I Need A Manager

[jokalima]

LOL! I really need to do something here, I really **** at facing parents, there is that family that owes money that I've been talking about and I just don't have what it takes to tell them personally about it ( until Monday )

Now there is this other Mom that when she dropped in the am she understands some Spanish and speaks a little to, so she says something in Spanish to her little boy that is totally unacceptable. I think she thought she was being funny but for me it really was not, but again I don't know how to say "please don't say that in my house" I am really, really, but immensely bad at this job of dealing with people.

[Blackcat31]

LOL! I really need to do something here, I really **** at facing parents, there is that family that owes money that I've been talking about and I just don't have what it takes to tell them personally about it ( until Monday )

Now there is this other Mom that when she dropped in the am she understands some Spanish and speaks a little to, so she says something in Spanish to her little boy that is totally unacceptable. I think she thought she was being funny but for me it really was not, but again I don't know how to say "please don't say that in my house" I am really, really, but immensely bad at this job of dealing with people.

I know it is hard to have to say things but in this job you HAVE to learn how or you will get walked on by your clients.

How about breaking down the problem... let's discuss the mom who said something inappropriate.....

Why exactly are you afraid to say something about what you find acceptable or unacceptable in your home? Are you afraid the DCM won't like you? that she will say something back to you? that she will quit? that she will laugh at you?

You have to know WHY you are nervous/afraid to speak up as only then can you solve the problem. Would the situation have been different had she said the same exact words to your child? how would you have handled that? what makes that situation different? (If you say because it is YOUR child, then you need to view the DCK when in your home as YOUR children).

You can't fix something if you don't know why it is broken....kwim?

If you are worried that this DCM will laugh at you or will quit, is it really worth letting her disrespect you so much? If you are worried that she will think badly of you for being firm, what if you realized she thought badly of you for being a push-over and being too nice?

Does this make sense? You have to know why you feel afraid to speak up so you can address it. Start small by giving verbal "generic" statements to parents. Such as each morning, say to them "Don't forget I need more diapers or _______ (fill in the blank) by tomorrow". Start small and pretty soon you will find constructive ways to say things without even thinking about it. This sounds cheesy, but seriously start practicing what you would like to say to parents when you are alone in front of a mirror. Speak to your image as if you are the parent you want to talk to. Pretty soon the words will be so easy to say that you will ahve no trouble blurting out "Hey Judy, don't forget that your bill is due at pick up today and since you were late on Tuesday, you also owe me the late fee."

Parents WILL respect you and treat you more professionally if you act that way. Parents WILL follow your rules if you uphold them.

I promise. I used to not always be so forward (I know right? LOL!) but I learned to be and since I learned to speak my mind without worrying about what others thought, I suddenly became a better business owner. I haven't advertised in many years, I have had a waiting list for several years now and I have clients that come recommended from other clients who have kids that aged out, I haven't had a late payment in a loooong time and best of ALL I lovethis my job. My parents respect me and work with me and I have a wonderful relationship with them and the children I have in my program.

I think bottom line is if you believe in yourself, others will follow.

You CAN do this!

[jokalima]

You put me to think, the only thing that comes to mind is I don't want no one to feel bad because of something I say. If it was my child I would not be happy, I think that is what I did not like, my child is in the stage where they repeat everything, I don't want him thinking that is OK to say that.

Now that I think about it, I don't understand or I don't want to understand these people ( is the same family always ) It has not been the 1st time she does this, 1st times I let it pass thinking that the kids were to little to repeat, but inside of me I knew it was not right, the thing is that my husband put it in this way to me today, how would it sound if I go to your house and say " bleep, bleep" in English? What is the difference? So after discussing it with my husband, what I am going to do is tell them I don't want my child saying or hearing those words so please don't say them in my house. Do you think this family does all of this on purpose?