I don't often talk about my daycare. Which is odd, considering I am one of the owners of MomCheck, the company that deals in daycares. We are very independent and neutral here at MomCheck - it was one of our first principles and we're still very adamant about it - that we're the mom's advocate, and we don't endorse, side, favor, or in any way collaborate with daycares. We're going into these daycares and observing them, gathering data. If we were "friends" with them, would you trust us? Maybe - but maybe not - it's hard to be objective when it's personal. So to that end, you won't ever know what daycares we, personally, use.
But today I am going to tell you a little bit about my daycare experience. As a mom. Not as MomCheck. Where I am now was not my first daycare. I've had several childcare arrangements since having children - nanny, relatives, staying at home, and daycare. This is actually my third daycare. I really lucked out with my first daycare - it was just awesome, and I knew it the second I walked in the door. Little did I know at that time, that it is 100% about people. I originally signed up because the facility was beautiful and new and bright and shiny. They used big words and won me over. They used small words and won my son over.
Fast forward 3 years later, and the director left. Within a month - a month! - it was a completely different daycare. It was horrible. My son was miserable, the teachers were miserable, I was miserable...and so were many other families. We held meetings, we asked questions, and we got...nowhere. We got big MRSA outbreaks that were covered up, we got underqualified teachers in understaffed rooms. It was just...awful. I understood why the director left. (She is actually now one of my very best friends. She told me that her corporate had become very bottom-line focused instead of child-focused and was requiring her to operate the daycare in ways that went against how she thought it should be run - so she quit. Without another job. )
I found another daycare and moved. It was another bright and shiny one with a big, recognizable name to match the big weekly tuition rate. And it never felt right. Everyday, my son cried when I dropped him off, everyday it was just uneasy. His teachers were great, and I am still in contact with them, but it just wasn't a good fit. I missed being a name, not a number. I didn't even realize how important that was to me until the week my son and I both had horrible strep throat so we were holed up at home and on Wednesday I got a call from the daycare assistant director telling me my tuition payment was late. "Ummm, okay, " I said, "We haven't even been there this week yet because we're sick - I called on Monday and spoke with you, personally, and told you that. So when we're OVER being sick and actually DO come in, I'll be sure and pay you, okay?" And she replied, "Oh - I'm sorry - I didn't realize you weren't here. (!!) Okay, I'll make a note." And the following week, I had a big note posted in my son's cubby that we owed a late fee for the previous week's tuition being paid late.....
That was the final straw for me. I know it doesn't sound like a big deal, but it showed me that this was not what I wanted in a daycare. I wanted something different. My friend had found another position as a director at a different daycare the month before, so I called her up, asked if she had room, and moved the next week. I haven't looked back since. My new daycare is small, it's personal, and I love every minute of it. It's not bright and shiny, it's not big, but it has one of the longest wait lists you'll ever encounter. 100% word of mouth. No advertising is done, no promotion. In fact, if you blinked, you'd miss the sign for it while driving by.
What makes me love it so? It's the people. Specifically, the director, and even though she's a close, close friend, I am objective about her management. Those of you who know my story of my premature daughter know that we spent 3 months living at the hospital. And then 3 months in quarantine at home. I also spent about a month on bedrest prior to giving birth. And during all this time, we still had our 5 year old son - and wanting to continue some semblance of normalcy, we kept him in daycare. My daycare director sent someone to my house everyday to pick my son up, so I wouldn't have to leave. She sent home dinners. She waived tons of fees so we could conserve our money for bills (NICU bill over $900,000!!!!) She took care of him when I couldn't. When my husband and I were trying to deal with whether or not our daughter would survive, she dealt with whether or not my son was fed, happy, and stimulated. What kind of a daycare director does that? Mine. And I know what you're thinking - sure - she did all that because you're friends. But you'd be wrong. She does this for every family that's a part of her daycare. I've seen it. I'm not special at all because I'm her friend. I'm special because I'm part of her daycare.
Why am I telling you this? Why should you care? I'll tell you why - in this day and age, it is very hard to find companies that are genuinely out to help and service their customers. There is always an angle, always a hook. And we've become used to it. It's just the way business is done. Want help with the product you just bought? Customer support is available for $4.99 an hour. Want parts replaced should it ever break? No problem! For $300, we'll guarantee it for an extra year. Want to lower your rate because times are tough? Happy to help! Just sign this contract promising to be our customer for 2 years, and we'll most definitely help you make it through this tough economical time. I'm tired of it. Tired of it never being about me, and only being about my money. What a novel concept it would be if companies stopped focusing on increasing the bottom line and focused on increasing customer satisfaction. Contrary to popular belief, just being profitable doesn't make a company good. It has to be about more than the money.
That's why I am so over the moon about my daycare. Everything the director does, she does for the children. It's never about money. Ever. Funny thing about that - the daycare's more profitable today than it has ever been in its entire history. Fluke? I think not.
Take a look around - what are the companies that help you run your life focused on? You or your wallet? How do you feel about that? I'll let you think about it while I go to pick up my kids and pick up my free hamburgers. It's National Hamburger month, so my daycare is grilling out and providing dinner for my family tonight. What, yours doesn't do that? Hmmm.