Scheduled Interview-How Long Do You Wait **NEED QUICK ANSWER LOL**

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

What does she mean by "how I keep the other kids from her and how did I keep them separate"?

Is her husband afraid the other kids will----oh no no no-----touch little precious? I don't understand this (unless it's illness or bad behavior related). Does he know centers are allowed higher ratios?

Oh sorry, I didn't realize it was an infant, must have been posting at the same time....

Uhhh exactly. I would pass on that family no matter what just because of that comment.

I cannot guarantee complete separateness nor would I want to.

[Annalee]

Interview done. I asked her as she came in if she got lost and she says "oh no not at all". Have no idea which way this will go. She said that she's also on a waiting list for a center. Her husband was working, so he didn't come, but she said his concern was how I keep the other kids from her and how did I keep them separate. I told her that it's all about supervision and the kids don't leave my eyesight. She mentioned that he had said to her, how do you know they're not watching tv all day. I do have a husband and 2 kids, so I told her that sometimes they may come here in the morning and Good Morning America might be on the TV, but it does not mean that I'm sitting watching it, that my husband does live here and he may be watching it. Who knows. We'll see.

I don't like when a parent, mom or dad, doesn't come but the parent interviewing keeps saying what the parent NOT THERE is worried about That is a red flag for me!!!!!! The things the mom said the dad was concerned about was probably her concern, not his.

[lovemykidstoo]

I don't like when a parent, mom or dad, doesn't come but the parent interviewing keeps saying what the parent NOT THERE is worried about That is a red flag for me!!!!!! The things the mom said the dad was concerned about was probably her concern, not his.

Exactly. Lots of red flags with this one.

[TwinKristi]

Some people just have no idea. They really don't know much about parenting a 6wk old let alone 6-8 children of all ages plus our own. How do you keep the kids away from her? Hmmmm, maybe you're right there caring for the children and wouldn't allow it. LOL "Where will she be when you're changing everyone else's diapers or washing hands and prepping/serving food?" would be a more appropriate question I guess.

[Lucy]

Maybe you said, but I assume this is their first child? Are they fairly young? Mid 20's-ish?

Please put yourselves in their position. This is their first experience with a baby. This is their first experience putting a baby in a virtual "stranger's" hands. Maybe their baby is the first in both families, and they don't have any frame of reference for how childcare works. Maybe they've heard stories of negative childcare situations and they're just being diligent. Maybe they just wanted to see how you'd react and respond to the tougher questions -- to see if you came across like you have a plan and have your stuff together, or if you just stammered and stuttered out your answer.

I don't know.. I just think (PLEASE, no offense to anyone!) that you're all being a little too hard on them. Just my opinion. YOU (not speaking of anyone in particular here ) have done this for years and years. YOU know that you are a safe environment for all your clients' kids. YOU know that their baby will receive the best care that you are capable of giving her. But THEY don't know ANY of that.

I don't blame them AT ALL for asking the tough (or even dumb) questions. Maybe the questions came off as "duh... I'm not going to let the toddlers maul your baby!!", but they're just trying to set their minds at ease and make sure they have the BEST care for their baby. Who wouldn't want that???

Heck, I had a mom 15 years ago who asked "You don't shake them, do you?" Yes, it's a silly question, but I really can't blame her for being scared. First babies are rough!!! Oh, and I watched the baby for 13 years!!! Still friends with them.

[lovemykidstoo]

Maybe you said, but I assume this is their first child? Are they fairly young? Mid 20's-ish?

Please put yourselves in their position. This is their first experience with a baby. This is their first experience putting a baby in a virtual "stranger's" hands. Maybe their baby is the first in both families, and they don't have any frame of reference for how childcare works. Maybe they've heard stories of negative childcare situations and they're just being diligent. Maybe they just wanted to see how you'd react and respond to the tougher questions -- to see if you came across like you have a plan and have your stuff together, or if you just stammered and stuttered out your answer.

I don't know.. I just think (PLEASE, no offense to anyone!) that you're all being a little too hard on them. Just my opinion. YOU (not speaking of anyone in particular here ) have done this for years and years. YOU know that you are a safe environment for all your clients' kids. YOU know that their baby will receive the best care that you are capable of giving her. But THEY don't know ANY of that.

I don't blame them AT ALL for asking the tough (or even dumb) questions. Maybe the questions came off as "duh... I'm not going to let the toddlers maul your baby!!", but they're just trying to set their minds at ease and make sure they have the BEST care for their baby. Who wouldn't want that???

Heck, I had a mom 15 years ago who asked "You don't shake them, do you?" Yes, it's a silly question, but I really can't blame her for being scared. First babies are rough!!! Oh, and I watched the baby for 13 years!!! Still friends with them.

I think that you are not far off on your comments. I guess what started a negative opinion is first of all being late and secondly, if dad had so many concerns, why did he think it not important to be there. Yes he was working, but she could have scheduled a time for him to be there too. She also had questions about my husband because he is self-employed. She wanted to know how much he was working from home. I was also bothered by the fact that she kept mentioning the center that she was on a waiting list for. She said she was going to call and see how far back on the list she was. This kept bothering me because i felt like last ditch option and the second they called her, she would be gone.

[Thriftylady]

I think that you are not far off on your comments. I guess what started a negative opinion is first of all being late and secondly, if dad had so many concerns, why did he think it not important to be there. Yes he was working, but she could have scheduled a time for him to be there too. She also had questions about my husband because he is self-employed. She wanted to know how much he was working from home. I was also bothered by the fact that she kept mentioning the center that she was on a waiting list for. She said she was going to call and see how far back on the list she was. This kept bothering me because i felt like last ditch option and the second they called her, she would be gone.

I would be offended also. I get the new parent thing, but I always figure if they are showing signs of not trusting me or not really wanting their kids to be here, I am not going to enroll them. I just don't like not being trusted. I also would hate feeling like the last ditch thing and then knowing that I was going to get the boot when the desired spot opened. Not saying it wouldn't happen anyway but don't keep rubbing it in.

[Lucy]

I think that you are not far off on your comments. I guess what started a negative opinion is first of all being late and secondly, if dad had so many concerns, why did he think it not important to be there. Yes he was working, but she could have scheduled a time for him to be there too. She also had questions about my husband because he is self-employed. She wanted to know how much he was working from home. I was also bothered by the fact that she kept mentioning the center that she was on a waiting list for. She said she was going to call and see how far back on the list she was. This kept bothering me because i felt like last ditch option and the second they called her, she would be gone.

I would be offended also. I get the new parent thing, but I always figure if they are showing signs of not trusting me or not really wanting their kids to be here, I am not going to enroll them. I just don't like not being trusted. I also would hate feeling like the last ditch thing and then knowing that I was going to get the boot when the desired spot opened. Not saying it wouldn't happen anyway but don't keep rubbing it in.

Yes, I get what both of you are saying. But we need to realize that the way it comes off to US is from our experience with multitudes of interviews over many years. This is their FIRST time. They don't know the protocol. They don't know that certain questions or statements might offend you or put up red flags, and are therefore "taboo".

In terms of the center vs. home daycare... I think a lot of people would assume and believe that a commercial center would be more accountable. In other words, there are many employees who see what the other employees do on a daily basis. At a home daycare, there is usually just you. No accountability in some parents' eyes. And I'm sure they've heard stories of home providers who watched tv and ate bon-bons, or sat the kids in front of cartoons all day. I'm not surprised by a general mistrust of private home daycare. I think it's a very valid concern, and one that should be brought up. Also, the parents don't think about licensing. They don't know what we went through to get ours, nor what we go through to keep it. If they knew what we know, they wouldn't need to ask those questions. But they simply don't know.

Listen, I'm not trying to defend or validate their feelings. I just try to give people the benefit of the doubt and see things from THEIR perspective. No offense to anyone at all. Honest! I took a chance on the skittish mom who asked if I shake the babies. LOL. She was my best and favorite client, and the baby, as I mentioned, is now grown up, a freshman in high school, and still a great friend. There was an issue when the girl was about 3 yrs old where the dad got really upset thinking I wasn't upfront about an outbreak of lice. (I won't go into the story, but I did everything I was supposed to do). And the mom, although she tried to be "understanding", pretty much went along with dad on the issue. It stung, but I overlooked it and it all turned out fine.