Has common courtesy gone out the window?

[5 Little Monkeys]

It's very frustrating and IMO disrespectful when they say they will contact you and than don't. I understand though that it's just some people's way of ending the meeting and than when they choose a different dc they don't want to take the time to phone/email the others they met with. Doesn't make it right but I can see why it happens.

I think I do my interviews a bit differently than others on here. I used to interview all the ones who were interested and than whoever got back to me first got the spot. It worked out and I always ended up with great families but than I thought what if I meet with 2 families and I like family 1 better but family 2 gets back to me first. I want to be in charge of my business and that means picking who comes here. I switched to meeting with them all and telling them I would get back to them when meetings were over and I made my decision. However, I hated meeting with multiple families (huge time waster!), liking them all and them liking me and than I had to tell many that I was choosing a different family over them.

So now I do my interviews this way.....I advertise my spot, I meet with a family one at a time. I tell them I am meeting with others and wanting to make my decision by xxx date. I tell them at the end of the meeting to let me know ASAP (within 24 hrs) if they want the spot and I will be choosing from the ones who say yes. If the meeting went well and they email me saying they want the spot, I tell them I would like to take them on. If the meeting doesn't go well or I get a bad vibe, I send a quick email after xxx date saying I went with a different family. It gives me the power to choose who I take on. For some, first come first serve works but it wasn't for me.

However, there are times that the inquiries are dry and I have to take on whoever just because they are my one and only interested family and I have bills to pay. That bit me in the ass big time though (just terminated a child a week ago that I knew I shouldn't have taken on in the first place) and so when finances allow, I will not be doing that again!!

I hope your spaces fill fast and with considerate families!!! I met with a mom last night and she emailed me within hours saying that when I was done interviewing, if I wanted them they would be happy to come here. I had another mom interested but have no interview lined up with her as she never did reply to my email after I told her my rate. Last night's meeting went well so I will be accepting her.

Good luck!! The right family will come along!