Blew Me Off...Now What?

[MarinaVanessa]

Seriously?

Obviously "they" (the people who wrote that article) are inconsiderate louts. It's a private home, and it's Saturday. Have some sense, people!

The authors I believe should made a distinction about when it is appropriate to do this ... for example, at a center it might be easier to do this but I don't believe that it's appropriate at all for a family child care home. Even then in a center usually they have a particular person who gives the tours, usually an administrator or one of the teachers. The day could possibly be scheduled so that this person is relieved or has the time for this interview for that particular time slot. Arriving early even to a center might sometimes mean that the person giving the tour may be unavailable.

As for Family child care ... these are our own private lives. My family for one is very active. If an interview came 55 minutes earlier than scheduled it could be possible that I wouldn't be home, was in another interview or was busy doing something else around my home ... like enjoying my family time .

In that sense though I also think that an adult should also be able to take these things into consideration before they show up early to an interview even if they read somewhere that it is ok to do so if it's family child care KWIM.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

A no-call/no-show is enough for me to turn and never look back. It's a complete disrespect for your time. I don't care what the excuse is/was, I wouldn't allow her to waste another minute of your time with her nonsense.

Absolutely. Clients that I HAVE taken on after a no call/no show in the beginning were absolute nightmares to have.

I highly advise against doing this.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

Schedule interviews for specific times. I do not reschedule late shows or no shows.

I also do not care for children whose parents live or work extremely close to me. If the relationship ends badly I don't want to deal with/see that person every day. I also don't want to see that they are home/not at work when they should be

RUN!

I always let a client know that their interview time is reserved just for them and to please give me x amount of hours notice if they are unable to make it. Late arrivals or a failure to give adequate notice will result in me not rescheduling. It's worded nicer, but I make SURE they know this.
I once had a Grandma come to interview instead of the Mom because the Mom couldn't make it and couldn't give notice in time and she wanted her child to attend here. ::

[My3cents]

i had a mother speak with me in walmart about how she supposedly waited at my daycare for five hours and i wasnt there. i didnt let it get to me because my phone numbers are on the window and she could have called....and i know she didnt actually wait at my door for five hours. so she tells me about the children and the hours she needs...and i figured lets set an interview up so i can meet children. so i set it up for any time between 7:30am and 10 am on monday...here is a block you can come at...nope...no show. i see her tuesday afternoon and she didnt acknowledge me so i got over it. her boss sees me today and says she will be right over in a few minutes...she needs you to take kids tomorrow. um...we have no paperwork filled out...i have no shot records...i havent met kids...and im not interested in doing drop in business with this woman. so...a couple hours after seeing her boss...she shows....at nap time. i didnt open door but help up three fingers indicating when i would open door. so...she may or may not come back. she works ten feet away from the day care...so we are bound to cross paths regardless. none of this chnges the fact that she blew me off on monday and that i dont feel comfortable caring for children i have never met and that she tells me have special needs...possible adhd and autism. wwyd if she camr back and asked for care tomorrow...no kids in tow...?

red flags everywhere on this one

[My3cents]

to be honest im new...so im still learning ropes. no she didnt have an appointment when she supposedly waited for five hours. the vague block of time was me being an idiot i know that. im terrible when put on the spot and i had my children with me and i was shopping and she wouldnt give me an answer and i let it all get the best of me. the whole thing was odd. i know i should be setting specific times. im still trying to build my back bones as well as my interviewing skills.

your in the right place....

start with having a good policy/rule/hand book and contract. Put that together so that you know how you operate.

Always schedule an interview. I feel they work best after hours because then you can devote your time to the client and not be interrupted plus your not bringing just anyone into your home that you don't know around the other children in your care. Never wait more then 15 minutes for a show and then move on if they don't. Things happen but at this point your best advice is to not take on a client that can't value your time

Welcome and good luck...........read these boards a wealth of information at your fingertips.