"I Don't Understand How People Do This!"

[SilverSabre25]

How do you respond to comments like this, especially when it is said BY an interviewing parent DURING an interview. I'm like, "hello, if you don't think anyone can do this WHY ARE YOU HERE WASTING MY TIME."

I find especially that I get this comment from people who are interviewing with me and are NOT going to sign up. As in, I'm not sure I've ever signed someone up after they've said that to me.

How do you respond? I usually go for a smile and something along the lines of "Oh it took practice but now I'm so used to the crowd that it feels strange when it's just a couple of them!" or "Patience, practice, and a lot of routines!"

but....gah! WHY. Go away if you don't think a person can watch six kids at a time unless they are an underpaid, inexperienced, uneducated worker at a center

[DaisyMamma]

I always thought of it as a compliment.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

How do you respond to comments like this, especially when it is said BY an interviewing parent DURING an interview. I'm like, "hello, if you don't think anyone can do this WHY ARE YOU HERE WASTING MY TIME."

I find especially that I get this comment from people who are interviewing with me and are NOT going to sign up. As in, I'm not sure I've ever signed someone up after they've said that to me.

How do you respond? I usually go for a smile and something along the lines of "Oh it took practice but now I'm so used to the crowd that it feels strange when it's just a couple of them!" or "Patience, practice, and a lot of routines!"

but....gah! WHY. Go away if you don't think a person can watch six kids at a time unless they are an underpaid, inexperienced, uneducated worker at a center

I say something VERY similar. I always tell them if I have less than 7 children here (since I normally have 10-12) it feels like no one is present and I enjoy the group.

I have always taken it as a compliment, too, and them acknowledging that they CANNOT do it! But, I also have people sign up who say this all the time.

[SilverSabre25]

I used to think so too until I realized that it's usually said incredulously and not exactly...nicely.

[Heidi]

How do you respond to comments like this, especially when it is said BY an interviewing parent DURING an interview. I'm like, "hello, if you don't think anyone can do this WHY ARE YOU HERE WASTING MY TIME."

I find especially that I get this comment from people who are interviewing with me and are NOT going to sign up. As in, I'm not sure I've ever signed someone up after they've said that to me.

How do you respond? I usually go for a smile and something along the lines of "Oh it took practice but now I'm so used to the crowd that it feels strange when it's just a couple of them!" or "Patience, practice, and a lot of routines!"

but....gah! WHY. Go away if you don't think a person can watch six kids at a time unless they are an underpaid, inexperienced, uneducated worker at a center

"which is why, you'll note, I'm pretty picky about who I enroll, and how I run my program. On that note, how does Jr. go to sleep?"

[sharlan]

"I can't understand how parents can work and leave their children with strangers."

That's what I say in my head when someone tells me they don't understand how people do this. Most of us are basically strangers to the kids when we first start watching them.

I appreciate working parents, they allow me to stay home and still pay my bills. I tried working and nearly had a nervous breakdown.

[craftymissbeth]

An acquaintance once said "ugh, fun " when I told her I opened a daycare. Uh, yeah, it is fun. Rude is never a necessary option.

[Blackcat31]

I would say something like "Yes, it can be difficult but then again I don't understand how people can have children and then leave them with someone else 3/4ths of their lives."

Clarification: I would ONLY say that in response to someone rudely stating the comment to me.

I would NEVER just say that to other parents.

[spinnymarie]

I say, 'compared to my kindergarten classroom of 25, this is a breeze!'

[Play Care]

I used to think so too until I realized that it's usually said incredulously and not exactly...nicely.

I agree. It's clearly NOT meant as as a compliment. That and "I don't know HOW you do it!" And "I could NEVER do what you do!"
Raising children is considered boring and tedious and many parents can't be bothered to do it

[Chellieleanne]

I just say it isn't meant for everyone. It takes a special person to deal with little brats all day! Ok I don't say brats haha but seriously not everyone can handle being around infants/toddlers or preschool kids all day long. And even some parents can't handle their own kid for a day let alone a weekend when they are off work. I take it as a compliment because that is basically what it is. They are admitting that they cannot handle caring for their kid so they need someone to do it

[crazydaycarelady]

I get that a lot too and not just from interviewing people. from everybody. I usually just say "It's not for everybody but we have a really good routine so it works.

[Sugar Magnolia]

How do you respond to comments like this, especially when it is said BY an interviewing parent DURING an interview. I'm like, "hello, if you don't think anyone can do this WHY ARE YOU HERE WASTING MY TIME."

I find especially that I get this comment from people who are interviewing with me and are NOT going to sign up. As in, I'm not sure I've ever signed someone up after they've said that to me.

How do you respond? I usually go for a smile and something along the lines of "Oh it took practice but now I'm so used to the crowd that it feels strange when it's just a couple of them!" or "Patience, practice, and a lot of routines!"

but....gah! WHY. Go away if you don't think a person can watch six kids at a time unless they are an underpaid, inexperienced, uneducated worker at a center

]
Silver!?! Gah!! I know you don't mean all center workers.....

I am with you though, I don't like this line either. It depends totally on the tone in which it's asked.

[Bookworm]

I've heard this several times over the years. It depends on which parent says it it can go either way. Parents who meant it as a compliment are usually the ones who spend lots of time with their kids. I respond by telling them that having parents that support me makes it easy. The other parent, i wish I could tell them that it's hard "raising your child" for almost all of their awake time because you don't seem to want to do it. Sometimes I wish I could have a serious Come to Jesus meeting with a lot of parents.

[MCC]

I always respond by asking them what they do for a living, then I tell them I could never do that job. Different strokes.