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Daycare Center and Family Home Forum>Have You Ever Met With A Family You Just Did Not Mesh With?
youretooloud 11:25 AM 03-29-2011
I just finished an interview with a mom, dad, and almost 2 yr old boy.

UGH... They found me on Craigslist. We are not a good fit.

First, they both smoke. In the car with the boy. So, he reeks. I don't want that smell all day... sure I'd overlook it if it weren't for the other problems.

Dad works in a rough biker bar. We have TONS of great biker bars around here... really, awesome bars... but, this one is a bad place with bad people.

Dad has a "White Power" tattoo on his forearm. Do people still do that??? I thought that was so 80s.

They gave me a list of foods "He don't like"... which is almost everything. The list of foods "he do like" would have been much shorter. He basically doesn't eat anything I make, except Kraft Mac n CHeese, which is just an occasional side dish. He'll be hungry all day here.

"He don't drink water.. only juice, pop, and chocolate milk" Oh great... not only will he not eat food, he won't drink anything either. Because I'm not serving juice pop or chocolate milk.

He was a brute! He had huge bruises all over his forehead. He just barrels around the house slamming into whatever is in his way. (this alone would have made me turn him down)

I LOVED LOVED LOVED the dad! In spite of his lifestyle choices, he was great. About my age (45), happy, likeable guy. Mom on the other hand is a mean little shrew. She's about 22 yrs old. And, the MEANEST most hateful woman i've ever seen. She was mean to her husband in front of my daycare kids, she cussed in front of my daycare kids, she was mean to her son, and she cussed AT her son. She called him a "little $hit" several times. It's even a pet name for the poor kid. What parenting books is this lady reading?

I kept saying "You found my name where?"
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jen 11:43 AM 03-29-2011
I'm having a tough time reconciling the "white power" tattoo and him being a great guy. I've never met a nice white supremacist before...YIKES! Run!
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Christian Mother 11:45 AM 03-29-2011
Nope, does not sound like a good fit!! I interviewed with a family who even on the phone I could tell we didn't mesh and it was even worse when we came to meet. He was 2 and they allowed him to jump all over the couches, kick the gate...he was a brute as well and I just had "off" vibes. I told them the next day I exspected another family. They where not at all happy but the other family was just so well matched not to mention I loved the parents!!
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juliebug 11:48 AM 03-29-2011
oh i have had odd interview too just be happy you know now before they start!
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E Daycare 11:53 AM 03-29-2011
I laughed out loud at this just because I couldn't believe it . My first reaction was to lol. Im so sorry you had a interview like this . Better you figured this out now instead of a few weeks from now and you become scared that youre the new "little $hit" the mom wants to pick on.

Ugh.
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youretooloud 11:53 AM 03-29-2011
LOL.. I haven't even thought of an excuse. I'm hoping they don't call. Mom hasn't found a job yet... she's still looking, so maybe I'll be full by the time she finds a job.
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youretooloud 11:54 AM 03-29-2011
Originally Posted by jen:
I'm having a tough time reconciling the "white power" tattoo and him being a great guy. I've never met a nice white supremacist before...YIKES! Run!
Me too. It's one of those tattoos you do in prison, then regret it and have it removed. So, I was telling myself, maybe he hasn't been out of prison very long? Or he expects to go back soon?
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jen 12:38 PM 03-29-2011
Originally Posted by youretooloud:
Me too. It's one of those tattoos you do in prison, then regret it and have it removed. So, I was telling myself, maybe he hasn't been out of prison very long? Or he expects to go back soon?
LOL!!!!
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Kaddidle Care 12:57 PM 03-29-2011
Oh wow! "sorry folks, opening is already filled." I'm afraid I would have asked her to leave after the first curse word in front of the Daycare Kids. Sorry, I wouldn't tolerate that. I feel bad for the child.
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SilverSabre25 01:00 PM 03-29-2011
"I'm sorry, but I just don't think our program would suit his needs. Good luck with your child care search!"
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daycare 01:03 PM 03-29-2011
wow how sad for the kids...


I had a family once that stunk of cigs so bad that I had to keep leaving the room to catch my breath. Their child also destroyed my enitre house in under 30min flat. The mom gave me an actual LIST of demands.

When she pulled the list of demands out of her purse, I then handed her my PHB and said this is group daycare not individual care. Here is what I can offer you. She looked at me and said, I think we will just think about it and call you. I said right away yes please do and they left.


I also noticed that there is a huge age difference between mom and dad...Not that it has much to do with it, other than the mom sounds really immature....

Run for the hills....lol
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happykidschildcare 01:45 PM 03-29-2011
yowsa! run for the hills...sounds like a nightmare!
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Angelwings36 01:55 PM 03-29-2011
Originally Posted by youretooloud:
I just finished an interview with a mom, dad, and almost 2 yr old boy.

UGH... They found me on Craigslist. We are not a good fit.

First, they both smoke. In the car with the boy. So, he reeks. I don't want that smell all day... sure I'd overlook it if it weren't for the other problems.

Dad works in a rough biker bar. We have TONS of great biker bars around here... really, awesome bars... but, this one is a bad place with bad people.

Dad has a "White Power" tattoo on his forearm. Do people still do that??? I thought that was so 80s.

They gave me a list of foods "He don't like"... which is almost everything. The list of foods "he do like" would have been much shorter. He basically doesn't eat anything I make, except Kraft Mac n CHeese, which is just an occasional side dish. He'll be hungry all day here.

"He don't drink water.. only juice, pop, and chocolate milk" Oh great... not only will he not eat food, he won't drink anything either. Because I'm not serving juice pop or chocolate milk.

He was a brute! He had huge bruises all over his forehead. He just barrels around the house slamming into whatever is in his way. (this alone would have made me turn him down)

I LOVED LOVED LOVED the dad! In spite of his lifestyle choices, he was great. About my age (45), happy, likeable guy. Mom on the other hand is a mean little shrew. She's about 22 yrs old. And, the MEANEST most hateful woman i've ever seen. She was mean to her husband in front of my daycare kids, she cussed in front of my daycare kids, she was mean to her son, and she cussed AT her son. She called him a "little $hit" several times. It's even a pet name for the poor kid. What parenting books is this lady reading?

I kept saying "You found my name where?"
I hope you're not considering taking this family if they do decide that they would like to enrol their son???? I end up in interviews as well that I have a really hard time enduring...once they are gone though, they are gone and I know I will never have to deal with them again.

As far as the son's list of likes and don't likes for food...I would have told the mom I don't cater to specific likes and dislikes of children. If they don't care for what I serve they either eat it or don't eat at all. You could have also suggested that they pack his own lunch, snacks and beverages if this is something you allow.

What an interview!!!
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youretooloud 02:14 PM 03-29-2011
Originally Posted by Angelwings36:
I hope you're not considering taking this family if they do decide that they would like to enrol their son????
Noooo... I had made up my mind within five minutes. But, I'm just hoping they either don't call, or they don't call today so I can say "aww.. I filled that spot.. good luck though!"
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daycare 02:17 PM 03-29-2011
I had this happen where I thought I was off the hook and I just said oh I'm really sorry. One of my part time kids needed to swith to a full time spot so I no longer have an opening. I'm so sorry, but if an opening occurs I will be sure to add you to my mile long waiting list. So sorry and best of luck to you and your family.
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cheerfuldom 02:20 PM 03-29-2011
I would have asked them to leave after the cussing. We don't allow that at all from anyone coming into the house. I would have said that it was obvious we weren't a good fit and I wasn't going to waste any of their time interviewing. I mostly interview the parents anyway....I can deal with the kids!
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wdmmom 02:21 PM 03-29-2011
Originally Posted by youretooloud:
LOL.. I haven't even thought of an excuse. I'm hoping they don't call. Mom hasn't found a job yet... she's still looking, so maybe I'll be full by the time she finds a job.
Do what I do:

I interview prospective clients and I tell them that there is one opening and I'm interviewing 5 families. You will be contacted if I need to set up an interview and within 2 weeks if you are the candidate Ichoose! You will hear from me via email if I select another family. I've only refused care on a select few people and I usually tell them that I conducted a 2nd interview the next day and that family secured the spot with a deposit. I end the email with something along the lines of: :Thank you for taking the time to meet with me and good luck with your childcare search! I'm sure you will find someone that is a perfect fit for your families needs.
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Unregistered 06:09 AM 03-30-2011
I wonder if you said there were background checks on parents before the child enters your daycare if they would still be interested.

I didn't take on a kid once because of the mom. Her husband had just left her for another woman and she was only enrolling him in daycare so that he had to pay her more in child support (she did not work). She also complained about the daycare he was currently in saying that they didn't give him anything to drink all day and didn't take off his shoes at naptime. When someone comes in and automatically complains about their last daycare with stuff they don't know for fact it throws up a red flag for me. She said she had another interview and she would call me after that. Well apparently she decided on me and quit her other daycare and wanted to bring him the next day. Ummmm sorry, that position had been filled!
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Unregistered 07:05 AM 03-30-2011
All the child prob. are resolved when they come into your house. Food not liked and drinks. You offer what you offer and he will conform. The running around the house would resolve after not being allowed. Same. You just need to address the white problem with that you take all races in your childcare and you can't have any issues them because of it. Racist isn't acceptable in your childcare and childcare will terminated if it happens. The same thing with swearing. If the mother swears you need to make them aware he's not allowed to swear in your care and will be punished for doing so. If these things are address right up front you shouldn't have a prob. with them. Thats just my opinion.
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nannyde 09:07 AM 03-30-2011
He lost me at white power.

It would be a frosty friday before I took on a dcp that had that tatoo. It's disgusting.
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cheerfuldom 09:24 AM 03-30-2011
yeah I avoid any parents that come into an interview with a list of demands and a list of complaints about the past daycare. I can understand respectfully bringing up issues that concern you but there is a difference between that and just plain out being a pain from day one. Some parents have come with legitimate complaints and others, not so much. If that is how they act on the first meeting, you can bet it will be a lot worse within just a few short weeks.
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SuperNinjaMommy 09:36 AM 03-30-2011
I had one interview where the lady came in and I had just moved there a month prior and was waiting for furniture in my main daycare living area also my family room. She said she would prefer if I didn't put furniture in that room to prevent injury and then also stated that I would need to have a fence put up by the beginning of summer. PSSSSSSSSSSSSSH see ya! Of course I put furniture in that room and I did get a fence put up but that was my choice thank you.

That's the best part about running your own business, you don't have to take them if you don't want to and you don't need a reason other then "doesn't seem like a good fit"
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SilverSabre25 02:02 PM 03-30-2011
Originally Posted by SuperNinjaMommy:
I had one interview where the lady came in and I had just moved there a month prior and was waiting for furniture in my main daycare living area also my family room. She said she would prefer if I didn't put furniture in that room to prevent injury and then also stated that I would need to have a fence put up by the beginning of summer. PSSSSSSSSSSSSSH see ya! Of course I put furniture in that room and I did get a fence put up but that was my choice thank you.

That's the best part about running your own business, you don't have to take them if you don't want to and you don't need a reason other then "doesn't seem like a good fit"
Wow...I think she had "Nanny" and "daycare" confused there. Sheesh!
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momatheart 03:02 PM 03-31-2011
UMMM no, NEXT!
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Tags:family doesn't fit, family doesn't mesh
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