Red flags in interviews

[godsgirl]

My biggest red flags have literally been the child's behaviour. All 3 of my difficult families (who have now been either terminated or are just gone) I just had a bad gut feeling and thought to myself 'it's ok, I can handle it'. They have either been extremely hyper at the interviews or just disrespectful. One boy had actually crawled on and layer on top of my coffee table (he was 2 at the time so I just assumed it was a toddler thing - this was one of my first families), the other was so hyper that he found one of my sons ride on toys and was literally going around and around and around the kitchen table and my dog was very sketchy around him as well (he ended up having a behavioural issue and needed more aid than I could offer so I had to terminate him - my only termination so far), and the other one refused to come out of my sons pop up tent that we had set up and refused to listen to his mom and come out so they could leave (again, my very first family).

All of them I just had a bad feeling. I gave it my all with those families but was so relieved to see them go. Now I am smarter and think I will be a little bit more picky and not just jump at the first family that comes around.

Another big red flag for me is unaccountability. People who say they will show up for interviews and don't but want to reschedule last minute or those that say they will do something and not follow through (like for paperwork and such)

[teddybeartots]

I am going to say that first-time-parents would be a big red flag for me, in the future. From experience they are more clingy with their babies, want constant updates (which i understand to a certain extent, but I am not going to text u after every nap, meal, poop, playtime...u will be filled in at the end of the day). It is almost another job, trying to assure them that their child is okay. All of which, makes my job harder. I have made big strides with one baby but at the beginning of every week, I am starting all over again; sleep training, playing independently etc....it is honestly an up hill battle.
Another red flag, would be the negotiating, guilt, "confusion" over the rates. This is my income, this is a career I have chosen, this is how I provide for my family, this...is....a....bu siness. My incentive not to be sick, is that I LOSE PAY. Am I entitled to vacation...u betcha! The hours for the daycare is time that I am caring for your child-ren, without taking into account that I am also preparing meals/snacks/planning menus/activities etc, after the daycare is closed....Believe me, the amount you pay is nothing compared to what I would love to charge. I feel insulted when they negotiate, as if I am entitled to less. What do u think I do all day? lol