How do you interview?

[torontokids]

I do first come first served. So if a spot opens up, the first family that contacts me I set up a phone interview with. I do most of the interviewing there and if it doesn't sound like a fit (hours, personality, age of child) I tell them as much and don't invite them for an interview. If it is a match they come for an interview/tour. Sometimes I will have 2 phone interviews in a week and then they both come on the weekend at different times. I offer the spot to the family during the interview if I think it's a match and I tell them I have other interested families and it is first to get the package back to me.

[sunnydays]

I do exactly what you described as your old way 5 Little Monkies. I interview 3-4 families, usually all in one weekend, and then decide which one to take. But I know exactly what you mean! First of all, I sometimes have a VERY hard time deciding between them all if they were all similar and I agonize over who to choose. Second, I feel really bad telling the other families that I didn't choose them...there is just no nice way to say it no matter how you try to explain that they were great too On the plus side though, I find parents don't dilly dally too much on getting back to me because they know there are other families who interviewed too. I hadn't thought of changing the process...may think about trying what you said you do now (one at a time)...but then it would be even harder to turn that one family away if I haven't interviewed others!