In home day care vent/warning

[pray79]

Hi All,
I put my 9 month old in an in home daycare. The lady seemed a little too strict with her "Rules" but I liked her program for the kids and I liked the overall condition of the house so I put my infant there this week. Then started the fun, she kept on quoting rules from her contract but never signed and gave me back the contract. WHY? Because this is a trial period of 2weeks and she was not sure if she was satisfied!!! Then this morning I reached her doorstep at 6:59 - opening time is 7am, I kncked , she did not open. Ok fair enough I am early I go back to the car and go after two minutes..as I enter she yells "JUST BECAUSE YOU KNOCK OF MY DOOR I WILL NOT OPEN IT IF IT IS NOT 7AM"...it was freaking cold and breezy and was I wrong to ask her to open the doors a minute earlier. Then she went into a tirade about how people do not follow her rules (which by the way are in her contract that she has and I have no idea what all rules she has).
I AGREE everyone is in this for profit but what happened to humanity????? Are these the people that are taking care of our kids?Also she has a very gruff style of talking - she only had one infant before I put my son and now I realize why there were no takers. She also seemed extremely rude but I put it down to her style of talking. Needless to say I am taking him out of there. She is based in Rockville. In case you are looking for daycare in this area PM me and I will tell you her name - STAY AWAY FROM HER!!!

[Anonymous]

Home daycare is not a big moneymaker.

You had reservations about this woman before you even started - so why did you start there?

IMO the fault lies with you because you didn't do enough research or really look for the optimum environment for your child.

You shouldn't be complaining about a trial period because you as the mom should want a trial period to make sure this is the caregiver you want your child with everyday.

Google "choosing daycare" and get some advice on what to look for and how to evaluate daycares....

[Anonymous]

The initials aren't ES, are they?

[Anonymous]

Sorry OP - this doesn't sound right.

There are some wonderful home daycare providers out there. Most of them are in it so they can be a "sort of" stay at home mom and make some money, not really to bring home a big pay check.

We had a wonderful experience in home daycare when we first started out. There are some great providers out there - just find another one!

[Anonymous]

I agree that you should be finding a new place for your child, but as the PP said if you had reservations in the beginning you should have spent some more time observing and visiting with the woman before placing your infant there.
I am an in-home provider of almost 19 years. I wholeheartedly disagree with the woman's behavior and it does sound like she has some serious issues with manners and temperment. Be grateful that there was a trial period and that you can leave now "while the gettin' is good" as they say.
The overall condition of a home and someone's program "on paper" is not enough to make a decision on someone who is caring for your children. You should make at least two visits to an in-home. I do it like this:

First visit, after hours or on a weekend to do the initial interview, go over papers, etc. Not a good meeting for during childcare hours.
Second visit: Parents come with the child for an hour and we visit, can be after hours or during a calmer portion of my daycare day.
Third visit: If desired, same as the second.

I also have a pretty detailed e-mail/phone relationship with families a week or two before they start. They can get to know me, I can get to know them, ask eachother lots of questions, voice any concerns. Afterall, this is your CHILD and I will be caring for them up to 50 hours per week. We have to be partners.
It sounds like your provider is either not in the right field/or she has had a bad experience with a family or two (and we all have them if we do this long enough) and she has not gotten over it. Either way, she either needs to quit or take a break and re-evaluate.
But guess what? It's SO NOT YOUR PROBLEM ANYMORE! And aren't you glad for it? Write her a letter and tell her how you feel the day you leave. Maybe you will spare the next family the trouble. Maybe she will take a look at what she's doing. One can only hope.
I'd love to help you, but I am full and I am in VA. Definitely do a more detailed method of choosing this time around. good luck to you!

[Anonymous]

I'm always amazed to see how many nannies and in-home daycare providers comment on this page during the workday. If you've got a "full" house of kids, how do you have time to troll the internet, much less have time to write long comments? That's always been one of my concerns of in-home providers and nannies. You never know how they're spending the day with your kids and how much time they're actually devoting to caring for them.

[Anonymous]

I have to agree with others who said if you had reservations when you first met this person you should have gone on first instincts. And as for the comment on agreeing she is in it for the money making, believe me. By the time I get paid and put money back into the business with supplies, food and such, there is hardly a profit left.

I too do interviews in the evening, when my daycare kids are not here. It makes it easier to conduct the interview without the interuption of the kids, as well as the fact I dont allow strangers in my home during the time my kids are here. All for the sake of safety, which I would think potential clients would understand and be grateful I follow this. However I know this is criticized.

I had a parent come interview me the other night and ask if I wanted her to fill out my contract. She had not even read it!! I told her to take the copy and that when she read it, she could call me and let me know if she was interested in my services. It is a parents responsibility not only to read what is in the contract but I never would have taken the child there, even for a 2 week trial, without a contract in place. God forbid anything happen in that 2 week time frame!!

As for the 10:19 poster, you are right, I have often wondered how providers are posting during times they say they have a full house. As for me, my infant grandson is asleep and my toddler is out sick today. So this is my time to do my planning, my records, etc. For when the baby wakes up, that is the end of my time.

[Anonymous]

And I am the PP provider who posted as well, the ONE 2 month old infant I have in care today is asleep and the other who would have attended today is out sick. Thursday is my light day of attendance. I am sitting right here with the baby watching him sleep. But thanks for your concern. I was trying to help the OP.

[Anonymous]

PP you might want to think about commenting about such things before you ASSume anything. You don't know anyone's particular attendance situation on any given day. The PP's advice was very helpful and you can tell she is devoted to her kids in care.

[Anonymous]

I'm the 10:19 poster. I appreciate the comments. I apologize for assuming the worst with respect to the 10:06 poster. Thanks for clearing that up. I still stand by my general concern, though.

[Anonymous]

Currently nap time at my house, and though I have a houseful (6) they are all asleep. Poor things are tuckered out from a busy day. That's when most providers use internet, nap time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm the 10:19 poster. I appreciate the comments. I apologize for assuming the worst with respect to the 10:06 poster. Thanks for clearing that up. I still stand by my general concern, though.

We specifically used an in-home provider who had two women working there. I figured it was some accountability.

But honestly, we loved them so much and they were so patient and kind, I would have trusted either one of them on their own!

[Anonymous]

And believe it or not, providers deserve a break too. They work a longer day than parents, they have to be open before you go to work so you can commute and after you get off work . . . well. . . . so you can commute. That can make for a 12 hour day. Naptime is golden, trust me.

[Anonymous]

I still want to know if the provider in question is E.S. OP, are you still there?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And believe it or not, providers deserve a break too. They work a longer day than parents, they have to be open before you go to work so you can commute and after you get off work . . . well. . . . so you can commute. That can make for a 12 hour day. Naptime is golden, trust me.

Some of my days begin at 7am and end at 7:30/8 pm. And that is just the kids coming and going. Once the kids are gone, I still have paperwork to do, planning, cleaning, a load or two of laundry, etc. It makes for a VERY long day