Higher Prices Attract Bigger Problems???

[cheerfuldom]

YES!!! I call it the hmm....HMM. High Maintenance MOM.. IF they make me say Hmm at any point during the interview, I say

NEXT!!!

awesome, LOL. I would call it the All American Mom...not as fun as a hmmmm but it is just that classic mainstream self absorbed first time mom of middle or upper income. I know a lot of these moms. they all drive me crazy

[cheerfuldom]

just yesterday I had an interview with a mom that basically disagreed with all of my polices, hours of operation and so on. She offered me $600.00 more a month to do things her way.

The Blackcat and MV in me took over thank god and I said I am so sorry but my polices, hours and what not are not negotiable. THanks for coming by.

NEXT!!!!

wow. she just needs a nanny at that point. why interview when you know nothing there would work for you? pretty snobby to figure that throwing money at the issue will solve everything, yikes

[Blackcat31]

Yeah, I don't think the higher rates have anything to do with it.

I think it is just the next generation of parenting.

The ONLY parents from this generation that aren't entitled, high maintenance moms/dads and TRULY understand and value how to properly raise a child are never going to be clients because they are child care providers.

[daycare]

Yeah, I don't think the higher rates have anything to do with it.

I think it is just the next generation of parenting.

The ONLY parents from this generation that aren't entitled, high maintenance moms/dads and TRULY understand and value how to properly raise a child are never going to be clients because they are child care providers.

you made tea come out of my nose....I had to clean my screen before I could type....

[BABYLUVER21]

Has anyone else had experience with higher rates attracting higher maintenance families/babies?

Ever since I considerably raised my prices, I've had a string of intense rage babies and high maintenance families. With the higher price, I keep getting babies who have never been in a PNP ever, babies who sleep with their mom, babies who have never been to daycare before, babies who scream ALL day.

The price also seems to have brought me higher maintenance mothers. Mothers who text constantly, want to know every detail, and seem to worry constantly.

These babies are not laid back easy going personalities. Is it really because of the price??? And if so, is the higher price worth it?????!

Seriously, it's miserable!

I have to say I found that with the LOWER income moms this to be true! The ones on state assistance.

Most of them would want me to take on very very attached children, and acted holier-than-thou parents, driving fancy cars, getting hair/nails done, getting very nice clothes, and putting make up on while their child was at their leg itching for mom to pick them up! They would also be the WORST at texting or calling for no real reasons! They'd try to drop off earlier than scheduled or come later than scheduled, and much more.

I had one mom who "never" had any money, and was on FS and state child care subsidy yet EVERY MORNING (against MY wishes) would bring her 2 children mcdonald's breakfast MEALS. I know those are not cheap! (We're talking the full meal including chocolate milk and everything) EVERY single day. The first week, she gave me an excuse she was trying to get used to her schedule. But by the 2nd week, I had her wait outside w/ her kids to finish because my OTHER dck's got upset that they couldn't eat mcD's too!

My regular cash payers were not like this.

And once I raised my rates, then I had parents acting like they ran my daycare. Sorry, parents, I was the captain of my daycare ship! The higher-paying ones would be the ones to leave w/o notice too. One year, I took a 3 day "vacation" (I had a procedure done and parents had 1 months' notice which ALL parents confirmed they were able to arrange days off PAID by their employers so it was "not a big deal") and ONE set of parents (2 kids) got so mad at me. I had NEVER ever taken a single day off since they had started 1 1/2 yrs before. Next thing you know, dc lady down the street called me and said "Hey, aren't S & L your kids?" I said yes why? She said "Because they just called me for setting up dc to start Monday!" I call out the parents and the explanation was that it was bc I took "too much time off" (and they didn't plan on even talking to me about it ever!) Well, they would find out they wouldn't like the other dc lady bc she took 2 weeks off each summer and 1 week off spring break every single year. My dc lady friend said she felt that the parents were a bit deceptive and that they tried to go behind my back instead of letting me in on that they were looking for other care, and that after telling her I took so much time off (really 3 days is not that much time off!!!!) she felt that they would do the same thing to her.

So they take the kids to another provider we both know (hey it's a small town!) and sure enough, that dcp had same issues. Eventually, mom burned so many bridges, she had to quit her job because no one would take those kids.

I think it's just the personality of some people feeling entitled to control EVERYTHING.

[SilverSabre25]

I'm betting that there may be a range...with my lower rates, I got crap clients that were hard to deal with and didn't care. Now I've successfully raised my rates (all of $20) and my clients at the higher rate are AMAZING.

[nanglgrl]

When I had average rates/hours/policies I attracted more clients who didn't appreciate me and were more difficult. My rates are still average for the area because I didn't change them but
I did change my hours (close at 3:30 instead if 5:30) and I take more paid time off. All of the clients I have had since making these changes has been awesome!