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New Members - Welcome to the Daycare.com Forum!>Very Discouraged And Need To Vent....
DragonTears 05:01 PM 09-06-2011
Hi all!

I have been reading threads on here off and on since my almost 7 year old was born. I only recently finally registered on here and I am usually quiet but I find myself needing to vent (which I don't have any opportunity to do anywhere else). So please bear with me and my long post...

I was fired from my 9-6pm Mon-Fri job in June after coming back from vacation (I was fired because I TOOK vacation - long story, but I was unfairly fired) and after being told by my boss that I was eligible for unemployment, they actually denied me instead. I fought for a while and couldn't get the decision reversed through the appeal (not sure how the state of Indiana can give unemployment to a person who was fired from a company for STEALING and it was proven, yet I cannot get unemployment for going to Montana). ANYhow, so FINALLY my husband decides I can go back to doing home daycare (REALLY wish he had decided this sooner since maybe I could have already had a few kids and not stressing out like I am now).

So I spent the last 4 weeks turning my downstairs living room into a dedicated full-fledged daycare area (see attached pics). I have spent every last dime I could to get things ready and have had several people call, set up interviews etc.

So here is a rundown of calls/interviews and the end results:

DCF #1: They have a 4 year old little girl and after interviewing decided I was perfect and that the little girl would start on 8/29/11. 2 weeks later around 11am when I had not seen or heard anything on the start day, I message mom and she apologized, claimed she lost my phone number (I gave her my biz card, and she has called me several times so I don't understand that one) but that her husband had lost his job and they didn't need daycare until the dad finds a new job. Still no word, not expecting them to call back. Lost child #1...

DCF#2: Single mom of a 19 year old and a 21 month old son. She needed daycare but is very picky (she has never had to do daycare EVER, not even with her older son) and to date we still have not met. She wants to bring her son here, but the only issue she has is that I have no other kids at the moment (easily remedied since I have neighbors with children under 2 yrs of age). We have not met yet since she had not been able to get her employment contract signed yet. To date, she stated that she starts 9/6/11 and that she would like to try bringing her son in a few days starting next week to allow him to adjust, and then full time starting the next week. So this is a possibility.

DCF#3: Family with a 3 yr old boy who were having issues with current sitter who wanted to charge them late fees etc (the wife would sometimes pick up a LITTLE late due to college class letting out late sometimes). DC provider is the wife's best friend. They were all set to start here, but texted me 2 days ago to tell me that they THINK they have worked out their issues with their current sitter and wanted to know if they could call me if things didn't work out. So another lost child....

DCF#4: Family with a 3 yr old boy who needed slightly extended hours (I was willing). The boy loved it here (as they all do) and the mother said he would start on Monday 9/12/11. Just got a text this evening stating that her hours have changed and she needs care from him until at LEAST 8:30pm three times a week so they moved in her mother in law to watch him. So again, lost child...

DCF#5: Family who needs before school care only 2-3 times per week for their 7yr old boy (will have to drop the child off at school since his school doesn't run through my neighborhood - good thing the school is only a block away). So this child is supposed to start sometime the week of 9/12/11 but there is hardly any income here. But, at least there will be a child there... And I will be kept as a backup for their 3 yr old daughter (who stays with her grandfather all day) in case the GF decides he wants a break. Positive outlook here, but money hardly counts...

DCF#6: Family with a 7 yr old boy in my neighborhood looking for B/A school care and they actually live in my subdivision. The mother emailed me this morning asking for information and then asked for my address on the second email but I have not heard back from her yet. So a possibility??

So out of SIX "promising" contacts, I have one potential full time to start next week and one kid that I would drop off at school 2-3 days per week only. I am beyond frustrated and disheartened by all the last minute cancellations. When I was fired, my husband took out a loan from his 401K to get us through until unemployment kicked in, but then we found out afterwards that I wasn't going to get unemployment. His income literally JUST covers our mortgage plus $150 per month. That covers gas. The 401K money ran out and I sold my Harley to come up with more money to try to get us through until the kids were supposed to start. Then the cancellations started.

We are down to our last $100 and I have a $300 payment due in 4 days, not to mention all the bills that haven't been paid yet. I have an entire room full of business supplies for making candles, soaps, lotions, bubble baths, lip balms, body sprays, gift baskets etc etc. My last hope is that I can sell of some of these supplies within the next few days. I have to go through all of it (talking $4500 worth of stuff) and split it all up into lots and post them on craigslist. I tried to sell it all at once but nobody wants to buy a large lot (only asking half of what it is all worth). So that is what is going to be consuming me in the next 24 hours.

I am just at my wits end now. I am frustrated, worried, and stressed beyond belief. I need to get kids in here. If I can get 3 FT kids, we will be fine, but every time things look up (I get a confirmation from a parent), I end up finding out last minute that a family isn't coming. I just need to see a light at the end of the tunnel and all I see is pitch black. ~sigh~

Sorry for the rant, but I had to get it out...
Attached: Daycare Room2.jpg (77.9 KB) Daycare Room1.jpg (65.5 KB) 
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Michael 07:24 PM 09-06-2011
Glad you finally joined the forum. Your room looks great. I am sure others will reply to this thread in the morning.

This line in your post hits home with a guy like me: "The 401K money ran out and I sold my Harley". That's gotta hurt.

PM (private message) me. I have a couple ideas on how to help. BTW, this thread sounds like Marinavanessa has a winning flyer you should use: https://www.daycare.com/forum/showthread.php?t=34175
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Cat Herder 04:56 AM 09-07-2011
You have a beautiful space!!!!

I have a few "out of the box" ideas and a couple tried and true:

Have you thought about attending local elementary schools open houses, plays, concerts or volunteering? It is good for people to know your face. Same with fast food restaurants, playgrounds, City parks, Library's and volunteering in a Church Nursery.

I have gotten a quite a few clients that way...just by their younger child gravitating to me and starting up a conversation with the parents... It is worth a try since even if they don't come, they tend to recall you when their friend is looking.

Have you thought about making up a few of those gift baskets and dropping them off in your local Elementary Schools Teachers Break rooms with a card that says "Have a Great New School Year" with a handful of your business cards? (add chocolates )

Have you contacted your CCR&R? They like to know who has openings so they can refer folks over. They get many parent calls a day and could be very helpful to you.

Have you asked to have your flier/business cards placed in the breakrooms of your local discount stores, mills, factories, hospitals, grocery stores or pediatrician offices?

My pediatrician referred me to several clients because he knew my face, the cards were handy and he already had my fax number for immunization forms.. Almost all of my current clients are from Hospital referrals.

#1 rule of marketing... People will always go with who they know, like and trust.
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Michelle 05:53 PM 09-07-2011
I love your room!
You will get kids soon, make sure you show pictures of your room on your fliers! it looks great
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beachgrl 05:43 AM 09-08-2011
I am having similar issues with getting people to call or come by and seem VERY interested but then something happens or I don't hear back from them. Some I think are daycare shopping and seeing who is cheapest and what they offer,etc. and last week was super slow with no leads but hopefully this week will lead to some actual clients by getting my info out there more and I am working on getting a sign made for my yard soon. Your room looks great, I have a dedicated room like that and the boys I have now also like going in our front living room where my stepson's train table and cars toys are too lol.
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DragonTears 07:29 AM 09-09-2011
Originally Posted by Michael:
This line in your post hits home with a guy like me: "The 401K money ran out and I sold my Harley". That's gotta hurt.
Yes, trust me, I cried HARD the day I sold my bike That was the hardest thing I have done.

And thank you all for the compliments on my daycare room. I tried very hard to get it set up. Parents (and kids) absolutely love it when they see it. All parents have shown up with the children and they were easily enthralled with everything.

I don't get much of an opportunity to get out, though I may have to see about trying to attract attention at the local parks (all this local rain we are suddenly getting after our drought of a summer is causing issues). No open houses or plays or anything of that nature at the schools yet. I am waiting though...

I may try to do some of the gift baskets ad perhaps drop them off at local businesses with biz cards etc. Hopefully that will gain some attention, but I have to wait until I have miracle funds to buy stuff for inside lol!

I do have a sign in my front yard (for now, at least until neighbors start complaining to the HOA) and have signs to put up on light poles but haven't got those up yet.

At least for now, I do have one child starting next week part time, then full time after that. I need at least 2 more to be 'ok' though.... Just trying to hold out as long as I can!
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DragonTears 07:31 AM 09-09-2011
Originally Posted by beachgrl:
I am having similar issues with getting people to call or come by and seem VERY interested but then something happens or I don't hear back from them. Some I think are daycare shopping and seeing who is cheapest and what they offer,etc. and last week was super slow with no leads but hopefully this week will lead to some actual clients by getting my info out there more and I am working on getting a sign made for my yard soon. Your room looks great, I have a dedicated room like that and the boys I have now also like going in our front living room where my stepson's train table and cars toys are too lol.
Your area is lovely! I have stuff in my room but your room is definitely full and comfy looking!
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Doodlebug 07:20 PM 09-10-2011
When you interview potential clients, tell them you need X amount of money when they say they will take the spot. You can use that money to credit their account for their first week of care or some people have their clients pay for their last two weeks of care up front. That way if they decide not to come back, you have your last two weeks paid for. Either way, people don't like to throw money away and you have a guarantee from these people that they are coming.
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beachgrl 11:54 AM 09-13-2011
Originally Posted by DragonTears:
Your area is lovely! I have stuff in my room but your room is definitely full and comfy looking!
Thanks, I have been tweaking it for months lol, I worry sometimes I have too much but I wanted to setup centers and we also have a train table in the front living room that the kids like to use sometimes.
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Tags:bad economy, clients, discouraged, interview - no luck, vent
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