New Clients Making Me Mad...

[blueclouds29]

actually not new... i thought they were going to be......
I have an ad up for a toddler spot since one of my kids are leaving. Well, last week i got an email from a lady that seemed very interested in her son being here. They came to visit one night and she seemed very happy. She called my references and the next day emailed me two questions which i returned with the answers. Never heard back from her.. And she had all the paper work... what a waste of paper that was!!
Then yesterday i got an email from another lady which i called and talked to her and made a time that night to meet. Cleaned the house top to bottom only to have her cancel. She said she would call me today to reschedule... Ummm yeah right..
what do you do in these situations.. I'm so mad at these two for night telling me the truth on why they decided against it. Tell me so i can change or something...
UGHHHHHHH.....

[QualiTcare]

I'm dying to know what the two questions were

[nannyde]

Ahh it could be fifty things. Don't sweat it.

She could have found free or near free care or something else that you can't compete with.

[blueclouds29]

do i have the tv on throughout the day...
ummm truthfully yes (for the kids, not me), sometimes that's how i get through the day... The kids are not forced to watch it, my two year old DD has some show she like to watch, Cat in the Hat, Sid the science kids... all PBS shows.... Its still cold out... ummm sometimes its a break in the day..

and the second was if i would take in anymore kids.
that was a no until the end of the summer when all the kids, my youngest 7 months is a little older then I will notify parents and probably take in one one more toddler.

very simple questions..

[Meeko]

actually not new... i thought they were going to be......
I have an ad up for a toddler spot since one of my kids are leaving. Well, last week i got an email from a lady that seemed very interested in her son being here. They came to visit one night and she seemed very happy. She called my references and the next day emailed me two questions which i returned with the answers. Never heard back from her.. And she had all the paper work... what a waste of paper that was!!
Then yesterday i got an email from another lady which i called and talked to her and made a time that night to meet. Cleaned the house top to bottom only to have her cancel. She said she would call me today to reschedule... Ummm yeah right..
what do you do in these situations.. I'm so mad at these two for night telling me the truth on why they decided against it. Tell me so i can change or something...
UGHHHHHHH.....

When parents call and make appointments that are out a few days, I tell them that they have to call by 6PM (closing time) on the day to confirm, or I will make other plans and cancel their appointment. I have spent too many hours sitting around twiddling my thumbs because they don't show up and don't bother to call. I did go to the store once right after work and got a call from the parents saying "We're outside your house....where are you?" I reminded her that she didn't call to confirm. She was very apologetic and set up another time. This time she called and confirmed!

As for the wasted paperwork, that goes with the territory. I give all the paperwork to prospective clients so they can take it home and go over it all again (I go over it at interview too). I want to give them time to read and re-read it all. Then there's no surprises or excuses. If they sign it without reading it and then don't agree with something....too bad.

[Live and Learn]

I'm dying to know what the two questions were

::

Question #1 will dc lady be upset if I don't have the common courtesy to call back?

Question #2 will you "force" my child to drink milk, wear safe shoes, and not climb on the table tops?

[blueclouds29]

::

Question #1 will dc lady be upset if I don't have the common courtesy to call back?

Question #2 will you "force" my child to drink milk, wear safe shoes, and not climb on the table tops?

That made me laugh.. good one...

[Lucy]

I feel your pain!! I have had 3 open slots for about a year now. Ad in the paper and flyers up at the grocery stores, but hardly any calls. A lot of the ones that do call are not good fits due to hours needed, etc. So I got one that sounded great, had her come for an interview, everything sounded wonderful, she went for my price that was higher than what I charge everyone else, etc., etc. She wanted to start that next Monday - 5 days after the interview - so I told her I'd make out all the paperwork, get the girl's name on her cubby, and ordered curriculum for her. Monday morning comes and she's not here. I waited till she was 90 min late and called her and she said (which I'm sure was a lie) "Oh, we're going to be moving in 2 months, so my dad will watch my daughter until then." I was mad and told her that I printed up paperwork, made her a cubby, put her name on the cup she would use, told the other kids all about the girl coming, and ordered curriculum. She started to say something and I just said "best of luck you" and hung up. I was PISSED!!! IF that was the truth, which I don't think it was, why couldn't she have called me sometime between Wednesday afternoon and Monday morning?? I think what happened is that she told her husband the price and he said they couldn't afford it. Not that it was that outrageous, but it was probably more than they could afford - which is my opinion based on what she told me they do for a living. Ugh!!

[daycare]

I always call the person the night before to confirm the appr.
I just say that I'm calling to confirm our appr tomorrow at 6:15, wanted to make sure we are still scheduled for that time. I then tell them should something change, please call me asap to reschedule. I also remind them that I fill my spots on a first come first serve basis with the best fitting family.
I have never had anyone flake on me.

[AfterSchoolMom]

I read a few days ago that someone here doesn't give out directions to their home until an hour before the appointment time. That way they're required to call if they're coming to find out how to get there! I think that's a great idea.

[blueclouds29]

that is a great idea!!

[JenNJ]

I read a few days ago that someone here doesn't give out directions to their home until an hour before the appointment time. That way they're required to call if they're coming to find out how to get there! I think that's a great idea.

I do this too. I send directions the morning of (I only interview on Sat or Sun mornings). If they respond, I know they are coming. If not, oh well.

[QualiTcare]

do i have the tv on throughout the day...
ummm truthfully yes (for the kids, not me), sometimes that's how i get through the day... The kids are not forced to watch it, my two year old DD has some show she like to watch, Cat in the Hat, Sid the science kids... all PBS shows.... Its still cold out... ummm sometimes its a break in the day..

and the second was if i would take in anymore kids.
that was a no until the end of the summer when all the kids, my youngest 7 months is a little older then I will notify parents and probably take in one one more toddler.

very simple questions..

i don't know - this is just a guess, but maybe one of your references said something that provoked those questions. it just seems odd to me. is it possible that a parent could've mentioned that you let the kids watch TV? some people REALLY don't like kids watching TV. that's why this seems odd. if she's one of THOSE PEOPLE i think that would've been on the top of her list of questions during the interview - not an afterthought in an email.

[Unregistered]

TV and parents

That could be correct. Everyone's preference is different. I do not have a TV in my daycare and when parents see this I always have a positive response. My family have never been TV watchers so it just seemed fitting that my daycare would not have a TV. I also made the decision knowing that I personally would not want to have my child in a daycare that had the TV on everyday (1/2 hour per day or so I could be OK with as I understand there are other children there of course). I completely respect other people's choices and the choice to have TV in daycare but I have seen too many kids "hypnotized" by it. TV can become a detriment to playing and learning. The american society of pediatrics recommends NO TV before the age of 2 and after 2 it is VERY limited. I am not sure how much screen time your daycare children get but if it too much then some parents might be looking elsewhere for care. If it is limited make sure that you tell them how often and for what period of time it is on so they make an informed choice.

[tulip1969]

I had an interview last Tuesday and did not hear back from her until yesterday (Monday) that she wants the spot. I spent all the days inbetween worrying about what she didn't like and it turned out she was away for a few days and that's why she didn't call. You never know with people.