I don’t normally write about my business, however, today begins my four-part guest series on running a daycare business at Home Biz Notes. The series will run today, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. This is not only an informative series for those considering a home daycare business but, those using daycare. Sometimes it is hard to understand where the other side is coming from and by reading this series, you may have a better appreciation for why your provider does some of the things she does.
I have had many joys and blessings with my daycare, but one experience caused me to make many changes in how I ran my business. Two years ago I agreed to watch a two month old child. The parents seemed a little high maintenance, but that’s not uncommon with first-time parents. Two weeks after the child started, the husband left his wife for another woman. Mom was understandably devastated and I truly hurt for her and her daughter.
Mom did not have family in the area and did not have a very good support system. As a new mom and going through a messy divorce, I wanted to help her as much as I could. I bent a lot of rules for her and this is where I made my mistake. You cannot breach the provider/client relationship. Mom quickly began taking advantage of my lenience. She was often late picking up her child. She asked if I would watch her daughter in the evening so she could go out socially. She wanted to drop her child off around nine so I could put her to bed for the night. She completely disregarded my family or that her daughter’s crib was in my bedroom. Although I did not agree to this, her request made me realize what little respect she had for me and my family.
Two weeks before Christmas, the child turned one. Mom wanted to continue formula and I told her she would need to begin providing it. A disagreement ensued that led to other areas of concern. I tried to explain her expectations were unfair. I told her I was also a working mom and had to take care of personal business in the evening and on weekends. She dismissed me stating that was not her problem. The following week she called and told me her doctor wanted to continue formula for her daughter. I told her state law required I have a doctor’s note. She hung up on me. I called her back and told her she needed to find a new provider.
I dealt with this woman for six months. She caused so much stress in my life that I started questioning my own relationship with my husband. Thankfully I have a strong marriage and my husband and I talked through all of my concerns. The level of stress I endured made me physically ill. It took several months to recover from the stress and I considered seeing a doctor for depression. Thankfully it did not come to that.
I made many changes to my business and policy handbook as a result of this experience. It is important that you do not allow personal feelings for a person to interfere with what is best for you and your business. It is easy to confuse the boundary lines in this business. It is also important to have a support system with other providers in your area who you can get advice from and lean on in difficult times.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Trials of Running a Home Daycare
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
ShareThis
11 comments:
It's such a fine line, isn't it? With any business. You've got those difficult people making life so hard and yet you just want to make everyone happy. I admire you for doing daycare - it's just not in me to deal with people on a regular basis.
I've dealt with daycare as a parent for 7 years, and also went through the licensing process myself when Becca was born and watched a baby boy for several months. It really is important to understand where the 'other side' is coming from and to maintain a professional distance. What a great post and I can't wait to read the rest of your series! :)
I wish the owner of our daycare was as rational as you. She randomly gets weird about the oddest things and no one knows what the deal is. I have to think she's letting personal issues get in the way of her business when she gets all goofy about things like calling parents to get their kids when they "don't seem like themselves." Of course, I know all about how her kids were chronically ill as kids, so she did need to be more concerned with her kids when they were little. But sometimes kids are just grumpy, you know?
This will be an interesting series to read. I'm glad you decided to post this!
Come share some of your wisdom at R&S!!
Hey Debbie,
Nice job on the article.
Sometimes it's hard raising someone else's kids. You want to love them and treat them how you want yours to be treated. And yet.... they're not yours, and they've gotta go home SOME time, so you too can have family time to watch your kids grow.
Sometimes it's so very hard to be tough, isn't it? *sigh*
Hi Deb,
The issue of getting too personally involved with clients (or employees), is so important in business.
We got burnt by an ex-employee because we cared about his situation. But after that, we had to step back and like you, change our policy.
That's what usually happens, one bad egg spoils it for everyone.
Hi Barbara,
I guess with any business it's easy to cross the boundary lines. I admit that even today I am lenient on some rules just because I don't want the confrontation. It's good to remember what can happen when things go wrong.
Boy that had to have been a tough one. So glad you finally got out of that unhealthy client relationship.
Hi Debbie
Thanks for writing such a great guest post series for us at Home Biz Notes.
The boundaries issue is a difficult one, especially when you are working from your own home.
In a home based business dealing with people who come to your home on a daily basis, you inevitably develop a relationship. Where children are involved, it becomes even more sensitive.
I really feel for you and what you had to go through. Thanks for sharing your personal story.
I'm very glad you started this series. I have been considering caring for children in my home, but it's something that I'm still unsure of. One of the main reasons being, hard to deal with parents!
Hi Texas Mom,
For the most part I have had good relationships with the parents. I let this woman's personal problems and my concern for the child cloud my judgment. I don't want to scare anyone off from running a daycare. I know many women who love their business and it is an excellent way to make money and be home with your children. However, it helps to have a plan up front. If you decide to pursue this venture, feel free to contact me. I'd be happy to give you some ideas of what to put in your policy handbook.
Post a Comment