Family Day Care Vent! Can she do this??

[AliBaby]

So as some of you may know, I have to put my DD into CC as MIL has decided she would rather go look after someone elses kids! (Another thread).

SO before Christmas, I rang FDC and they gave me the number of a lady I had seen back in October to book in with her. I have already had an interview with her, been to her place, etc,s she's met DD, all that stuff.

So I tried before Christmas and couldnt get hold of her. Thought I would leave it over Christmas as that is family time and I know that she has a little boy.

Fast forward to Monday this week. I call and call and call and leave messages on her phone and she doesnt call me back. I call again and again yesterday deosnt call me back. Called this morning and she finally answered.

I told her what the situation is that I would like 2 days (Tues and Wed) and she said she has another lady coming today with 2 kids for an interview and that she will call me back in 2 days to give that lady time to decide if she wants the place!!! WTF!!!

I thought that I was in first and she said last time I saw her that anytime I am ready to put DD into FDC she would love to have her. Well seems maybe we arent good enough now!

I dont know whether I should hold my breath and wait for a 2 day call that may never happen or not be the news that I am looking to hear.

What should I do?

I have 3 weeks until I start back at work and dont know if I can find other CC at short notice.

[BrightSparkles]

unfortunatly i think they can
it has to go to a working parent but other than that they can pick and chose.
Really if thats what shes done that is probably more bad business sense (IMO opinion anway). If she has been this unreliable with phone calls, I would be questioning what type of carer she is.

Left you a message, give me a call

[christy]

I would contact the FDC office and ask for more numbers etc so you don't get left in the cold.

Our FDC carer often would "interveiw" in October/November the families and try to get everyone to "fit" best. So, she would try to space ages and personalities on the right days and try to get everything everyone wanted and it took her a while to get it all organised. If the carer has spaces for a few kids at once, she may find it easier to fill having the two children.... it seems unfair but I guess if they are able to pick & choose they will, ykwim?

[shellbell3]

what a PITA! Is there any other FDC places you know of nearby? Otherwise if you try an actual CC centre I would call now as they have there big turnovers in Jan and somewhere may have a place.
From your post and all the messages ignored it makes me wonder how reliable she is going to be if you do get in with her.

[Floweryfields]

I would say she's doing it because financially she'll be better off with two children from one family. I don't think she's obligated to give you the place first, that certainly would be the professional thing to do.
As someone said, if she's so hard to get onto, then you might be better off finding someone else anyway. What if there was an emergency that you needed to contact her about? Though she's probably got caller ID and didn't want to talk to you until she saw the other family.

[AliBaby]

Girls thanks for listening and your advice.

Sunshine- I was looking for your msg and realised later it was on my mobile thanks hun.
Shell & Ausgirl- You are so right. If she cant answer my calls now, what if it was an emergency!

Well good news. I took all of your advice and decided to ring around. On my calls, I noticed that my favourite childcare centre has jsut opened another centre almost on my doorstep.

Massive waiting list but because the centre directer knew my brothers (who went to the same childcare but a different centre) I got to jump the entire queue and have DD in to start in February!!!

SO HAPPY RIGHT NOW

Its obviously more exxy than FDC but it will be more reliable, they do all the meals which are prepared on the premises, lovely hot meals, fresh food, they provide all the nappies and also milk when they on cows milk!

So happy that my day went from crapola to outstanding!!! YAY!

[briggsy's girl]

it sucks from your perspective, but as previously mentioned, the carer is self employed and she needs to run her "business" as effectively as possible - if she takes on a family with 2 kids she is going to be doing better financially than taking on a single child from one family and then hoping to get another family with a single child to fill the other space. it can be harder to fill single positions, and can also be harder for families with multiple children needing care to actually find care. i know mum hasn't done FDC for a number of years now, but when she was doing it, she was getting calls all the time about specific family structures fitting in due to limiting the number of children in the house at any time (school age/non school age, taking us kids into account blah blah blah)

i would definitely be getting the contact details of some more local carers so that you can cover your bases as well

ETA - posted at same time - yay for the day having a turnaround!

[BekZ]

I reckon the universe just did you a favour hun I bet your DD is so happy with her new daycare..all the best