Who would you choose?

[Baby Beluga]

I am legally license exempt and have 4 positions in my DC for children, one of who is my own. Technically I could have 5 but 4 seems to be my magic number.

Currently enrolled I have:
My own DD who is 2.5
DCB is who 2 and full time
DCG who is 3.5 and full time
DCG who is 3 and occasional drop in

DCG who is 3.5 has been here 4 weeks and her mother is nothing but trouble.
-DCM constantly picks up late after closing (despite my $1/min fee)
-I have had to call the sheriff's office on her
-DCM is constantly asking to change her schedule
-DCM changed her number w/o telling me
-DCM never brings supplies without numerous reminders
-DCG is no where near be potty trained and she smells. Not like she hasn't had a bath, but mom sprays her with perfume despite me asking her not to.

I am terming 3.5 DCG. I will also be terming my occasional drop in when I find a full timer to take her place.

I have three interviews this week.

Family A: two adopted children (have not met kids yet). Mom interviewed last night and is wonderful! So sweet and kind. Loved my set up, house, me and we seemed to have very similar personalities. She read all my policies and doesn't have an issue with any of them. Boys are 17 and 24 months. Mom and Dad are both teachers. My only concern with them is that mom said there is a 50% chance she will not teach next year so they will only need care until the end of May. Pick up time will be around 4:30/4:45.

Family B: Interview tonight. Mom seems friendly over the emails. Boy is 4 and that's all I know so far. Pick up time will be around 4:45/5:00.

Family C: Interview is Wednesday. Mom seemed very nice but also very concerned. Boy is 3 and has only stayed with family so far...has never been in a daycare or preschool setting. Pick up time will be around 5:30.

Based on this limited info, who would you choose? I really like family A, my only concern is that I will have to replace two kids in the summer. But, as we know with childcare enrollment changes all the time.

[TheGoodLife]

I'd go with A, then B, and then maybe C.

[Dilley Beans]

The 4 year old will only need FT all day care until September when school starts I suspect so the first two are fairly similar in their shorter than 1 yr need.

With just this info I would keep my occasional drop in kid and take the 2 knowing I might need to replace these two in 6-8 months. Is the occasional care child is easy enough to care for to keep? Don't term them unless they are difficult if you can have all the kids there at the same time.

[Baby Beluga]

The 4 year old will only need FT all day care until September when school starts I suspect so the first two are fairly similar in their shorter than 1 yr need.

With just this info I would keep my occasional drop in kid and take the 2 knowing I might need to replace these two in 6-8 months. Is the occasional care child is easy enough to care for to keep? Don't term them unless they are difficult if you can have all the kids there at the same time.

That was my thought too and one of the questions I have for mom this evening.

My drop in kid is a piece of cake, I began caring for her when she was 15 months. If I keep her I will occasionally be at 5 kids which is okay in my state, it's just out of my comfort zone as my child is like 6 children wrapped into one

I do fully realize I am putting the cart before the horse in this situation though. None of these parents could turn out to like me!

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I have found that any time a Mom is entertaining not returning to work, she 99% of the time does not return to work. So, I would say that I could almost guarantee that A would only be with you until May.

I really enjoy having kids for 1 year before they go to Kinder. If their parents are irritating then I only have a short time to go. If they are terribly behaved, again only a short time to go. If I enjoy them then it refreshes me. So B sounds great to me.

My "with family" kids are usually quite difficult as they transition in. Of my current group, 2 were like this. One took his first 10 months here to transition in. I dreaded him coming back after the summer (teacher mom), and to my surprise he has been WONDERFUL. One took her first 3 months here and she is still testing me at times 8 months later. I enjoy them, but they were more work.

[daycarediva]

I have found that any time a Mom is entertaining not returning to work, she 99% of the time does not return to work. So, I would say that I could almost guarantee that A would only be with you until May.

I really enjoy having kids for 1 year before they go to Kinder. If their parents are irritating then I only have a short time to go. If they are terribly behaved, again only a short time to go. If I enjoy them then it refreshes me. So B sounds great to me.

My "with family" kids are usually quite difficult as they transition in. Of my current group, 2 were like this. One took his first 10 months here to transition in. I dreaded him coming back after the summer (teacher mom), and to my surprise he has been WONDERFUL. One took her first 3 months here and she is still testing me at times 8 months later. I enjoy them, but they were more work.

OH YES!

Although with your younger crew, this may be an issue. I pair my 4's together, 3's together. 4's can be wild, especially boys.

I don't like taking sibling sets. It puts all my financial eggs in one basket and what if I don't click with one kid but love the other? Plus, they don't have the kids yet? and she may decide to stay home sooner. Going from 0-2 kids and working is hard. Most adoptive parents I know take time off after the adoption to adjust to new life.

Last one- meet him/her. I find this personality/dependent. I had one around 2 only cared for by family do great, and one around 3 cry for the entire trial. Later pick up is a downside though.

[Baby Beluga]

OH YES!

Although with your younger crew, this may be an issue. I pair my 4's together, 3's together. 4's can be wild, especially boys.

I don't like taking sibling sets. It puts all my financial eggs in one basket and what if I don't click with one kid but love the other? Plus, they don't have the kids yet? and she may decide to stay home sooner. Going from 0-2 kids and working is hard. Most adoptive parents I know take time off after the adoption to adjust to new life.

Last one- meet him/her. I find this personality/dependent. I had one around 2 only cared for by family do great, and one around 3 cry for the entire trial. Later pick up is a downside though.

Sorry, I should have clarified better. They do have the kids, they fostered them prior to adopting. One child's adoption process is already complete and the second child's adoption process will be complete the first week of December. She is currently working as a teacher and has been since she began fostering the children. The children are currently in a center and mom is not happy with the care they are providing. I have no doubt that she will not want to go back next year though so I am only counting on them through the end of May. The plus side of this is that if I know they are leaving I can begin advertising early.

With that said I emailed mom regarding her son who's adoption won't be complete until April. I am legally license exempt, and emailed mom this morning with a couple of questions regarding this and the legalities of a technically not adopted child yet. She said she cleared it with the case worker prior to our interview and all is okay. She also told me, although I did not ask, that the biological parents of the boys know no information about where they live, who the adoptive parents are, etc. She is also very very interested in her boys being in my care. She keeps telling me how I surpassed all her expectations and they really hope I am able to enroll the boys.

I had an interview with the 4 year old last night.The boy seemed nice, but is allllll boy. So many things came crashing down while he was playing. He also kept belching. Now I realize that is pretty age typical....but I don't want habits like that rubbing off on my 2 and almost 3 year old. Mom also mentioned that he is at currently a center. The center gives homework each night and mom seemed very into that and him doing worksheets. I do a preschool curriculum but I am hands on and there is no way I am making homework for him to take home. He also will be leaving in August to attend K. I have to admit I am also a little iffy on naps. Mom didn't come right out and say "he doesn't nap" but she did have a look when I was explaining nap time to her.

[Play Care]

I had an interview with the 4 year old last night.The boy seemed nice, but is allllll boy. So many things came crashing down while he was playing. He also kept belching. Now I realize that is pretty age typical....but I don't want habits like that rubbing off on my 2 and almost 3 year old. Mom also mentioned that he is at currently a center. The center gives homework each night and mom seemed very into that and him doing worksheets. I do a preschool curriculum but I am hands on and there is no way I am making homework for him to take home. He also will be leaving in August to attend K. I have to admit I am also a little iffy on naps. Mom didn't come right out and say "he doesn't nap" but she did have a look when I was explaining nap time to her.

Next!!!

[Baby Beluga]

Had my last interview last night, potential DCB is 3, turns 4 in March. It was interesting.

While I was showing the family my outdoor play area, one of DCB's sisters accidentally ran into my sliding glass door. Well, DCB thought this was funny so he kept intentionally running into my door! So much so that the chime on the door starting ringing. Mom told him to stop, he didn't listen so she had to grab him by the arm and pull him away from the door.

While explaining my policies I went over my tuition is due 52 weeks per year policy - including closed holidays. When I got to the page that states which holidays I am closed mom asked what my policy was for tuition on holidays. When I re-explained that tuition is still due she didn't seem too happy.

She also said DCB does not nap for her but will nap for his aunt, so she is unsure how he will nap here.

When mom and I first started talking she wanted 5 full time days but then dad asked if I offered half days at the end of the interview :confused:

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

Had my last interview last night, potential DCB is 3, turns 4 in March. It was interesting.

While I was showing the family my outdoor play area, one of DCB's sisters accidentally ran into my sliding glass door. Well, DCB thought this was funny so he kept intentionally running into my door! So much so that the chime on the door starting ringing. Mom told him to stop, he didn't listen so she had to grab him by the arm and pull him away from the door.

While explaining my policies I went over my tuition is due 52 weeks per year policy - including closed holidays. When I got to the page that states which holidays I am closed mom asked what my policy was for tuition on holidays. When I re-explained that tuition is still due she didn't seem too happy.

She also said DCB does not nap for her but will nap for his aunt, so she is unsure how he will nap here.

When mom and I first started talking she wanted 5 full time days but then dad asked if I offered half days at the end of the interview :confused:

I've never had a kid behave poorly for the interview that was not a terror here. Then again, I also don't tend to take kids that misbehave and won't listen at an interview anymore so I don't know if I could ever be proved wrong at this point. ::

Have you decided yet?

[taylorw1210]

I'm rooting for the mom and dad who are teachers with the two adopted kiddos. It sounds like they would be the best fit for you, even though it may be short term. Have you decided?

[Baby Beluga]

I've never had a kid behave poorly for the interview that was not a terror here. Then again, I also don't tend to take kids that misbehave and won't listen at an interview anymore so I don't know if I could ever be proved wrong at this point. ::

Have you decided yet?

I would agree with this.

Yes, I have decided. Overall I think the first family would be the best fit. If they still want to enroll, that means all my parents will be teachers.

[Crazy8]

I'm rooting for the mom and dad who are teachers with the two adopted kiddos. It sounds like they would be the best fit for you, even though it may be short term. Have you decided?

me too! I know mom says 50% chance of not going back, and it could go that way, but who knows, after a summer without the income and 2 little ones 24/7 she may be ready to go back!
I'd take the chance. Around here I get the most calls in the summer looking for care when school goes back so maybe replacing them at that time wouldn't be as challenging as finding kids this time of year???