Turn around; all kinds of crazy!
So, I shared with you how I had an interview with these parents; in particular the Mom who just shot up red flags everywhere in my head. The woman: Asked me to turn up the heat in my playroom (it's in the basement; it gets cool...even on the parent checklist to leave a sweater & slippers), she physically went in my playroom food cupboards/fridge to see what kind of food I serve, demanded a crib instead of playpen for her daughter (9 months old), could only come during open hours for interview and demanded to return 1 hour later at lunch time to watch me feed her child (so she could see that I could "handle things"), demanded to see the blender I use (to make sure it's a good one that would purée well), sent e-mails late into the night to 'discuss my menu' (what would I substitute for Menu item for baby)....I could go on..... So, last night I sent her a very polite, but professional email addressing the points above and also asked for her trust (telling her about all of the experience I have, reassuring her). I agreed to keep this child today and tomorrow and make my decision then. Something just told me to persist, to give this child a chance, to grow (I didn't even go into her development delays, imposed, I'm sure by way overprotective parents: Barely sitting, still eating purée only, Mom says she "can't play outside, too young"). So, today (without Mom) she was with me a full day (even playing outside *gasp* and it went so great! Child is a dream. We need to work on her being satisfied with floor time and food texture growth...but I see promise. I kept sending parents pictures and updates, sent them home with my logbook full of details of her day and Mom was just glowing! She actually started to cry & say thank you so much, she has been so worried & paranoid (ya think?!) about finding the right fit for her child. So, what started so badly ended well (for now;))
