Dilemma

[playfelt]

The biggest red flag for both families for me is why do they need care so suddenly. Here families interview at least a couple months before needing care and some more. A family needing immediate care would need to explain to me why with the idea of they are just a terrible procrastinating family - expect them to never bring anything on time so ask for diapers a month in advance, was grandma going to look after them and changed their mind, are they on a wait list for a daycare centre but not in yet that is the most common one around here meaning they are gone at a moment's notice. I would want to know why I am the back up plan for sure.

For family B I personally don't think she should be expected to pay anything to hold the space for three weeks. It is normal to interview at least a month in advance and thoset three weeks will be used for transition so I would only be charging her for those days. It is like you are goading her into paying - pay up or I will take baby A instead. Loss of income is not baby B's problem if you choose them.

For baby B why they are out of the country might be an issue if it was something that was going to happen frequently to make sure family knew they would have to pay regardless of attendance.

Do be aware that there is always the possibility of turning down baby A only to find by the time they get to the interview stage that baby B no longer needs care because they found someone else in the meantime.

[Inspired by Reggio]

Yup when faced with 'two' choices that are both a match and only one spaces my practice has always been to go with the first one willing and able to sign the contract, pay the deposit and START ... family B has many red flags to me and I will not sign a contract with anyone until I have met BOTH parents in they are in the picture and the child in fact I will not set up an interview unless ALL can attend cause I do not like wasting MY time by having to do multiple interviews with the same family ... you are inviting this family into your HOME and the mother, the father AND the child need to be a match for you and your program ... not to be sexist but there are men whom I would NOT want in my home daily because they are disrespectful and abusive to women and sorry but not having 'met' with the father or child of family B would be a HUGE NO GO for me ... I empathize with this women that they are not 'in the country' but that sadly is not YOUR issue either .... like others have said I have care for many a CUTE child whose photos make you think of angels but whose PERSONALITY is equally opposite

[sunnydays]

I have had a couple of families interview and sign with me who needed care immediately and they have both been absolutely great! One mother had been offered a contract which started right away and was going back to work early (grandparents had stepped in while they found a daycare). The other family was changing daycares because their current provider had changed her hours and it no longer worked for them. I don't think last minute always means that there will be problems...just find out why.

The biggest red flag for both families for me is why do they need care so suddenly. Here families interview at least a couple months before needing care and some more. A family needing immediate care would need to explain to me why with the idea of they are just a terrible procrastinating family - expect them to never bring anything on time so ask for diapers a month in advance, was grandma going to look after them and changed their mind, are they on a wait list for a daycare centre but not in yet that is the most common one around here meaning they are gone at a moment's notice. I would want to know why I am the back up plan for sure.

For family B I personally don't think she should be expected to pay anything to hold the space for three weeks. It is normal to interview at least a month in advance and thoset three weeks will be used for transition so I would only be charging her for those days. It is like you are goading her into paying - pay up or I will take baby A instead. Loss of income is not baby B's problem if you choose them.

For baby B why they are out of the country might be an issue if it was something that was going to happen frequently to make sure family knew they would have to pay regardless of attendance.

Do be aware that there is always the possibility of turning down baby A only to find by the time they get to the interview stage that baby B no longer needs care because they found someone else in the meantime.