I'm an amicable sort. I even know how to share. Heck, I teach sharing on a daily basis. I'm a team player. I get along in the sandbox but throw sand in my eyes and I am likely to hit you over the head with the pail.
I consider myself generous. When a new provider rides into the neighbourhood I am always quick to notice, call them, email them, contact them in some manner and welcome them to the circus. I have doled out advice freely about area rates, demand, bad parents, good parent, bad providers, good providers, marketing avenues and the list goes on and on and on. Hell, I even take time to blog so other providers will benefit from learning from my mistakes in the hope that they can avoid some of the common pitfalls of home daycare. So, it goes without saying that when I see an area provider using my information, my hard work, for their own benefit I am likely to get very pissy, very fast.
In the month of June I interviewed with a lovely family. They were perfect. I sent them home with a copy of my contract, policies, business card, frequently asked questions, forms and the entire gamut of paperwork. Imagine my dismay today while browsing Kijiji and I came across a "New Home Daycare" ad that looked just a little too familiar. Yes, you guessed it. My time, my business sweat and tears were stolen from me by a dishonest and greedy provider want-to-be under the guise of a parent needing quality care for their child. A simple drive-by of the property in question, compared to the photo on Kijiji gave me all of the proof I needed.
To the provider want-to-be - know this. I WILL share your name and your fraudulent motives with other area providers. I WILL let those providers know that you visited my home, wasted my time, stole my contract and forms, and posted some of my info on your website. We're a tight knit group, we providers. We welcome newbies with open arms but screw us once and you will quickly find yourself not only with no children in care but not a single area provider to take on your child when you are forced back into the real world of work. Good luck to you.
The most frustrating part of all of this is that I have freely before, and will again, give anyone a copy of my contract. As always, the message that goes along with the attachment is the same - make it your own. Change it, amend it, make it specific to you. But, whatever you do, don't just use my work. And for God's sake, have the professionalism and class to ask for it. Don't just take it.
I have an email ready to shoot off to this woman. No doubt, I will be the bad guy. I just don't care. Besides, as I have always said, "popularity is highly over rated".
For concerns, advice or suggestions I welcome your email at judytrickett@yahoo.ca
Oh Judy....That's terrible! I hope Karma takes care of that woman for you.
ReplyDeleteI wholeheartedly believe in Karma as the PP said. Judy, that sucks. I can't believe that woman came right into your house!! Let us know what happens with this. On the positive side, your blog and advice that you give so freely with a kind heart isn't all for not. We ALL appreciate you!! What a bad apple!!
ReplyDeleteOMG Judy, I can't believe that someone would actually do this!!
ReplyDeleteWhen I was getting started, I went to a local Early Learning Center and asked if I could volunteer for a few days. I was completely up front by informing them that I was opening a home day care. One of the days it rained so they were happy to have the extra set of hands (and they have since referred clients to me when they were full). There are other ways to gain knowledge and experience besdies STEALING them!
Keep up the great work!
:)
You are a wealth of information Judy, and you do share it very, very generously. I wish you knew how much we appreciate your generosity and wisdom.
ReplyDeleteTsk tsk on the other provider. But Judy, you need to be very careful about what you say about other parents (good or bad) and providers. You may find yourself slapped with some legal troubles. Tread carefully and be very, very careful about what you say about other people. Libel and slander against you will hurt your business.
ReplyDelete... but is it still libel and slander if she's telling the truth? :P
ReplyDeleteThat's disgusting. What is wrong with people?
ReplyDelete"But Judy, you need to be very careful about what you say about other parents (good or bad) and providers. You may find yourself slapped with some legal troubles. Tread carefully and be very, very careful about what you say about other people. Libel and slander against you will hurt your business."
ReplyDeleteWhile I thank you for your concern I refuse to go through life pussy footing around. I tell it like it is. Besides, there isn't much to discus when another provider pulls out your contract and uses it as her own. Canadian copywrite laws are very clear that once something is originally authored it is OWNED and therefore may not be reproduced in its entirety. And, there is no question that this parent DID visit my home and is NOW opening a home daycare. It is what it is. Sorry, but I don't live my life in fear. I stand by my word. A personal motto of mine is, "If you're not willing to stand up and admit saying something to that person's face then don't say it all". Well, here I am standing.....now where IS that woman who stole my contract???? I'll gladly wait here for her.
Judy, I was not referring to your contract but rather what you say about people. In this particular blog you've clearly written "I have doled out advice freely about area rates, demand, bad parents, good parent, bad providers, good providers, marketing avenues and the list goes on and on and on." You need to be very careful what you say about someone. Can you prove and back up what you say such as "they're bad parents, bad providers", or is it just your opinion or view? We all have the right to express views and opinions but NOT at the expense of people's personal and professional reputations. If you say it you had better have the undeniable proof to back it up. As a business person should you even be saying those things. Very unprofessional in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteSomething similar happened to me. A woman came to my house for an interview with her 2 children. It seemed we "hit it off" and promised to be in touch, and she left with copies of all my paperwork. That afternoon, I was on Kijiji and she had an ad placed offering spaces for her new dayhome. Let me tell ya, I fired off an email right away, told her she better not copy my contract, and that if she wanted advice about opening a dayhome, or wanted info on rates and such, just ASK!
ReplyDeleteI feel like whatever Judy may say about other providers or parents, she is doing so with pure motives. We all have to look out for eachother!! I really appreciate when someone gives me the heads up on one of "those" parents and if I see a provider doing something I feel is wrong and someone asks my OPINION about her, don't think I won't let them know how I feel. That's just the way I see it. I think what this woman did was shoot herself in the foot, she could have gone about it the right way and gained an allie (sp?) in Judy,what a great resource she would be to have in your very own community!Instead, she sunk to a very low level.I fully support whatever measures you feel you need to go to. You're a smart cookie Judy!!
ReplyDeleteWhat I want to know is - Why is it that the people who disagree with these posts continously post as Anonymous?? If you have an opinion, specifically if you disagree with something - at least have the balls to let it be known who you are instead of hiding behind Anonymous all the time.
ReplyDeleteJudy, I fully support your blog - brag about it to all my friends and fellow providers and would be right there backing you 100% with my FULL NAME!!
Kudos to you Judy! Hold your head high!
@MomOf3 - Not your real name I see. Here's my handle: momof2girls.
ReplyDeleteI sure would want you as a friend in my neighbourhood Judy and I would have given anything to have you as a friend when I started daycare. You know your stuff, say it like it is and are not malicious(sp?)in any way. You know what you know by attending the "school of hard knocks" YOU GO GIRL!
ReplyDeleteLibel/schmible! and I have tried to change my name to "me", but my original account can't be undone so I'm not hiding....and I'd stand behind you, beside you or even run like heck with you!
Kimmar
Tsk tsk on the other provider.
ReplyDelete"But Judy, you need to be very careful about what you say about other parents (good or bad) and providers. You may find yourself slapped with some legal troubles. Tread carefully and be very, very careful about what you say about other people. Libel and slander against you will hurt your business."
All I can say here is: Dumbbunny! You must just love to stir things up.
Why can't we be anonymous when "Judy" is anonymous? I think that would be a double standard.
ReplyDeleteI may be wrong but I am pretty sure Judy has never mentioned anyone by name so I am really confused about the one commenter warning about being "careful what you say about other people."
ReplyDeleteAlso,
"Can you prove and back up what you say such as "they're bad parents, bad providers", or is it just your opinion or view? We all have the right to express views and opinions but NOT at the expense of people's personal and professional reputations. If you say it you had better have the undeniable proof to back it up."
What??? Ummm...this is a BLOG!So I would certainly hope it would be full of opinions, views and commentary.
Brenda? Are you on here too?
ReplyDeleteKimbercare is asking if it's you online.
Hey Kim, I haven't been online for a bit. Just checking in. What's up?
ReplyDeleteI dont care much about your statements in this blog because they can be somewhat derogatory and has the potential to be a lawsuit waiting to happen. As a more experienced and celebrated day care provider I think you should have taken the high road and not stoop down to their level by posting this blog even if you did not publish their name. I believe in the saying that dont get cheap, get litigation. Take her to court and clean her out its the classy thing to do :)
ReplyDelete