Small Dilemma, Need Suggestions

[flightlessbird11]

In my county, I can only have 3 kids under 2yrs.(Lcensed)I already have an 11mnth old, I just enrolled a 3 month old, so I have 1 spot left. Here's my problem...I've interviewed with 2 families. Family #1 has a 4 month old, and they want to start on Monday. The interview went ok. The baby was very cute, but the conversation with the parents was a bit akward, and forced. Mom didn't say much. Mostly I've been emailing/talking with dad. They live down the block from me.

Fam #2, I LOVED! Son was 13 months, and adorable!! Mom and I had great conversation, and share the same values, beliefs, and parenting styles. It really clicked! They would be the perfect fit! But...she was interviewing with another lady on Mon. night, and wouldn't have an answer for me until then. She said the other lady was much older and it would just be their son there. She said she'd rather have him around other kids, but this other lady was just down her street. I told her that I did have another family interviewing for the spot, but that I really thought that her family (#2) would be a better fit. So..........what should I do?

Fam#1 wants to start Monday, Fam#2 won't know till Mon. night. I REALLY want Fam#2, but I also don't want to risk losing both. My family needs the income. Should I have Fam#1 start, and then just see what happens? I had recently taken out the trial period from my contract (darn it) because I have it in there that I reserve the right to terminate, at any time, without notice, if I deem it nessesary for the overall health and well being of my daycare and family. So, I figured that if Fam#2 decides to come here, I would give Fam#1 notice since Fam#2 said she would need to give the center 2 weeks.

In case I haven't said it enough....................I REALLY WANT FAM#2 TO ENROLL!!! They would be my first choice. Any opinions are welcome! Help!
I went from no calls, to having too many! Darn it!

[godiva83]

Wow

Could you tell fam #1 that you will not be able to guarantee their spot until Tuesday, and if it is yes to them they can be enrolled by Wed?? Don't tell them you are holding out fir the other family, just say you have to get organized, go over policies, and ensure you have the appropriate start up material for their DS before you give the the go ahead. I am sure they can wait until Wed. I have never heard of ppl needing care that immediate for such a young child

[Squirrel]

I'd tell Fam #1 that you won't make your decision about accepting them until Wed next week. Yes you might loose them but if they are serious about wanting you then they will wait. I always start my families on Mondays and don't allow them to start so soon after an interview. I always send them home with no paperwork and ask them to think it over and get back to me if they want to enroll. I get wonderful families this way. And don't stress out too much if you loose both because baby care is always the highest in demand so you'll get fam #3 coming soon.

[flightlessbird11]

Could you tell fam #1 that you will not be able to guarantee their spot until Tuesday, and if it is yes to them they can be enrolled by Wed?? Don't tell them you are holding out fir the other family, just say you have to get organized, go over policies, and ensure you have the appropriate start up material for their DS before you give the the go ahead. I am sure they can wait until Wed. I have never heard of ppl needing care that immediate for such a young child

That's what I was thinking too. DCD says mom was at home with him, then got a new job and they wanted her to start right away, so dad's been taking baby to work with him this week.:confused: There were a couple of red flags that I noticed during the interview. First, they are county pay(fam#2 is not)-not discriminating, just saying, and on their approval sheet they showed me, there was another provider on it. So..he was already at another daycare, and he's only 4 months?:confused: They are not currently attending there, so were they terminated? They just said "it wasn't working", and (darn it) I didn't push the subject. So...red flag?

Also, the townhomes they live in are almost $1200/month +, they drive new cars, and are on county assistance? Not sure how.

[flightlessbird11]

I'd tell Fam #1 that you won't make your decision about accepting them until Wed next week. Yes you might loose them but if they are serious about wanting you then they will wait. I always start my families on Mondays and don't allow them to start so soon after an interview. I always send them home with no paperwork and ask them to think it over and get back to me if they want to enroll. I get wonderful families this way. And don't stress out too much if you loose both because baby care is always the highest in demand so you'll get fam #3 coming soon.

Thanks for the encouragement! I'd be more optimistic about a Fam#3 coming along soon, but I had gone almost 2 1/2 months with no calls at all, and we need the money!

[sassysue]

Go with your gut! Don't even bother with family #1. If family#2 doesn't work out someone else WILL come along. Red flags! I see red flags a waving

[LittleD]

Go with your gut! Don't even bother with family #1. If family#2 doesn't work out someone else WILL come along. Red flags! I see red flags a waving

I agree totally!
And again, tell them you need time to go over all of the paper work. Can u confirm with state to make sure they have valid paper work? Or contact the other provider?

[boysx5]

go with your gut I went through this in the spring and so glad I listen to my gut

[daysofelijah]

You couldn't take family #1 anyway until the 11 month old child's first birthday, right? You can only have two under one, three under two. Hopefully family #2 works out for you!

[wdmmom]

I used to let families start that quickly after an interview. Now I don't. It's always turned into a hassle. They bring in their registration packet but I'd never get the immunizations or physical and I'd get the "Oh, I forget, I'll have to call the doctor's office tomorrow". (More like the second Tuesday of next week!)

When I interview now, I require at least 2 in person interviews and secure a deposit and I only do 1 interview per week so in order to start, it's going to be at least 2 weeks.

[flightlessbird11]

I agree totally!
And again, tell them you need time to go over all of the paper work. Can u confirm with state to make sure they have valid paper work? Or contact the other provider?

Yep, I'm calling the county today, just to be sure.

[flightlessbird11]

You couldn't take family #1 anyway until the 11 month old child's first birthday, right? You can only have two under one, three under two. Hopefully family #2 works out for you!

I could do it either way-1infant and 2 toddlers, or 2 infants and 1 toddler. The 3 month old DCG doesnt start until Sept. 12, which is actually the day after my 11 month olds birthday! So I technically only have 1 infant right now.

[Blackcat31]

You couldn't take family #1 anyway until the 11 month old child's first birthday, right? You can only have two under one, three under two. Hopefully family #2 works out for you!

daysofelijah is right about the ages so technically if all these families are full time, you couldn't even take the 4 month old from family #1 until your 11 month old turns 1 year old. (unless you have a variance or unless they are part timers attending on different days).

According to licensing standards, you can never have more than 2 kids under the age of one unless there is a second adult caregiver and you are a C3 license holder or uness you specialize in infant/toddler care which is a Class D license (which also requires a seconfd adult caregiver).

I also hope family #2 works out for you. They seem to have all their ducks in a row and since you "clicked" with them, it sounds like they are a better match for you than family #1 who is already making you have doubts.

Sorry, I posted seconds after you answered daysofelijah... in which case, by your explanation, you will be just fine. But I still hope family # 2 works out for you instead.

[SimpleMom]

I would wait for family number two. Sounds like a better fit. You could keep looking if it doesn't work out. The other family sounds like it wouldn't work anyway in the long run. If it's not a good fit, it's not.

Great you have the options!! Good luck

[flightlessbird11]

I would wait for family number two. Sounds like a better fit. You could keep looking if it doesn't work out. The other family sounds like it wouldn't work anyway in the long run. If it's not a good fit, it's not.

Great you have the options!! Good luck

I feel very fortunate to be in the position of having a choice. This actually hasn't ever happened for me. (I've only been licnsed 2 years)