I Gave A Parent Notice And Now They Are Badmouthing My Daycare

[countrymom]

I found that when I did an overhaul of my rooms I felt so much better, and the kids loved it so much more. Also, the parents that come here love that its calm and clean and organized.
also, I noticed you didn't mention that you have a contract--I found that by mentioning that I have a contract has eliminated the crazies from contacting me.

[LaLa1923]

weird, I did not get a PM from you.....

I sent it in September.



Hello,

I know you've had assistants, I'm very new to this part of the business. . Would you mind sharing your job description? How much would you pay your assistant? Anything else I should know?

I really appreciate it!!

[My3cents]

I may not be a mod anymore, but I'm still going to say--knock it off. None of you actually seem to KNOW Permanentvacation and you need to leave her alone.

When did you stop being a mod? I feel like I blink and I miss everything sometimes. lovethis

[Familycare71]

Permantvaca,
This is hands down the BEST reply on the thread.
You need to revamp the space, the photos are absolutely unappealing. Is that your entire outside space? The outside needs a major facelift. Your space has great potential, and I bet many of us would love to help.

You only have one child enrolled right now? How old is he/she? A three to five year old child would make an EXCELLENT consultant. I constantly seek the input of my kids in room arrangement, toy selection, etc. I do think the walls need color and decor. The kids art work can be displayed easily. I use magnetic strips and magnetic clips for that. I don't like the plastic.drawers to store toys, open low shelves are way better for ease of.access. I also don't like the dogs shown on the sofa, its kinda gross if kids use that sofa too. I would mention dogs in your ad, I'm sure they are nice, but the photo is detrimental.
YOU CAN BREATHE NEW LIFE INTO YOUR PROGRAM! You need to let the past go and focus on the future. Those people with the bashing, forget about them, karma has a way of.dealing with them. Mean people ****. Put all your focus on improving your space and new photos and ads. Best wishes and hugs!!

.

[My3cents]

To be honest, I was supposed to hear back from two daycare providers near you and they never called back.

Second, my current provider said she would be fine with keeping him. But she just changed her mind today!!

I am working 15 hour days, but yes, I was going to call and see if you were available. I did notice your ad say 1 and up though...

Lala--- I see a perfect opportunity for you to help out another provider if you want. OP- be ready to listen for help and advice to get you started on your way again and in a better place.

I don't have much comments about the rest of it......shock shock but then again I have not finished reading this.

I see tons of red flags here, tons of love, people being people so I am at a loss right now for words on this other then what I have wrote-

happyface to all

[sleepinghart]

~I forgot to say earlier, but I just wanted to add that I have been flagging the CL ad too(yesterday & today) . ~Also, Idk if this will be any help to you at all permanentvacation, but here is a link to an article entitled "10 Ways to Repair Your Online Reputation" but here it is just in case:

http://www.businessnewsdaily.com/1856-online-reputation-repair.html

lovethislovethis

[Heidi]

We were on a field trip this morning, so I missed everything since late yesterday afternoon. Just as well, I think.

Now that I'm caught up, I have to add my 2 cents.

I would take off the old ads, if that's possible. That way, someone looking through won't see one after the other.

Instead of posting your rates, making all the other providers mad because they feel they should dictate them (which is called price fixing and is illegal...ask Tom), I have another idea.

How about you put in your ad "Sliding fee scale". When parents call and ask your rates, tell them "I have a sliding fee scale based on your family income. If you'd like to come for a visit, I can have you fill out an application and I can give you exact numbers. I'm sure we can work it out to make it affordable. Is tomorrow evening at 5 a convenient time for a visit?".

This way, you GET THEM IN THE DOOR to see how wonderful you are first hand, and anyone who doesn't need to know your rates doesn't. If you are on the food program, see if you can use their form. I'm not sure if they'll allow it, but then your dcp's don't have to fill it out 2x. Otherwise, just make a similar one with your own logo (also the same as free and reduced lunch forms).

I would also suggest you tweak your ad, although only because there is so much information there, I only read half. The dog pics I'm 50/50 on. They are cute dogs. The front yard pics I actually thought were cute.

BTW, why can't you use your backyard because it's not fenced, but you CAN use your unfenced front one? That's a weird rule. Wouldn't be the first weird rule. Here, we MUST have a fenced yard of at least 600 sq feet to be licensed. But, we can allow the children to play outside the fenced area. :confused: I'm not complaining...we ride bikes or do sidewalk chalk on the driveway. Still, why make me fence at all then?

Last bit of unsolicited input: Get rid of the money-back-guarantee. You'll end up refunding EVERYONE who wants free daycare for a few weeks. If someone brings it up now, tell them that you've reconsidered it, and are no longer offering it. To make up for it, you will offer them a free week of childcare after 6 months. Don't bring it up unless they do, though.

That's all I've got. I'm glad you're getting some kiddos now. Hope your next few interviews go great!

[My3cents]

Lala,

Oh, okay. I just feel that I deserve to at least be given the chance by parents to meet with them and let the parents see for themselves and truly make up their own mind about whether to hire me or not and not just go by the word of others - especially when the 'others' don't even know me.

If I were you, I wouldn't put my rates on a craigslist add. I would schedule an interview and let a client see what your all about. I agree you shouldn't undercut yourself. Esp if your a single parent yourself trying to make ends meet. I think people here are trying to give you good advice and maybe it is time for an update and new start, you can still help others but also help yourself at the same time. Working and having children means that you will end up paying for childcare. Teach others responsibility by charging what your worth for your services. Programs out there to offset the difference for those truly in need, and when you direct people to those services they often are able to get other helps to make their life better if they truly need that help. I also think you got tons of other good advice.

Best-

[My3cents]

Permantvaca,
This is hands down the BEST reply on the thread.
You need to revamp the space, the photos are absolutely unappealing. Is that your entire outside space? The outside needs a major facelift. Your space has great potential, and I bet many of us would love to help.

You only have one child enrolled right now? How old is he/she? A three to five year old child would make an EXCELLENT consultant. I constantly seek the input of my kids in room arrangement, toy selection, etc. I do think the walls need color and decor. The kids art work can be displayed easily. I use magnetic strips and magnetic clips for that. I don't like the plastic.drawers to store toys, open low shelves are way better for ease of.access. I also don't like the dogs shown on the sofa, its kinda gross if kids use that sofa too. I would mention dogs in your ad, I'm sure they are nice, but the photo is detrimental.
YOU CAN BREATHE NEW LIFE INTO YOUR PROGRAM! You need to let the past go and focus on the future. Those people with the bashing, forget about them, karma has a way of.dealing with them. Mean people ****. Put all your focus on improving your space and new photos and ads. Best wishes and hugs!!

[My3cents]

I found that when I did an overhaul of my rooms I felt so much better, and the kids loved it so much more. Also, the parents that come here love that its calm and clean and organized.
also, I noticed you didn't mention that you have a contract--I found that by mentioning that I have a contract has eliminated the crazies from contacting me.

I was just wondering about this too.....

Contract, handbook, rulebook, policy book. So many good people on here to help you with this. More food for thought is that when you charge what your worth, and set your policy's and act on them you will get more respect from your clients and potential clients, you come across as more professional and with it. Again don't put your rates in your adds, let the clients call you and make an appointment to come and meet you and see what your all about- Best

[permanentvacation]

I have been asked by a couple of people how I can offer low rates and provide everything for my children. I provide Baby Formula, Baby Food, Meals, Snacks, Milk, Juice, Diapers, Pull-Ups, Wipes, and a Preschool Educational Program.

For years, I only provided meals and an educational program. Then I began having parents that would forget to bring their child's diapers, formula, and drop their child off saying that they forgot their children's items and then they would leave and go to work. That left me here with a child who had a diaper or two for the day, some little bit of formula in the bottom the can, basically no supplies because they FORGOT them and went off to work. Then out of the blue, I would have to call my substitute over and run out to buy the items that the parents forgot to bring. After a few times of that, I decided it was less stress on me if I just bought it and knew that I was fully stocked at all times myself. So, that's the reason that I provide everything.

The way I afford it is by writing everything off. Yes, I have to pay for it upfront, but I also write it off as business expenses. I buy the store brand and I buy both diapers and wipes by the case. That saves a little money. By writing off everything, in the end, it pretty much balances out.

The preschool educational program: I use a lot of hands-on items that are reusable for the course of many years. Such as the plastic counting teddy bears, puzzles, games, beads with letters on them that you put on a string. They are made to last for years, so they are in just a good of shape today as they were years ago when I first bought them. These things I bought years ago and are not a continuous expense for me.

I also bought my curriculum books a couple of years ago. I mix a couple of ideas from the different curriculum books and create my own curriculum. I used to buy a boxed curriculum. But that was fairly expensive and it was more of a cookie cut type curriculum. I played around for a while with creating my own curriculum and found that it is much less expensive, and I can gear it and tweak it to match my current children's interests and abilities much better than buying some pre-made curriculum. So, my curriculum really just costs the price of paints, glue, paper, crayons, and things like that which are fairly inexpensive.

Also, no one really knows my expenses. And not that it is anyone's business, but since so many are concerned with my income and expenses, I will answer your questions as to how I can afford to do what I do on low rates. First of all, I typically run with 6 to 8 kids (When I had to close for surgery, I had 7 daycare kids) at $80-$120/week and am on the food program which with 8 kids, pays me about $200/week. So lets say I have 8 kids at $80/wk, that give me $640/week and then add the $200/week food program on, I would make $840/week. (Now, lets look at this on the low end. Lets say I offer care at only $50/week and only have 4 kids. That's $200/week plus $100/week from the food program. Which totals $300/week. That is still a little over what a typical employee working at a retail job brings home. They make an average of $8/hour times typically max of 35 hours/week which totals a gross of $280/week! Yeah, I'd rather offer lower daycare rates and bring in $300/week than have to work at a retail job all day long to bring in a gross of $280.)Then, I also go to college and get loan money from that, and my ex-husband pays me child support which covers my house payment. If I need him to, he will pay other household bills for me. For example, he paid my all of my bills for me when I was off work for surgery. I pretty much just covered the gasoline in my car (which by the way he gave me a couple of years ago and is completely paid off) and I paid for things like toiletries. He also pays for anything my children need - shoes, clothes, money for going to the movies, pizza for sleepovers, etc. So, not that it is anyone's business, and I certainly don't see anyone else laying out their personal/business income and expenses here, but there you go. That's how I can afford to live off my income - with help from college loans and the ex.

Why does the ex pay for things for me that most exes wouldn't pay for and why do I let him? Probably because we both know that he is the reason we are divorced - he did a few things wrong in the marriage and wasn't the best husband or father. I think being the financial provider is the only way he knows how to be a husband or father and I think he's trying to make up for past mistakes by doing the only thing he knows how. I let him because I would rather be home taking care of my personal children than leaving them home alone and having to take on 2 or 3 jobs. Allowing him to help pay for things has allowed me to be home with my children to monitor them and parent them rather then leave them at home all evening /weekend while I worked. He and I have discussed me working more to relieve him of paying some of my bills. But we both would rather that I be here for our kids and him provide financially whatever we as a family need above what I receive as income from one job.

However, in a couple of years, after my youngest (now 15 1/2 ) is 18, he will not be willing to help me, and I am fine with that. So, I have about 2 years to get my ducks in a row to be able to not need to lean on him financially. Which is partly why I have started going to college for accounting. So by the time he stops helping me, I will have a college degree in accounting which will hopefully help me raise my income. I also have been for a few years slowly working towards earning my degree in Early Childhood Education. I keep thinking that I should speed the Early Childhood Education classes up so that by the time my daughter's 18, I could have both degrees! Oh, and I take my Early Childhood Education classes through Penn Foster Online College. You never have to leave home and go to a college. I am earning my Accounting degree through Baltimore County Community College and am doing my best to take as many classes as possible online. So I am home even though for my children even though I am working towards both degrees. I typically begin my schoolwork at 9pm (that's when my daughter goes to bed and household is completely quiet. I have no distractions from children, the phone, or my dog!). I finish my schoolwork typically around 1 am. Then get up at 6:30am to get ready for daycare. Of course, I work on my schoolwork throughout the day on Saturday and Sunday. Sunday, I also try to go to church - not as often as I should, but I try to get to church every couple of weeks.

So, there you go, there's my life in a nutshell.

So, that's how and why I provide what I provide on a low income level.

[My3cents]

We were on a field trip this morning, so I missed everything since late yesterday afternoon. Just as well, I think.

Now that I'm caught up, I have to add my 2 cents.

I would take off the old ads, if that's possible. That way, someone looking through won't see one after the other.

Instead of posting your rates, making all the other providers mad because they feel they should dictate them (which is called price fixing and is illegal...ask Tom), I have another idea.

How about you put in your ad "Sliding fee scale". When parents call and ask your rates, tell them "I have a sliding fee scale based on your family income. If you'd like to come for a visit, I can have you fill out an application and I can give you exact numbers. I'm sure we can work it out to make it affordable. Is tomorrow evening at 5 a convenient time for a visit?".

This way, you GET THEM IN THE DOOR to see how wonderful you are first hand, and anyone who doesn't need to know your rates doesn't. If you are on the food program, see if you can use their form. I'm not sure if they'll allow it, but then your dcp's don't have to fill it out 2x. Otherwise, just make a similar one with your own logo (also the same as free and reduced lunch forms).

I would also suggest you tweak your ad, although only because there is so much information there, I only read half. The dog pics I'm 50/50 on. They are cute dogs. The front yard pics I actually thought were cute.

BTW, why can't you use your backyard because it's not fenced, but you CAN use your unfenced front one? That's a weird rule. Wouldn't be the first weird rule. Here, we MUST have a fenced yard of at least 600 sq feet to be licensed. But, we can allow the children to play outside the fenced area. :confused: I'm not complaining...we ride bikes or do sidewalk chalk on the driveway. Still, why make me fence at all then?

Last bit of unsolicited input: Get rid of the money-back-guarantee. You'll end up refunding EVERYONE who wants free daycare for a few weeks. If someone brings it up now, tell them that you've reconsidered it, and are no longer offering it. To make up for it, you will offer them a free week of childcare after 6 months. Don't bring it up unless they do, though.

That's all I've got. I'm glad you're getting some kiddos now. Hope your next few interviews go great!

I only have so many slots/spaces that I am allowed to have so I need to have a reliable dependable income so that I can do what I do- I would not offer a sliding fee. I would assess each client as the need came upon, but would set my fees to be in line with what everyone else is charging and take into consideration what your worth and what you need to run your program.
I would never offer free daycare- I work to hard to give free. I take that back. I do offer a free night out to the parents around Christmas but that is a gift from me to them not really free. I agree with the poster that said when you set your rates way low it effects other providers. Help out individuals as the need comes to your attention when it comes to your attention and only if you can afford to yourself.

Good luck-

[permanentvacation]

Many of you are do not live in my area and do not know the general population's income level here. This is a very diverse area with many people who are barely making it financially. Yes, they can get on vouchers. But I have no desire to take vouchers. I'd rather make less money and get cash in hand than wait for weeks/months to get paid. Sometimes only to find out weeks later that you will not be paid by the vouchers because the parent didn't fill out some paperwork. Meanwhile, you have been watching her children and apparently will not be paid for your services. I had that happen. So I decided cash in hand works for me rather than vouchers.

I think that each child, no matter what their parent makes as income, deserves a good, loving, safe, quality, educational, fun place to go for childcare. I don't see anything wrong with having daycare rates that are diverse to match the population's diverse income brackets.

[permanentvacation]

My front yard does have a fence. If you look at my Craigslist post from October 18th you will see a pic with the front fence. But showing the fence made it harder to see the items. So I took the pic of the fence out of my ads after that.

[Heidi]

My front yard does have a fence. If you look at my Craigslist post from October 18th you will see a pic with the front fence. But showing the fence made it harder to see the items. So I took the pic of the fence out of my ads after that.

Oh, ok! Makes sense. I just looked at one ad.

So, how do you think it would work to advertise "sliding fee scale"?

I totally get what you're saying about your area. I lived in a similar neighborhood in Madison. Very diverse culturally, lots of single and low income families. My sister still lives there, and has been providing daycare for 23 years there now.

I think it's kind that you're offering lower rates for people who can't afford more. The only thing I'd change is how you go about it. IF YOU WANT TO! This way, people don't easily take advantage, and you don't piss off the other hens in the henhouse. ::