CrazyEight
05-04-2014, 08:47 PM
I need some fresh perspective...should I even consider meeting this family??
I currently have one spot open, although may have 2 or possibly 3 coming open soon, but that's another story. The point is, I'd really like to fill it ASAP.
All of my families currently pick up by 5pm. I'd like to keep it that way if at all possible.
I got an email enquiry from what turns out to be a stepdad, looking for daycare for his fiancée's 3.5-year-old. His first email was vague and short: just asking if I still have a spot and asking "what other info I need," no mention of the age of child, hours/days needed, rates, nothing. I emailed back saying yes, I have a spot, and asking all the obvious questions.
He responds telling me the age, they need fulltime, pickups by 5pm, and asks if the girl CAN START ON THURSDAY. Without meeting me, discussing fees AT ALL, nothing. He also said he doesn't know what school she'll be going to yet (she starts in the fall) even though I can only do pickups/drop-offs to 2 schools. I explained how the city is very strict on catchment areas, and where you go depends on where you live, you cannot pick and choose your school. I want to know if I'll have this child beyond the summer or not.
So, I then say that I would need to set up an interview with all of them, and I emphasize how I need to meet them, show them my daycare space, and GO OVER MY CONTRACT, so that they know I'm serious. I also give my rates, which he had yet to ask about. I reiterate that I close by 5pm, and a few other important things - my holidays this summer, my nut-free home, etc.
He just emailed back saying "everything sounds perfect," and saying that his fiancée is "moving to the city" this week so they want to meet on Wednesday.
Should I even consider meeting them?? There are so many flags...I looked them up on facebook and they both appear very young. Now, I hate to judge people based on age, because I myself am only 28, I appear much younger, and my own kids were born when I was 22, 23 and 26, so I really get looks and assumptions from strangers about my ability to parent my own children. I don't want to judge them or assume they'll be poor clients just because of their age. But wanting to just send the child, having not even met me? Are you serious?
I also realize that this is a young stepdad, who probably doesn't really get it. She's obviously asked him to sort out daycare for some reason, so he's trying to do that, and not really realizing that this is NOT how you go about finding quality care. Should I give him the benefit of the doubt and meet with them and decide then?
He never got back to me about the school question, so I still don't know if I would even get the child past the summer. It seems overkill to question him about it again, as they either don't know where they'll be living, or don't know how long they'll be there. Furthermore, if she's just moving here, how can I trust the hours they have said? I don't even know if she has a job or not.
It sounds very vague and makes me uneasy. That being said, I don't want to judge a book by it's cover and write them off, particularly because he's probably a bit clueless as to what a professional childcare provider requires.
Thoughts? Meet with them and see, or walk away?
I currently have one spot open, although may have 2 or possibly 3 coming open soon, but that's another story. The point is, I'd really like to fill it ASAP.
All of my families currently pick up by 5pm. I'd like to keep it that way if at all possible.
I got an email enquiry from what turns out to be a stepdad, looking for daycare for his fiancée's 3.5-year-old. His first email was vague and short: just asking if I still have a spot and asking "what other info I need," no mention of the age of child, hours/days needed, rates, nothing. I emailed back saying yes, I have a spot, and asking all the obvious questions.
He responds telling me the age, they need fulltime, pickups by 5pm, and asks if the girl CAN START ON THURSDAY. Without meeting me, discussing fees AT ALL, nothing. He also said he doesn't know what school she'll be going to yet (she starts in the fall) even though I can only do pickups/drop-offs to 2 schools. I explained how the city is very strict on catchment areas, and where you go depends on where you live, you cannot pick and choose your school. I want to know if I'll have this child beyond the summer or not.
So, I then say that I would need to set up an interview with all of them, and I emphasize how I need to meet them, show them my daycare space, and GO OVER MY CONTRACT, so that they know I'm serious. I also give my rates, which he had yet to ask about. I reiterate that I close by 5pm, and a few other important things - my holidays this summer, my nut-free home, etc.
He just emailed back saying "everything sounds perfect," and saying that his fiancée is "moving to the city" this week so they want to meet on Wednesday.
Should I even consider meeting them?? There are so many flags...I looked them up on facebook and they both appear very young. Now, I hate to judge people based on age, because I myself am only 28, I appear much younger, and my own kids were born when I was 22, 23 and 26, so I really get looks and assumptions from strangers about my ability to parent my own children. I don't want to judge them or assume they'll be poor clients just because of their age. But wanting to just send the child, having not even met me? Are you serious?
I also realize that this is a young stepdad, who probably doesn't really get it. She's obviously asked him to sort out daycare for some reason, so he's trying to do that, and not really realizing that this is NOT how you go about finding quality care. Should I give him the benefit of the doubt and meet with them and decide then?
He never got back to me about the school question, so I still don't know if I would even get the child past the summer. It seems overkill to question him about it again, as they either don't know where they'll be living, or don't know how long they'll be there. Furthermore, if she's just moving here, how can I trust the hours they have said? I don't even know if she has a job or not.
It sounds very vague and makes me uneasy. That being said, I don't want to judge a book by it's cover and write them off, particularly because he's probably a bit clueless as to what a professional childcare provider requires.
Thoughts? Meet with them and see, or walk away?