Originally Posted by Angelwings36:
So I had an interview today that was just something else! Mom calls me saying they need childcare asap...she is not sure if they want full time or part time though. Her son is 15 months old so she thought she would start him part time until he adjusts and then move him into a full time schedule. I told her right away on the phone that it takes children twice as long to adjust on a part time schedule than a full time schedule. She doesn't say much...
In the interview the parent's asked me if I would...
1. Accomodate cloth diapers...(No sorry I do not have the extra time in my day to be messing with that)
2. Buy special snacks for their child...(I asked about allergies...no allergies...just want special things just for their child...No sorry all the children are treated equally)
3. If it would be ok if dad came for the first few days with the daycare boy so he didn't cry (Uhhh...no I do not accomodate this. I told them that most children that age are going to cry when dropped off...this is normal...the best thing you can do is make drop offs as sweet and short as possible. Mom says at this point that she is not ok with son crying...alright then!)
4. Although they were well aware that I run a full daycare program (8 children total is legal here) mom insisted I should only have 4 kids max when there son was there because having 8 kids means I would be showing negligence. (Ugh! Bite tongue lol! I did mention that they could find a smaller program to accomodate their needs if that's what they wanted...but mom still insisted that they give it a try here)
So...
Parents leave informing me they will call me tomorrow to set something up...REALLY?????
So what do I do when they call? Should I just tell them the space was filled...I am definetly not willing to take them on?
Gotta love it.
Would you consider just telling her the truth? I know it won't make you any money so I wouldn't spend too much time on it but I don't think it hurts to say "I don't provide that service".
Cloth diapers: I don't provide that service.
Special snacks: I don't provide that service.
Parents in home during first few days: I don't provide that service.
Four child child care: I don't provide that service.
No cry: I don't provide that service.
Tell her the truth:
You use paper diapers only. You feed everyone the same snack and YOU pick the snack. You do all the transitioning of the child into care. Your goal is to have eight kids every day. You believe children should be allowed to express their feelings so you don't have a problem with them crying to express themselves.
That's really the whole of it and it doesn't hurt to tell her the truth. It's not personal. It doesn't mean that using cloth diapers, having special for snacks, parents caring for their child in your home during the transition, "no cry" isn't valuable to the parents etc.
It's OKAY for them to want it... you just don't offer it.
Tell her the truth. As boldly as she sat and said these things to you is as boldly as you can tell her what you do and don't provide.
I think providers think they are stepping on parents toes when they tell them what they do and don't provide. Believe me... Walmart doesn't have a problem telling customers they don't have Rubbermaid in stock. They decide what they offer and they don't apologize for what they choose not to do.
What she wants you don't have "in stock" and that's cool.
Ten years ago you would have NEVER had a parent tell you that they don't want their child to cry. You had parents who didn't want their kid to cry but they wouldn't have been bold enough to tell YOU that. It would have been an embarrasment. Now it's the norm.
It would be funny if it weren't so sad......
The worlds a changin ladies and it's going to come and sit on your couch. If you want to stay alive in this business you need a plan to deal with it. Saying you don't have an opening is a plan and it's the cheapest plan I know but there's a part of me that thinks it might be worth the time/money to start proudly telling them the truth.