How Do You Read Potential DCFs?

[Josiegirl]

Aside from obvious red flags, are you always pretty good at reading your interviews and getting the right vibes on who you accept? Do you make a lot of errors in judgement and take on seemingly nice clients, only to realize a week later you made a huge mistake?
I know most, if not all, of us use a trial period which allows us to let them go. But let's face it, that's not always the easiest thing to do. Completely doable but not always easiest.
So I guess I'm wondering if there are certain 'types' of families you tend to go with or shy away from?
I'm just curious....

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

Yes I have bad judgement!!!

[hope]

Yes I have bad judgement!!!

Haha! I love this! I always tell DH that I am the worst judge of character. I can only admit it to him though.

[midaycare]

I'm a good judge of character. One of my gifts. The only mistake I've made so far is helping one of my friends. Never again.

[Sugar Magnolia]

I was thinking about this earlier, in regards to nannyde's post today. I think my judgment has improved over the years. I tend to look most at stability....how stable does the prospective family seem? Steady job, good environment at home, etc. And the basics, like not crazy. ::

I agree, I do have a trial period in my policy, but it's tough to make that call sometimes. I'm currently probably over extending a trial period right now. ::

Great question though! Good post, Josiegirl.

[nannyde]

I have gotten really good at it. I ask a lot of non daycare questions. I don't really care about their parenting style. I'm more interested in their work history and family background. I like folks attached to the land. I like parents who were raised on the farm and in farming communities. I like college educated and managers.

I like foodies.

I don't care if they are attachment cosleeping ebf nipple attached 24/7 sling worn etc. It's hard on the baby but not on me.

I don't care for the gifted in parenting newbie parent. There's no such thing. They are tough to settle down.

I had one mom who would send me child care research. I would respond with assuring her I had already studied that. She would send more. I started sending her my blogs and threads from daycare boards from years ago where I wrote about her info. Still she kept educating me.

I had to have a heart to heart with her and explain that for every month she was a mom I had a DECADE of experience. Ten years for every month. She told me that things change and she wanted me to be updated on new research. I agreed things change but my longevity in the business showed that I took this job seriously and assured her that I do hundreds if not thousands of hours of research a year.

She told me she was a gifted newbie parent. Those exact words. She also had a job that required a ten hour day plus two hours of transport. She was away from her baby for twelve hours a day minimum. The Dad did all drop and pick ups.

I could not get past the idea that she devoted so much time researching baby care but it never dawned on her that her baby needed her to care for her. The baby kept her up most of the night and she couldn't figure that out.

So the overconfident parent is one I shy away from. I like the ones who study to learn but not the ones who believe they are experts with their first few week old baby. It's ok to go into parenting accepting that skill in parenting has to be earned by actually caring for your kid notby biology or books aabout babies.

[LysesKids]

It's like my one mom... she has to be right about everything because she read it on the internet (baby is just going on 6 months) and my 32+ years of experience as a parent, grandparent & provider, is trumped by her research... Ok, but somewhere down the line we are going to really bump heads (we do now, but not to point of termination yet) and you will be sent packing.