With What Issues Are You the Weakest?

[CityGarden]

My weakness is in marketing.... I do not like marketing my program and meeting new parents.

[Unregistered]

My weakness is in marketing.... I do not like marketing my program and meeting new parents.

I was just going to say the same thing! I hate meeting new parents. The longer I do this the more particular I am about choosing good families to work with. Also, it is awkward and sadly there are not many parenting parents these days either.

[MyAngels]

My weakness is in marketing.... I do not like marketing my program and meeting new parents.

Me too, and the older I get the worse it gets.

[Unregistered]

My weakness is in marketing.... I do not like marketing my program and meeting new parents.

This and meeting anyone new. Like if mom tells me great aunt Ida is picking up. I feel like they want me to feel like a queen just arrived. Just take your great niece/nephew and go. I can't fake being happy/nice/interested. A mom pulled her daughter after I didn't do a backflip for a new haircut. Um, you got it cut due to everyone in your house having lice. I hate running into families, current or past, outside. I once made friends with the relatives of a past family and she revealed the grandmother of former daycare kid said "She is good with kids, but mean" about me. XD

[Unregistered]

Me too, and the older I get the worse it gets.

I'm #19. I refuse to have a site or do facebook. I'm not taking pictures of kids either. That's fr the families.

[nanglgrl]

I’m not good when I’m put on the spot. I have to be ready and have thought my arguments through and what I want or need to say. So when a dcp puts me on the spot asking for some kind of favor or special treatment sometimes I accidentally give in or say yes because I’m not ready to be mean. Idk if that makes sense? Lol I then kick myself for not thinking faster, ugh. I’ve been told the word “no” is a complete sentence but it’s hard to say it sometimes!!

“Let me get back to you on that!” Best thing I ever learned to say.

[nanglgrl]

I’m weakest at interviews. Thankfully I only have to do them every few years as a lot of my kids are around the same age. Basically I have one year where I don’t usually have any openings, the next where one half of the group leaves for school and the next year where the other half leaves for school.
I tend to come across very “my way or the highway” to potential clients and while that is true I have a hard time sugarcoating or smiling and nodding. For instance, if you come to me telling me that your 16 month is potty training/doesn’t need naps/is a genius I can’t just smile and nod and let myself assess the situation once the child is in my care. I will immediately basically do a “heck no” and go on a “tirade” about what I will and will not do and the facts concerning the issue at hand.
I guess I do the same when actual clients come to me with things I think are sheer ridiculousness. However, I don’t know if I would change this. I tend to get great clients with the same views on parenting as me or who at least respect me enough to trust my point of view and experience.

Ah..another weakness..responding to after hours texts about things the parents can just google or are things that don’t need addressed. I don’t mind helping with issues, I’m glad they come to me, however, it takes a lot of my time some days.

[Baby Beluga]

I hate interviewing and am terrible at it. I am not a sell yourself person. It feels awkward to do it and it comes across as awkward.

I also believe people too much. And when I know they are lying I have a hard time calling them out on it.

I draft too many different versions of emails/notes/etc trying to find the perfect balance between business and friendliness.

I over explain. And when I catch myself over explaining I tend to not explain at all. Again, weakness with balance.

[ardeur]

I too often let the little things slide because I'm fearful of seeming petty. And then it'll bite me in the butt. Like the dcg who I let bring toys from home when that's against policy. Then one day she left pennies on the floor for the baby to get. Had no idea she brought them. Now I'm firm about that policy.

Another was when I let dcg bring in her pbj. Found out later that a dcb has a peanut allergy. Reminded me why I have a no outside food policy. Thankfully nothing happened to dcb but it's now made me stand firm.

And I get caught off-guard by requests that go against my policies. I'm not good when I'm put on the spot. I've been known to text later with my apologies for not being prepared with an answer and then I remind them of my policies or fees.

[grandmom]

I’m not good when I’m put on the spot. I have to be ready and have thought my arguments through and what I want or need to say. So when a dcp puts me on the spot asking for some kind of favor or special treatment sometimes I accidentally give in or say yes because I’m not ready to be mean. Idk if that makes sense? Lol I then kick myself for not thinking faster, ugh. I’ve been told the word “no” is a complete sentence but it’s hard to say it sometimes!!

Response: "Let me think about that and get back to you."