White House Family Day Care

I called Susan at White House to inquire if she had a part-time space for my 16 month old. She said she did, and to come over the next day. After I toured the location, she told me again she certainly had a space for my son and told me which days were available. A week later, I called her to tell her that, although we loved her daycare, because of a logistical issue, we were going to go with a different daycare. She told me she could work with me, and that I should absolutely send my son to her. I agreed, since it did seem like such a nice place. Susan told me to bring him by the next week so he could get acquainted. I did, he played quietly and happily with the other kids for a half hour. She gave me tons of paperwork, and we settled on a definite schedule. She told me to bring him back again the following week to get acquainted with the particular kids on that schedule. In the meantime, I gave her a donation of over $100 of barely-used high-end toys. I filled out all the paperwork, some notarized, got the medical forms from the doctor, and brought my son back the following week as requested. Again, he quietly and happily played. A few hours later—just days before he was to begin--she called and said she couldn’t take him after all, she “couldn’t meet his needs and it would be unfair to the other kids.” Please note my son has NO special needs or behavioral issues—in fact, he had just had an Early Intervention assessment (because of a possible congenital jaw issue that might affect speech) and was reported to be on track in all areas, social, communicative, etc. He’s not aggressive, he’s very affectionate, he’s a great napper, great eater, and loves to play independently. He’s had several other caregivers with nary a problem. This was all obvious during our visits. Through two long and rambling conversations—in which I got to hear all about her “problems” with trying to please people at her own cost—it slipped that since I had agreed to send him there, she had subsequently agreed to take 18 month twins. Now I understand that in this economy, it might be necessary to take two full time clients instead of one part-time client. But a) she told me from day 1 she would never do that, because I did ask, b) she was the one who actively encouraged me to choose her and led me on for nearly a month, getting my son enthusiastic about the space, letting me set my work schedule, then canceling with a few days notice, and c) despite her slips regarding the twins, she insisted on blaming it on my son’s “needs,” which are only typical 16-month-old needs. She made every effort to make me feel like I had pushed him onto her against her will, that I was a bad mother, and that there was something seriously wrong with my (just-assessed-as-happy-and-normal) toddler that would be a detriment to other kids. I was also offended that, having spent time with him 3 times, she would only refer to him as “your son.” He’s a person, he has a name, please use it and stop objectifying him. The facility is lovely, well-kept, clean, and beautifully stocked. The kids there seem very happy, well adjusted, and well cared for. That is why I had no hesitation in agreeing to send him there, even with the logistical issue. I see nothing to report as incorrect in a daycare setting, and even this issue is not a matter of law or regulation. However, I think that her treatment of a working mom, and her placing blame on a sweet little boy, show an inappropriate lack of professionalism, ethics, and general human kindness. I sent her a message asking for the return of the toys, which I would prefer to donate to a nonprofit. She did not answer. (The two other daycares we visited are thrilled to take him, and one was available immediately, thank goodness!)