What do other daycares think of this situation?

[diamondmine]

Well, we are looking for new daycare now and hope we find a good place asap. Neither one of us can take time off work since we don't have anymore vacation time left for the year. I feel like I made the wrong choice because we interviewed a few people who all seemed great, and decided to go with her. I don't feel like I can contact the others now after telling them we had decided to go with another daycare after interviewing them. We have pretty much told them they were second choice, haven't we?

So now we are scrambling trying to find a good caregiver and he will be going back to her for the next two weeks until we find someone new. My son didn't go today because he wasn't feeling well all weekend and neither is my husband so they stayed home today. He will be going back tomorrow. I spoke with the caregiver face to face today to let her know he wasn't coming today but will be back tomorrow, which was best as it seems she has also caught whatever they have and wasn't feeling well today either, but didn't want to call in sick on me.
We'll just have to take it all as a learning experience and get on with it. I would rather not shufffle my kid around so much but at the same time while I think it's a crap situation I don't feel at all that he's in any harm in her care.

I'm going to take the deposit thing as her reaction to how the other families that told her they were signing on left her in the lurch and "held up" spots she could have filled with other kids. To be completely honest I don't think she actually found a job though. I think she just doesn't want to be honest and say she doesn't think our son is a good fit. If that is the case and she is planning on continuing daycare with other children then I hope she is more prepared for how some children can react and need a "transition" time which is usually more than a few days. My son wasn't bad. She said he would have times during the day when he was upset and "sad" and she couldn't cheer him up. He didn't want to eat lunch for her (but would eat snacks and juice or milk), and slept a couple hours each day without fuss, just put down in the pack and play and would go to sleep. He would have a cranky morning, but then would be fine and happy in the afternoon or vice versa. When my husband would pick him up at the end of they day he wasn't running for his arms or anything, he seemed happy. She thought it was weird that he didn't like to be hugged by her daughter (would play side by side with her but didn't want her hugging him or touching his head etc...) I don't think she expected any sort of separation anxiety. I hope if she is planning on continuing daycare and finding a better "playmate" for her daughter that things go better (or maybe a little worse? lol!).

[kidlove]

I WOULD call those other Day Cares for another "chance". If they are good people they will welcome you with open arms. All you need to do is let them know you may have made a mistake at choosing a proper provider....if they have any reasonable understanding they will do just that...understand and give you a second interview.(who knows, they may have thought they lost a "good one" when you called to say, you were going somewhere else) You are not the only parent who has to make a few moves before finding the right Day Care. You live and learn, and hopefully with the next one you will know MORE of what to look for, doesn't mean you won't hit a road block or two but you should be better off because of this situation.
Good for you for giving this woman the chance to finish her contract with your son....says a lot about your charactor. I do believe that he is not in "poor" care, otherwise you wouldn't have chosen her in the first place...things just didn't pan out as expected (on both your parts) but it is really great that you and her can work things out for the next few weeks.
Sometimes it really does just boil down to "not a good fit", IF she really doesn't have a job lined up, I do have to say "shame on her"....never lie! doesn't get you anywhere, she should have just come out and told you things weren't working out! (if thats the truth)
I have to add though, although you could have a great outcome with a "new" provider the next time around, I do put myself in others shoes (and in your shoes) I would go for a provider who shares the same beliefs as you, understands you when you talk, you agree with ALL her rules and regulations, of course...you have a "good feeling" about, AND last but not least...due to the fact that you are "new" to Day Care as well....I would look for a Provider who has done care for a while, someone who has alot of families "under their belt" (maybe you can ask for references) and always look for OPEN and HONEST. Good Luck in your search.
ps. ultimately you can view this as a learning experience rather than a "mistake". The more you experience the more you learn!!!!