah etc. I always ALWAYS ask during the first initial contact (whether by email or telephone) whether they are looking for temporary or long-term child care. But you always get the ones that tell you they want permanent and let it slip later than they really only want temporary. Blegh.

[MrsB]

I would call the family that you cancelled the interview with and say that it turns out the other family wanted temporary care and you would rather fill with permanent and see if they can reschedule the intervew.

You could tell the original family if you haven't filled the spot within a week or so, then they could start at the original agreed upon date with the understanding that if you are able to fill the spot permanently you will give them 2 weeks notice.

[daycare]

I learned to start asking this question to all families during the interview. I won't do less than a 6month commitment. ANd that is only for part time families.

FOr full time I am looking for at least a year.

Of course, we can't tell if it is going to work or not until we get past 30days of care.

[cheerfuldom]

I would let the DCM know your concerns (that she will just start with you and then leave you high and dry in a few months) and then re-do her contract to include whatever necessary to keep her from committing if she intends to leave you in a few months. Such as committing to the three months full price care and three months half price care for the next six months.....if she leaves sooner than that, she is still agreeing to pay for that full six months. Thats just an idea but if she is really going to leave, she will never sign anything like that. If she isnt going to leave, she wont have a problem signing.

on a side note, the reason she didnt care about paying half price for the summer was because she wasnt planning to be with you that long.

[Blackcat31]

I would call the family that you cancelled the interview with and say that it turns out the other family wanted temporary care and you would rather fill with permanent and see if they can reschedule the intervew.

You could tell the original family if you haven't filled the spot within a week or so, then they could start at the original agreed upon date with the understanding that if you are able to fill the spot permanently you will give them 2 weeks notice.

I like this idea.

[Christian Mother]

I would of done exactly as you did. Feel confident that you did well in your this decision. I'll be honest with you...I two have a teacher among my group and this family was my first family to take in. They have ashually been more hrs more work. Don't get me wrong this family is like family and I love them dearly but I've not done what you have stipulated in your contract that you make sure the family does not use days the school is closed. In this I am never able to take a day off for my self or vacation bc this family uses every possible time they can. Just this week (We are on spring break) and she said that she would only need me W-F. Late Sunday night I get a message they will ashually need me on Monday too. I message I was very sorry but I already allowed another child who has a sibling come that day since she already told me she would not need me and could not back out on this family. She was very understanding and said she would still see me M-F. Thank goodness! But, you have a very nice set up to set your times and such as you have bc this family doesn't get to really see much of the kids even when there is a break I have them. I love the kids but I have learned from this experience that I will put stricter rules on teacher parents.

Also, I would love to see your contract on teacher parents. I think that will help me also help parents that are teachers spend that much needed time with their children specially when they are in daycare 50+ hrs a week.