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Ok, so a little back story first. I typically only care for 2 families at a time, so my group is always small. I had pre-schoolers for a while, then they got older and went to school...during the summer before they left, I got in a 2.5 month little boy. He's been with me since and he's now almost 10 months (wonderful, wonderful family...I want to clone them 
).
A little while later, I got in another little girl about the same age. That didn't work out. Payment issues, no communication, not sticking to their schedule...long story there. Anyways, termed them. I had started looking to fill the spot, a little hesitantly as I was about 5-6 months pregnant at the time. I figured to a new family that could be tough with all the extra appointments and 1-2 weeks off around the birth...but, I thought, well, doesn't hurt to have the ad up.
I got a family in that I thought was going to be a great fit. Mom interviewed twice, her husband came on the second visit...asked lots of great questions, were friendly/upbeat, and their boys (they were just looking for the younger one, another baby...the older one was in school) were good, well behaved kids. I thought, great! This looks like it's going to work out well...no red flags!
Or so I thought...
They said they would need about 4 days a week and that mom always got out of work by 4, putting pick up time at 4:30 most days. Once and a while dad would pick up at 5. First it turned into 2-3 days, picked up at 5:30 each time (by mom). Then the week after, 1-2 days, late pick up times again. Mom got slightly annoyed that he wasn't eating as much as he did at his old daycare or napping as long (well, when he's had no time to get used to it here that does not surprise me). Anyways, the following week it was just one day. I had cut them some slack on it up until this point because they "assured" me it was because of the holidays.
Then...the following week, I break my wrist, and have to cancel to go to urgent care. I keep them updated, saying what happened, and that I'll be in a cast for 6-8 weeks. They don't send him for the rest of that week and I get on text on Sunday asking when he can come back. Now this confuses me because I never said he couldn't come. But ok, maybe I needed to clarify that, my mistake. So I sent a text saying he was welcome to come back, the only thing I couldn't do would be to take all 3 boys (my 2.5 year old, and the two babies) outside. Just wasn't going to happen (it's also Jan. and very rarely warm enough to take babies out anyways).
I figured a not so good response was coming because this is a mom who wanted him to go outside every day, regardless of weather (yeah, not happening). I didn't get any reply back. No response, no email/text clarifying if they were coming back or not. Annoyed me to say the least...then today (2 weeks since I had heard from them), I get a text from them saying "Hope your wrist is feeling better, could C come this week?" Uh, it's been 2 weeks since I heard anything from you?! Really?!
I had a feeling they were "shopping around" and trying out a few different places (which is why I'm guessing he was only here a few days out of the week) and clearly, neither parent has been staying home with him this whole time so they have someone else watching him. I do offer drop-in care, IF that's what a parent signs up for. They have not.
I'm not feeling at all respected by this family and honestly pretty annoyed with them. But, I could take their little guy, and set them up on a drop in care plan instead...I do have space right now, and I'm not going to fill the spot (full time) until after the baby is born. So technically, I could take him. I'm just not sure I really want to after all of this. I don't know, what do you think?
Oh, I charge daily, and they don't pay if they're not here. If that makes a difference. I will say this was the LAST family I have on that type of payment plan. I really wanted to be able to offer it because it helps parents out and it's a huge selling point (plus it's worked out really well up until these last two families...the one I termed, and this one.
After this, never again).
). A little while later, I got in another little girl about the same age. That didn't work out. Payment issues, no communication, not sticking to their schedule...long story there. Anyways, termed them. I had started looking to fill the spot, a little hesitantly as I was about 5-6 months pregnant at the time. I figured to a new family that could be tough with all the extra appointments and 1-2 weeks off around the birth...but, I thought, well, doesn't hurt to have the ad up.
I got a family in that I thought was going to be a great fit. Mom interviewed twice, her husband came on the second visit...asked lots of great questions, were friendly/upbeat, and their boys (they were just looking for the younger one, another baby...the older one was in school) were good, well behaved kids. I thought, great! This looks like it's going to work out well...no red flags!
Or so I thought...
They said they would need about 4 days a week and that mom always got out of work by 4, putting pick up time at 4:30 most days. Once and a while dad would pick up at 5. First it turned into 2-3 days, picked up at 5:30 each time (by mom). Then the week after, 1-2 days, late pick up times again. Mom got slightly annoyed that he wasn't eating as much as he did at his old daycare or napping as long (well, when he's had no time to get used to it here that does not surprise me). Anyways, the following week it was just one day. I had cut them some slack on it up until this point because they "assured" me it was because of the holidays.
Then...the following week, I break my wrist, and have to cancel to go to urgent care. I keep them updated, saying what happened, and that I'll be in a cast for 6-8 weeks. They don't send him for the rest of that week and I get on text on Sunday asking when he can come back. Now this confuses me because I never said he couldn't come. But ok, maybe I needed to clarify that, my mistake. So I sent a text saying he was welcome to come back, the only thing I couldn't do would be to take all 3 boys (my 2.5 year old, and the two babies) outside. Just wasn't going to happen (it's also Jan. and very rarely warm enough to take babies out anyways).
I figured a not so good response was coming because this is a mom who wanted him to go outside every day, regardless of weather (yeah, not happening
). I didn't get any reply back. No response, no email/text clarifying if they were coming back or not. Annoyed me to say the least...then today (2 weeks since I had heard from them), I get a text from them saying "Hope your wrist is feeling better, could C come this week?" Uh, it's been 2 weeks since I heard anything from you?! Really?! I had a feeling they were "shopping around" and trying out a few different places (which is why I'm guessing he was only here a few days out of the week) and clearly, neither parent has been staying home with him this whole time so they have someone else watching him. I do offer drop-in care, IF that's what a parent signs up for. They have not.
I'm not feeling at all respected by this family and honestly pretty annoyed with them. But, I could take their little guy, and set them up on a drop in care plan instead...I do have space right now, and I'm not going to fill the spot (full time) until after the baby is born. So technically, I could take him. I'm just not sure I really want to after all of this. I don't know, what do you think?
Oh, I charge daily, and they don't pay if they're not here. If that makes a difference. I will say this was the LAST family I have on that type of payment plan. I really wanted to be able to offer it because it helps parents out and it's a huge selling point (plus it's worked out really well up until these last two families...the one I termed, and this one.
After this, never again
).
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