Why? (Vent)

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  • JoseyJo
    Group DCP in Kansas
    • Apr 2013
    • 964

    Why? (Vent)

    Oh why oh why do I keep accepting families into care that I know are not good fits?

    When DCM/DCG interviewed 6 weeks ago there were lots of red flags and I was going to pass, but DCG's age and interests were a good fit for our program so I emailed DCM about the possible problems, she reassured me not a problem, so I gave them the spot.

    Today they gave notice saying they found a place that was $80 less a month and they are in a financial bind right now. This can't be the real reason as they JUST enrolled DCG in jazz and tap last week!

    I think the REAL problem is that they don't see the value in what we offer and their values are too far off from ours.

    -She really wanted a center (we are a home daycare)

    -She doesn't want field trips (we go on them every week)

    -She wanted to pick up between 2:30 and 4:30 every day, wide open window in the middle of nap (we don't allow p/u during nap so she has to p/u after 3:45)

    -She wanted us to cater to her daughter's picky food habits (we serve what we serve and they can eat or not)

    -She doesn't care about preschool (we have a full preschool curriculum)

    -She is, and is proud of being, a very helicopter mom (we are very much Love and Logic, build up those self-help skills providers)

    -She wants DCG to be "cute" and "girly" all the time in dresses and fancy shoes (we want kids to be comfortable and be able to play and require shorts/bloomers under dresses and walking shoes daily)

    -She would rather DCG never go outside and has said many times that "they" are not outside people (DCG loves going outside as do we)

    -She wants sunscreen and insect repellent on DCG if we step out side even on the porch (but I have been telling her for 2 weeks that we are almost out and yesterday that we were totally out and she still did not bring it)

    Grrr! I feel really dumb- I knew we shouldn't have enrolled them, but I figured if I emailed DCG before and said "Hey, these are a few things I think might not be a good fit, that is the most important thing to us. Here is what you said you wanted, here is what we do. If you choose to enroll her we will be doing it this way and will be unable to do it any other way." She said "Sure! No problem, those ways will be fine" when obviously they are not!
  • lovemylife
    Daycare.com Member
    • Aug 2013
    • 187

    #2
    That's frustrating! I have done the same thing, too many times!!!

    Comment

    • Sugar Magnolia
      Blossoms Blooming
      • Apr 2011
      • 2647

      #3
      Yikes. That's unfortunate. Sounds like you were used while she continued to "shop around". Sounds like she was more concerned about "special" than price. So sorry. :hug:

      Comment

      • Cat Herder
        Advanced Daycare.com Member
        • Dec 2010
        • 13744

        #4
        Originally posted by JoseyJo
        Question: Oh why oh why do I keep accepting families into care that I know are not good fits?

        Rationalization: I think the REAL problem is that they don't see the value in what we offer and their values are too far off from ours.

        Real Answer: I knew we shouldn't have enrolled them!
        My work here is done. ::::::

        It is hard giving up known income for unknown income.

        The flip side is THAT known income will come with known issues. Better to weed the problem parents out first than to let them badmouth your business AFTER you term them.
        - Unless otherwise stated, all my posts are personal opinion and worth what you paid for them.

        Comment

        • Maria2013
          Daycare.com Member
          • Aug 2013
          • 1026

          #5
          you need a hug :hug:

          Comment

          • JoseyJo
            Group DCP in Kansas
            • Apr 2013
            • 964

            #6
            Originally posted by Cat Herder
            My work here is done. ::::::

            It is hard giving up known income for unknown income.

            The flip side is THAT known income will come with known issues. Better to weed the problem parents out first than to let them badmouth your business AFTER you term them.
            The really bad thing is that we almost always have a wait list and we haven't ever had trouble filling spots. I really wanted to get some more girls into our group, and her age was perfect for the ages we have now. We had 2 other options where the parents would have probably been better fits and but child was not as "ideal". Someone said on here the other day "you can train a child but not a parent".

            We have 2 families on wait list now - one 18 mo girl and one 2 yo boy. Both are younger siblings of children who have (or are) attending here and they have great parents. We will probably enroll them and re-vamp our schedule to work with a younger group!

            Comment

            • MotherNature
              Matilda Jane Addict
              • Feb 2013
              • 1120

              #7
              wow $80 is a huge drop! Also, I just don't get the girly girl thing. A cute dress now & then is great, but constantly primping a preschooler/toddler up, especially when there are dirty & messy activities conveys to me something very negative. It instills the preoccupation with how females look at a very early age, especially when her parents are insistent that she not get dirty, and pretty much just sit there and be pretty. Yeesh. Maybe it's just me, but I can't deal with that line of thinking. Sorry they're putting you through that; hope you get someone better.

              Comment

              • JoseyJo
                Group DCP in Kansas
                • Apr 2013
                • 964

                #8
                Originally posted by MotherNature
                wow $80 is a huge drop! Also, I just don't get the girly girl thing. A cute dress now & then is great, but constantly primping a preschooler/toddler up, especially when there are dirty & messy activities conveys to me something very negative. It instills the preoccupation with how females look at a very early age, especially when her parents are insistent that she not get dirty, and pretty much just sit there and be pretty. Yeesh. Maybe it's just me, but I can't deal with that line of thinking. Sorry they're putting you through that; hope you get someone better.
                Thank you! I totally agree w/ the girly stuff. It's fine and all that, but not when it interferes with play. DCG has very fine hair fixed in fancy hairstyles daily that have to take at least a 1/2 hour each morning, and DCM has commented a few times about it being messy @ p/u. She takes a nap! It's gonna get messed up. I redo ponytails and clips after nap if needed, but I am not gonna redo double fishbone french braids or braided topnops And the shoes! DCG has gotten blisters twice now because DCM would rather her shoes be cute than fit well on field trip days

                Oh! And I just looked on the website for the dance lessons she just joined at it is $96 a month just for the lessons. rolleyes:

                Comment

                • JoseyJo
                  Group DCP in Kansas
                  • Apr 2013
                  • 964

                  #9
                  I was just looking through old posts on my parent's blog from when our group was all 18mo-3.5 years. Boy did we have some fun times!

                  Edit: I was gonna post some pics but I am not sure how to get them in the post. :confused:

                  Comment

                  • Blackcat31
                    • Oct 2010
                    • 36124

                    #10
                    Originally posted by JoseyJo
                    I was just looking through old posts on my parent's blog from when our group was all 18mo-3.5 years. Boy did we have some fun times!

                    Edit: I was gonna post some pics but I am not sure how to get them in the post. :confused:
                    Here are directions for posting images and photos

                    Comment

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