Bad start....

[playfelt]

One thing I have found when interviewing is that I show them my policies but then go on to explain why I have them. They cover issues that have come up in the past so right from the start we both know were we stand. They are there for the protection of their child such as when a child that is ill can't come to care for the health of the others or why everyone needs to leave a hat at daycare so that no one gets sunstroke when we go outside since it isnt' fair for one child to prevent the others from being able to go out.

When you do that it helps them to relax. It is a legally binding contract they are reading and while it all makes sense to us even in plain english a lot of the terms and concepts are foreign to the parents and so they are naturally wary of the fine print so to speak. I know I am bad but I do tell the parents that what is in my contract is in there because I have been taken advantage of before but that I will reasonablly deal with a family and their needs as they arise or something to that end. The idea being I can be flexible but within my own guidelines. Ex a fever of 99.9 and one of 100.1 are virtually the same so I would go by the child's behaviour/symptoms about calling the child to be sent home not the magic number. I have a late fee but there is a grace period determined by me on a client by client basis - the lady that works in the neighbourhood gets less leeway than the parent driving for an hour through rush hour traffic.