Annoyed

[cheerfuldom]

I am just annoyed here and venting. I have one opening and have been talking to a family for a bit. It seems like a good fit and they already read all my parent info. We were set to interview with a start date in mid Aug. Now their current provider is giving them the boot earlier than agreed. According to them, it is because the provider wants to take her kids swimming and the daycare mom agreed to activities away from the house but not swimming so now they cannot come to an agreement over this one issue which seems a little weird to me and I am thinking I dont have the whole story here. Apparently the daycare provider insists on taking all the kids to swim in a lake???? I thought that was weird for that topic to be a deal breaker when there are plenty of spray parks and pools in the area.

Anyway, they want to start now but I already told them I cant start anyone until August. I have five older preschool/school agers this summer and two toddlers and those older kids are going insane at home. Three days a week we are out doing things and running around to keep them busy otherwise they, and more importantly I (ha ha) will most certainly go crazy. There is no way I am going to get stuck at home managing an infant on two naps and more than likely, screaming for the next few weeks of transition plus bottle feeding and all that comes with infant care.

I am willing to do it once all my older kids go to school or preschool and one will be leaving permanently. I have the room to start them now but I know everyone in the house will HATE the next five weeks. Even if this is an easy baby, which more than likely is not the case, we still would be on baby-time with the napping plus I don't have any baby equipment or baby proof space right now because my youngest is 19 months. I do not want to readjust everyone and everything to accommodate one child but on the other hand, I close at 430 and it is hard to find a full timer that works with that schedule. I am hoping they cant find anyone and end up contacting me again in a few weeks.

The ironic thing is that she contacted me four months ago for care and we had started talking and before I got a chance to interview, they picked someone else and they are having an ugly "breakup" with that provider right now. She told me who she picked (when she originally cancelled the interview four months ago) and I had a feeling it wouldnt work out and they would be back and I was right about that part.

[Blackcat31]

I would stick by your original start date.

I think you'll regret it if you don't.

It also sounds like this family is already asking for special before they even start.

[cheerfuldom]

I would stick by your original start date.

I think you'll regret it if you don't.

It also sounds like this family is already asking for special before they even start.

I know, you are right. This is what happened before too, they made the decision too quickly and now regret it. They already know that I would be a great fit but the cant/wont work out something for a few weeks so I am sure she will be back in another four months. anyway, I have to remember that even though these older kids are high maintenance, I do not want a house full of bored kids for 50 hours a week. They NEEEEED to get outside and active and I cant do that with one extra non-walking child on an infant schedule.

[daycarediva]

I agree with BC. I would say that you don't have the availability until the previously agreed upon date and leave it at that. You're risking losing them, of course.

The current provider story sounds a off, although I wouldn't allow ANYONE to take my infant swimming ANYWHERE with a group of children.

Why were they leaving the provider before the swimming became an issue?

It's just an infant and you will be their second provider, or third?

[cheerfuldom]

I agree with BC. I would say that you don't have the availability until the previously agreed upon date and leave it at that. You're risking losing them, of course.

The current provider story sounds a off, although I wouldn't allow ANYONE to take my infant swimming ANYWHERE with a group of children.

Why were they leaving the provider before the swimming became an issue?

It's just an infant and you will be their second provider, or third?

They are leaving the provider over the swimming issue alone. I personally think there is more to the story but that is what I was told. I would be their third provider for an 8 month old but in their defense, the first daycare closed so they had to move on from that one.