Interesting Perspective

[Blackcat31]

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

That's what I was thinking too!

[Cat Herder]

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

I think this is the key...

There is almost always a laundry bag of just washed toys hanging to dry off my porch, stacks of crib sheets/wash cloths/blankets on the table I was in the middle of folding, stacks of half completed and drying art, etc...

I don't think that is what my clients were considering "dirty"...::::

[flightlessbird11]

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.

I completely agree. I had an interview the other day, and I had dishes in the sink(dinner from my own family of 6). The rest of my house was perfectly clean, so I don't think that means my house was dirty. I schedule my interviews at 6:30pm, I close my daycare at 5:30, so that doesn't give me a whole lot of time to worry about a few dishes in the sink. If they are that concerned about it, I probably wouldn't want them as clients anyways. What else are they going to complain about? A spec of dirt on the floor? I'd like to see a daycare that is 100% spotless, all the time. Not enough hours in the day.

[Squirrel]

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.

I have the same thing happen to me. I've stopped overly preparing for interview especially when I've had so many no shows lately.

[jen]

I completely agree. I had an interview the other day, and I had dishes in the sink(dinner from my own family of 6). The rest of my house was perfectly clean, so I don't think that means my house was dirty. I schedule my interviews at 6:30pm, I close my daycare at 5:30, so that doesn't give me a whole lot of time to worry about a few dishes in the sink. If they are that concerned about it, I probably wouldn't want them as clients anyways. What else are they going to complain about? A spec of dirt on the floor? I'd like to see a daycare that is 100% spotless, all the time. Not enough hours in the day.

I do believe the issue went beyond dishes in the sink, the house was cluttered as well. I doubt that the parent would have thought as much about it if the house was clean and uncluttered with the exception of dishes in the sink...

[jen]

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.

That is what I have done in the past...then I mention that we do have lots more toys, but we switch them out every few weeks to keep clean them and because for the kids, it's like getting brand new stuff!

[jen]

One I forgot to add...

A daycare parent asked how often the provider cleaned the toys and she LAUGHED and said, "oh, that doesn't happen!"

YIKES!


Oh...AND...the provider commented on how she really needed to fill the spots because enrollment was down and she was losing money!

DOUBLE YIKES!!

(these two comments were from the same parent regarding the same provider that I forgot about when I posted the original list.)

[flightlessbird11]

I do believe the issue went beyond dishes in the sink, the house was cluttered as well. I doubt that the parent would have thought as much about it if the house was clean and uncluttered with the exception of dishes in the sink...

Ahhh, got ya!

I would hope a parent wouldn't be that picky, but who knows anymore?!

[cheerfuldom]

I've stopped overpreparing for interviews. The house is tidy but I don't want the parents to see some perfection that they will then be upset about because they will never see it that way again. I had one set of parents that would be upset if I was not holding their child at pickup but also upset if the place wasn't spotless. You can't have everything people! I feel that I just let people know who I am and if thats not cool with them then fine, I'll just move on to the next family that is okay with it. You know, I have gotten a lot better families in the last year and I am super casual about interviews now.

[Meyou]

I have a friend interviewing daycares right now and her worst one was an unliscensed lady with 9 kids under 5 already in care and looking for more. It was dark, dingy and she said she didn't take them outside much because it was too hard to get them dressed everyday. She also had a line of high chairs that made my friend run even harder. She said it looked like there were enough for most of the kids instead of older ones having table and chairs.

She ended up reporting her after calling me to tell me about it. She knew it was bad but didn't know she was breaking the law as well. We can only have 6 here under 12 including our own without a liscense with no more than 3 under 2.

[Meyou]

I don't over prepare OR get stressed out for interviews anymore. I make sure the house is clean and that I don't have boogies on my leg and we're good to go. ::

I have also stopped "apologizing" or justifying things I don't do. When parents ask about crafts I'm totally honest and say I hate the darn things!! I still do planned crafts once a week in the winter with them because I know it's good for them but I do hate every second of it. Instead of planned crafts I give them constant access to drawing materials (glue and scissors) for the older ones and let them do their thing with supervision.

[2ndFamilyDC]

Thanks for posting this, it is very interesting. Always nice to know what parents are thinking.

[Mom_of_two]

Interesting, thanks!!

Regarding the dishes in the sink- I would not have dishes in my sink during an interview. But I don't have dishes in my sink much, because it bothers me. I think in an interview it is good to show who you are, for me, that is no dishes. For some it is. no big deal, but I would be more drawn to a provider with no dishes in the sink because it is what I do. For people who aren't bothered by it might not matter. not right or wrong, just preference..

[KEG123]

They'd hate me then. There is almost always dishes in my sink. Like now, I could be doing dishes, but instead I'm resting my feet because we've been at the zoo all morning.

[wdmmom]

Dishes are the least of my concerns! They get rinsed and washed each day but if the dishwasher is full, they have to wait their turn! :: It's not like there are flies swarming and crusted food on them! For some reason own children feel it necessary to use about 10 cups each per day. They add up quick. I run the dishwasher 3 times a day as it is!

When I was in the business of looking for a daycare provider, I wanted my provider to have credentials (CPR/First Aid, training, experience, class time, etc.) The child's play area needed to be adequate in size to accommodate all the children. The provider needed to have age appropriate toys. The floor should be clean...not have toys laying around or in need of being vacuumed. I wanted my provider to ensure my childs safety. No transporting her in the car. Serving nutritious meals. I never once cared about a sink full of clean or dirty dishes! Now if they are stacked up and stinking up the place, that would be a problem!