Interesting Perspective

**wdmmom** · 08-08-2011, 07:43 AM

If people are fretting over dirty dishes in the sink, that would be an indication to me that you are caring for children and not worried about your dishes!

Leads me back to this phrase I heard as a kid, "If you came to see me, that's great. If you came to see my house, make an appointment."

Clearly prospective clients are making appointments but if they are complaining about little things (like dishes), they need to get a life. Dirty dishes come from cooking and feeding children. Dishes are a sure sign of you doing your job.

**Cat Herder** · 08-08-2011, 07:48 AM

I had a similar experience when I actually took my whole two weeks of vacation this year (I usually postpone it until "next year" for financial reasons

).

All my clients interviewed around looking for backup care (with 12 months advance notice).

They came back with stories of:

1. "Redneck Riviera".... Dirt driveway with mud filled pot holes so big you had to drive up the bank, yard birds (loose chickens), cars on blocks on the lawn, husband in "wife beater" snoring in the living room, kids barefoot and dirty AND no written contract. They never made it past the kitchen to the playroom before they left.

This was a scheduled interview, the provider KNEW they were coming.

2. "I am over-qualified" ... wanted twice the weekly rate of most providers in my county, ILLEGAL unlicensed (more than 2 kids, here), had a degree in another field not relating to childcare/retired, no current CPR training "but had the poster to follow in an emergency" :

:, corrected my clients grammar, THAT cracked me up...

3. "No one over the age of 21" ... local big center, lot's of turnover, director MIA, nobody had time to tour/answer questions so told client to "feel free to look around" then left her to wander freely. They were listening to a local rap station KNOWN to not be child friendly in the two year old room and a couple kids were unattended playing house in the laundry room with crib sheets and others personal car seats.....

**jen** · 08-08-2011, 08:15 AM

Originally posted by wdmmom

If people are fretting over dirty dishes in the sink, that would be an indication to me that you are caring for children and not worried about your dishes!

Leads me back to this phrase I heard as a kid, "If you came to see me, that's great. If you came to see my house, make an appointment."

Clearly prospective clients are making appointments but if they are complaining about little things (like dishes), they need to get a life. Dirty dishes come from cooking and feeding children. Dishes are a sure sign of you doing your job.

JMHO, but if you are scheduling an interview AFTER daycare hours, there really isn't any excuse for dirty dishes piled up in the sink.

I think that parents are looking to see how you "provide care" for yourself and your home as a way of gauging how you care for their children.

**Cat Herder** · 08-08-2011, 08:27 AM

I agree Jen..

An interview should be about presenting the best possible impression of yourself and your services just like for any other job in the world.

This would make a great thread in the parents section, too...

I know I'd love to hear some more interview nightmares from their perspective...:

::

:

**MyAngels** · 08-08-2011, 08:40 AM

Originally posted by jen

JMHO, but if you are scheduling an interview AFTER daycare hours, there really isn't any excuse for dirty dishes piled up in the sink.

I think that parents are looking to see how you "provide care" for yourself and your home as a way of gauging how you care for their children.

My childhood best friend's mother was a childcare provider (back then a babysitter

), and she had a very cluttered house and was overweight, but she was the most wonderful person with her daycare children, and everybody else, for that matter. She must have been too busy being seriously awesome to worry about dealing with all the stuff piling up, I guess. Their house was never what I would call "dirty," though.

**Country Kids** · 08-08-2011, 08:58 AM

I find this very interesting because a friend and I were just talking about more people in our area hiring "Nannies" and paying them more than a childcare provider would make.

Bingo-these people are the type probably that are saying these things (because they have looked at childcares) and can't find that "Perfect" childcare so why not have someone come to their house where they know the entire layout, the cleaniness, the yard, their contract, etc. I know one person looking for a "Nanny" and the pay for two would be the equivilent to me having three and it was for 44 hours a week not 50 and all holidays off. Would be perfect for me if we didn't count soooo much on my income right now. A few years ago I may have seriously considered it.

**AnneCordelia** · 08-08-2011, 09:21 AM

I agree too, Jen. I know that I used to be a very cluttered person. Once I got rid of the physical clutter that consumed our house then it was easy to deal with financial clutter, emotional clutter and be better mother/provider. I think that a person's home (when a business is run from that home) speaks loudly about the type of business that person runs. If it is clean, inviting, tidy and organized then I will be impressed and more likely to think that your business is run the same way.

**SilverSabre25** · 08-08-2011, 09:23 AM

That is a very interesting perspective...and good information to have!

**wdmmom** · 08-08-2011, 09:27 AM

Originally posted by jen

JMHO, but if you are scheduling an interview AFTER daycare hours, there really isn't any excuse for dirty dishes piled up in the sink.

I think that parents are looking to see how you "provide care" for yourself and your home as a way of gauging how you care for their children.

I have 5 children of my own...keeping up on the amount of cups they use each day is a task in itself. My home is "lived in". If the sink has dishes in it, oh well. I don't invite prospective clients into my kitchen anyway. If they see them, they are seeing too much!

I don't care for the kids in the kitchen sink so I don't mind if there's dishes in there. Having a few dishes that need washed is far from a "dirty" house.

**MG&Lsmom** · 08-08-2011, 10:33 AM

Originally posted by jen

JMHO, but if you are scheduling an interview AFTER daycare hours, there really isn't any excuse for dirty dishes piled up in the sink.

I think that parents are looking to see how you "provide care" for yourself and your home as a way of gauging how you care for their children.

Not necessarily. I don't do interviews during daycare hours and I close at 5. I have an interview tonight at 6pm. I will be rushing my own family through dinner and chances are, there will be dishes in the sink. It's a great room so they will be seen. I think that potential families need to also understand that when they are interviewing home daycare providers, you are in their home, often during their family time. If it's a complete mess, that's one thing. But coming over at dinner time and expecting to see a polished sink is a bit overboard.

**AnneCordelia** · 08-08-2011, 10:47 AM

I think this is a good example of how there is a daycare for everyone but not every daycare will be the right fit for everyone.

My own mother raised me with the notion that good mothers have sticky floors, dirty ovens and happy kids. She had 5 kids and that worked for her. I'm sure she would expect to see dishes in the sink of a dayhome.

For myself, I need a shiny sink for interviews. I have 4 kids of my own and I have to be super-organized about things or I don't feel in control of my home.

**Blackcat31** · 08-08-2011, 10:48 AM

Interesting discussion.

Weirdly enough though, I have to say that every time I have gone through and cleaned my childcare home to the point of of being completely orderly and somewhat sterile, I didn't sign on the client. But the times where I was just me, disorganization and all, I had the clients sign on. I don't know if there is any logic or direct correlation in that or not but I can say that my childcare home is not dirty but it can be very disorganized and cluttered at times.

I think there is a huge difference between dirty/unclean and disorganized/messy.

**MommyMuffin** · 08-08-2011, 10:49 AM

I found the too many toys interesting. I often will put more toys out to please the parents because I have had clients comment on how they loved that I had so many toys.

I would much rather stick to the amount of toys I like out. Perhaps I should just stick to what I want out.

**MommyMuffin** · 08-08-2011, 10:53 AM

Originally posted by Blackcat31

Interesting discussion.

Weirdly enough though, I have to say that every time I have gone through and cleaned my childcare home to the point of of being completely orderly and somewhat sterile, I didn't sign on the client. But the times where I was just me, disorganization and all, I had the clients sign on. I don't know if there is any logic or direct correlation in that or not but I can say that my childcare home is not dirty but it can be very disorganized and cluttered at times.

I think there is a huge difference between dirty/unclean and disorganized/messy.

Maybe because you werent rushing to perfect your home you were a little more relaxed and more yourself.

Interesting Perspective

Interesting Perspective

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