Worst interview in the history of daycare......

[cfred]

The gods are not smiling on me this week. First, had a client back out of childcare 2 days (yes, you read that right 2 DAYS) before her start date as her circumstances changed. Great. Went to my wait list. The family that loved me and was so disappointed that there weren't any openings secured placement for their son last week. Excellent. Had an interview today for a full time position for summer. Of COURSE today is the day my nephew had the 2 yr booger snot attitude. I love him to bits, but really? Today???? Another boy cried because the interviewees weren't his mother, then cried again when another parent came in during the interview, then again when I asked him not to do something he wasn't supposed to be doing. I had to ask the parents (who came with Mother in Law in tow) to please sit down as 3 adults milling in our daycare space was totally throwing the kids off. Then, to top it off, I turned around to see the baby girl blowing massive snot bubbles. My neighbour even called after the family left saying the woman looked perturbed. That's just awesome......

I think it's safe to say I'll never see them again....lol....wors t interview EVER!!!:mad:

[Momof4]

I NEVER do interviews during daycare hours. Do you think you should change that? You always have such great posts I know you are very competent as a provider so I don't mean to second guess you. Sorry about all the bad stuff happening, but they say they happen 3 in a row so you should be safe now. Oy!

[cfred]

Oh gosh, don't worry about second guessing me at all! I've never had a problem interviewing during the day. Usually though, it's in the morning, over a cup of coffee, during free play. And usually, it's just 1 parent, not 2 parents, a baby and a Mother In Law. Good doG there were a lot of people milling about in my play area! I had to ask them to please sit down as I was worried about babies crawling around their feet! Plus, it was at the very end of the day, near pick up. Usually, my kids are pretty much done by then. Tired, missing mom, ready to call it a day. It was all very bad timing. I am actually trying to move to evening appointments as I have nearly a full house now, so it's a bit more challenging doing it through the day now. Both interviewees this week said they can only come through the day as they're out of town. Ugh.....

I'm not concerned, but thank you for being sweet :) I'll fill the space soon enough as I'm getting messages usually every week. I found it funny more than anything...although a little wearing on my nerves. I filled my water bottle with beer for my exercise walk with my neighbour and am now hiding in bed, doing this and eating oranges and dreaming of vacation......am feeling a little less like a time bomb now.

[FSD]

Yeah....I have to agree with Momof4. I couldn't even imagine having an interview during daycare hours! Can you schedule them during the weekend or in the evening? I know it sucks to do it during family time, but it would be so much less hectic.

[cfred]

What family time? I have teenagers. Unless I grow a tiny screen in my forehead, they're not interested. It's not that I have an aversion to night time interviews. I've always found success with morning interviews. Today's was the first bad daytime interview I've had. Like I said, I've been trying to move to night time, but these 2 said they couldn't come in the evening. I try to be accommodating, but I didn't expect an entire entourage to come along....ya know?

[momofnerds]

I only do interviews during nap time. this way if they don't show up, i'm not stuck sitting around waiting. also, the people have to leave because its nap time and no one can be loud. I have found that this works the best. I've done free play interviews and one time the child hit a dcb and dcb hit him back and the parents were so angry even thou their son started it. Why did they bring the mil???

[cfred]

I have no idea why MIL was brought along. Maybe a cultural thing? I think Dad was Japanese. But I have a Chinese/Thai/Laos family who didn't introduce the inlaws to me till months later. The whole interview was just so odd. The baby stayed in his carseat behind the adults, rather than being brought out to meet everyone. The 3 adults just stood around. I invited them to sit down 3 times. Finally I had to ask them to sit down. I was constantly trying to see kids past them....it was so weird. Typically, it's just Mum who comes (sometimes Dad) and she sits on the floor and turns her little one loose or over to me to see us interact. Typically, it's just a play date, which is how I like to do it and truthfully, I often enjoy them. This was just the strangest interview I've ever had.

I should qualify that my interview technique varies depending on ratio. Of course, now that I'm nearly full, it's preferable to do them during off hours. When I only have 1, 2, or 3 kids, it's totally fine. However, now with 4 kids, it's a little harder. The 2 this week said they couldn't come after hours due to distance (both are moving into the area). The next interview I'm not terribly worried about. It's at breakfast, which is a very good time here, always. Plus, it's for a part time spot, which are all filled at the moment. This is strictly a wait list interview.

[playfelt]

This was not a typical interview for sure. A daytime interview tends to be just mom and baby like you are having a playdate and can actually be nice in the sense of a relaxed conversation with another adult with the baby being the centre of attention for most of the time. This usually leads to another night time interview with hubby in tow but then again if mom isn't interested you haven't given up an evening either so it has merit. But to bring that many people was a bit much. It was for them to oogle the daycare which they should have done from the sidelines and not really to talk about care for the baby. Probably good that you don't expect to hear from them again because you can be sure with that many people involved that child's body never touches the floor or gets a reprive from being touched/hugged/carried, held constantly/doted on - not ideal daycare material.

[Crayola kiddies]

I never do interviews during daycare hours for security reasons ..... I don't know the people and they could be crazy and as a parent who used to have children in the daycare system I would be ticked if I found out my provider brought strangers around my kids ..... I do it in my time in the evenings and weekends.

[Other Mummy]

I never do interviews during daycare hours for security reasons ..... I don't know the people and they could be crazy and as a parent who used to have children in the daycare system I would be ticked if I found out my provider brought strangers around my kids ..... I do it in my time in the evenings and weekends.

Pretty much what I was going to post...:yes:

[mom-in-alberta]

Just posting to say I empathize... I HATE that feeling after an interview crashes and burns. I want to run down the street after them yelling "WAIT! Come back, I am so much more awesome than what you just saw!!!"

I am glad you are not going to have trouble filling the space. I have one more f/t left to fill up, but not a lot of nibbles. :(
Oh, and I have had people request a daytime interview, but have not said yes yet. That would be the day all the children conspire against me, to make me look awful, for sure!!