Oh No....What Should I Do??

[daycare]

SO I have been interviewing for my fall spots the last two months. Lots of great potential families. I have already contracted 4 of them and have only 2 spots left. (yes I have that many kinders leaving me this year)

Well, I interview with a woman who lives around the block from me. Super nice family, she's a school teacher and has a child under 2 that she wants full time care for come fall. Well I told her spaces where a first come first serve. I filled those spots first with other families and I recall sending her an email telling her this.

Well, a few days ago I have an interview with another teacher family. Again super nice, wants early pick up, sounds really good, only PT. Child is over 2 and I could take this family. BUT she tells me that the other DCM from above refereed her to me. She said oh it would be great to have out kids attending the same childcare....

I didnt say anything, but as soon as the interview was over with the second teacher family I look through all of my emails to see if I can find the email where I thought I told the first teacher family that I didnt have space for her child come fall due to age. I can only have 3 kids under the age of 2.

I can't find the email and I have not talked to the DCM with the child under two and from the sounds of it, she's telling her other friend her kid is coming here. She never told me this and has not reserved a spot, because I don't have one to offer her anymore.

UGH...I don't know what to do now.....should I email her and tell her this?

[mrsnj]

Since she didn't reserve the spot or even bother to contact you confirming she wanted the spots, I wouldn't stress over it. Send her an email stating that you interviewed the friend and she mentioned she might be coming and that you have filled the spot since she did not contact you and you can put her on the waiting list if she is interested. Let you know......

First come first serve. You told her that. Don't be upset. Just reconfirm incase there was a misunderstanding.

[daycare]

Since she didn't reserve the spot or even bother to contact you confirming she wanted the spots, I wouldn't stress over it. Send her an email stating that you interviewed the friend and she mentioned she might be coming and that you have filled the spot since she did not contact you and you can put her on the waiting list if she is interested. Let you know......

First come first serve. You told her that. Don't be upset. Just reconfirm incase there was a misunderstanding.

I stress too much over still stuff

[LK5kids]

I would react the same way!! It is in a way a good problem.....too many great families wanting to come to your center!happyface

I almost overbooked too. It can get confusing. I have a group of part-timers and that can really be a juggling act!

That's why it's great to be able to come here and have people "talk us down".

[daycare]

I would react the same way!! It is in a way a good problem.....too many great families wanting to come to your center!happyface

I almost overbooked too. It can get confusing. I have a group of part-timers and that can really be a juggling act!

That's why it's great to be able to come here and have people "talk us down".

I made an excel spread sheet thinking it is fool proof.... umm no.

very true. I need to be talked down sometimes or just need to confirm what I already thought I knew....

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I honestly wouldn't do anything. If you don't reserve a spot when it's necessary then you aren't going anywhere, KWIM??? That's a weird expectation for a person to have.

If she approaches you in the future I would apologetically say that the spot is filled. She didn't reserve the spot so you had no choice but to fill it with someone who would reserve the spot. Kind of a "duh" sort of thing you would think parents would get.

[daycare]

I honestly wouldn't do anything. If you don't reserve a spot when it's necessary then you aren't going anywhere, KWIM??? That's a weird expectation for a person to have.

If she approaches you in the future I would apologetically say that the spot is filled. She didn't reserve the spot so you had no choice but to fill it with someone who would reserve the spot. Kind of a "duh" sort of thing you would think parents would get.

of course she calls me today to tell me they want full time.....AND of course her friend wants part time. So now I have to think about it... BOth want the spot, neither has put a deposit yet, but FT takes priority...

[TheGoodLife]

of course she calls me today to tell me they want full time.....AND of course her friend wants part time. So now I have to think about it... BOth want the spot, neither has put a deposit yet, but FT takes priority...

Can you take the first family with the DCG being under 2? If so, I'd say FT.

[Cradle2crayons]

of course she calls me today to tell me they want full time.....AND of course her friend wants part time. So now I have to think about it... BOth want the spot, neither has put a deposit yet, but FT takes priority...

I thought one of them was under two and you couldn't take an under two? Or am I confused ??

[KIDZRMYBIZ]

I tell families at the beginning of an interview that I will be reviewing potential clients until such-and-such date, and will be prepared to offer the position to the family with the best fit for my program by such-and-such date. That way I don't have to feel pressured to commit after I talk with someone for only 5 minutes and they say, "This is great! We'll take that spot!" I also feel it lets them know that I am not desperate for their business (even if I am!) and agree to anything they suggest.

That isn't helpful now though, I know.

Idt you owe either family anything at this point. Neither has signed a contract nor given you a deposit. Most adults understand those basic functions of any service business. I feel like you can offer the spot to whichever one suits you more, with a deadline for them make the commitment or the spot will be offered to someone else. I would make sure to mention the work friend's inevitable disappointment, "I enjoyed meeting so-and-so. It's too bad I don't have room for both of you. I will definitely get in touch with her if anything changes here."

[daycare]

Oh that's the other thing she wants to wait 2.5 months and at that time child will be 2
But normally my Max hold is 2 months.
So do I extend it two more weeks for a FTer or stick to my policies and say no and take the PT kid who is already 2 an will start in August ?

[Scout]

I say offer to hold the FT spot for 2 1/2 mos for your holding fee and then full tuition for the other two weeks of it and see if she would still be interested. If she is-great since it is FT. If she isn't at least you have a PT family to fill it! I would always want the FT over PT so that I have consistency in my day!

[boysx5]

I always take a deposit and until I get that there is no spot