Bummer.

[Sandbox Sally]

This woman and I have been talking on the phone/via email for a while. She FINALLY came by for an interview today. She just left, actually. I feel nauseous.

She wanted:
-no payment when she didn't come (ie, her mom takes her for the day etc)
-no contract
-no notice when she terminated (her husband periodically gets laid off)

I tried to reason with her. She became very short with me and gathered her things to leave when I told her she had to pay even if she decided to keep her home for the day. She went on and on about what OTHER daycares do, and how she was so surprised that I wouldn't accommodate her. She told me how everyone else she'd been to was so much more flexible than me. She really made me feel like a Nazi, even going so far as to tell me that I shouldn't be taking holidays unless school was out (she is a teacher).

She told me that it was "a real shame" that I couldn't be flexible because she loved my program and set up and I seemed like a perfect fit....

Damn. I was kind of banking on her. Not too many bites lately, and I am starting to panic for September. I am all PMS'y too so I am trying to keep it in perspective and hold it together. sorry for the TMI.

ETA: Is this my new reality?? Am I reallly going to have to offer flex care for every yahoo, because it's what "every other provider" is doing? FML...

[Bookworm]

She sounds like a real winner. You are better off without her! I know you are having a rough time filling your spots, but it WILL happen. You are worth what you are asking for. Do not let this one lady ruin your day.

By the sounds of it, she is looking for a daycare who operates illegally. Most legitimite daycares I know have all 3 of the very things she does not want.

[BlueRose]

Please, if every other provider was offering what she is saying that they do, she would have gone with one of them already. She is just trying to BULLY you into giving her what she wants. Stand your ground and don't give in. You can find better parents that will treat you with the respect you deserve.

[jec]

In my own experience I've found teachers to be much like that ~ so much so that when I find out on email and or by phone that they are teachers I tell them up front that I can't accomidate their needs of summer/christmas holidays off and give them names of providers that do in my area.

((Hugs)) nothing worse than having to deal with that but Valerie has a point, if others were better than she would have gone with them.
I think you'll find that with September coming up- more parents are looking as they are typically on vacation right now and will do the last minute scramble soon
I moved a year ago come the end of this month and found starting up in a new town was almost the same as starting up when I first opened. Many MANY home daycare's in my area ....almost every other house is a stay home Mom offering daycare at cheaper rates ( no offense intended to you stay home moms plse ) I had to establish myself again and build up a reputation and get my name out there as most were refering to each other and I wasn't getting any bites either.
Stay strong..your not a nazi ~ you just had a run in with one

[apples and bananas]

That's too bad you couldn't have weeded her out before the interview.

I am one of those providers who do not charge when I close or when your child is sick. I have very specific reasons for running my business this way. And I promise I run a very legitimate daycare with a great program.

I do have a contract, and I ask for 30 days notice when they terminate though.

At the end of the day you have to charge what you're willing to work for. Otherwise, you'll hate what you do. Stick to your fees and programs, someone amazing will come along and take that space.

[Inspired by Reggio]

....I am one of those providers who do not charge ..... when your child is sick. .....

There have been times I have considered adding this to encourage them to 'keep their child home' when they are sick verses sending them cause they have to pay .... however I would definitely have a CAP on how many days they can use per year to help with my budgeting and to be honest it would still be factored into my daily fee so that at the end of the year I would still make the same amount of $$ even offering this 'perk' to clients ... aka one year I would raise my fees 4% instead of 2% and offer clients 5 unpaid days for their children ... so I would still get my 2% COL raise in fees cause the other 2% would cover the 'lost' income in offering the 5 days

[Littledragon]

There have been times I have considered adding this to encourage them to 'keep their child home' when they are sick verses sending them cause they have to pay .... however I would definitely have a CAP on how many days they can use per year to help with my budgeting and to be honest it would still be factored into my daily fee so that at the end of the year I would still make the same amount of $$ even offering this 'perk' to clients ... aka one year I would raise my fees 4% instead of 2% and offer clients 5 unpaid days for their children ... so I would still get my 2% COL raise in fees cause the other 2% would cover the 'lost' income in offering the 5 days

Totally off topic but I thought the same thing lol. I had an interview last week and I told them that I have three sick days a year - paid and he asked if he gets three sick days a year unpaid...thought that was interesting....

[Judy Trickett]

.................... .....next!

[Toregone]

If other providers are willing to short change themselves let them. You'll fill the space and with someone willing to be fair.

[Play and Learn]

If other providers are willing to short change themselves let them. You'll fill the space and with someone willing to be fair.

Yup. That's the NEXT.

I would have booted her out once she started to 'negotiate' with me. I don't do that. Rules and Rules.