Calling In Sick?????

[MommyofThree]

I understand burn-out, really I do.

Look at the school calender and plan a couple of days to spend withyour daughter at school.

I have never worked in an office but I am guessing things go on pretty much as normal if one or two are missing (and I also guess that someone playing hookey would make sure all of their work for the next day was already finished so it would be less noticed taht they were missing)

....where in our job if we are 'gone' there are FIVE in my case (10+) people who can't go to work, who don't have their work for the day complete and who are each letting down 1-5 more people.

Like I said I DO UNDERSTAND. Plan a day or a whole week if you need it, give a few weeks notice and then enjoy!

my children school sends out notices one week prior thats it

[littlemommy]

The only time I've "called in sick" was when I had mastitis super bad when I first started. I had 2 kids here, and had parents pick up early. I had a 104.5 degree fever and felt like I had been hit by a train. No energy, hurt to move, just horrible. Got some good rest, took some apple cider vinegar and echinacea tea, and was back to work the next morning.

I would love to take random days off, but realize I need to be reliable for these parents. Otherwise I run the risk of losing them! I've already taken a week vacation (with a month's notice) and will be taking maternity leave in a few months.

[2ndFamilyDC]

In 22 years I have honestly never done it. But can totally understand the need to do it. I just know how hard it would be for the parents to scramble at the last minute to find some back up last minute.

I did miss an entire week of daycare in my 3rd year doing it due to an extremely nasty flu bug, never have I had the flu since.

I hated missing out on all the school activites for my sons when they were going to school, I did schedule as many things as I could and take vacation days then. But I also brought my dc kids to their school for some things that I did not want to miss out on.

Whatever you decide will be the right thing for you.

[MsMe]

my children school sends out notices one week prior thats it

bummer, I don't have any kids of my own so I am not sure how classrooms work. Maybe if you call the teacher she will know a little further in advance and can give you a heads up? Maybe she has some of her lesson plans maped out a little further in advance? If she knows you need an extra week of notice she maybe able to give it to you?

Just trying to think of ways to help. Enjoy your day at school wiht your daughter

[Unregistered]

Get a sub or helper or volunteer to take some of the slack off and give you those days you need.

I would not call out to do the things you are wanting to do. Parents rely on us and pay us. Not good business.

I would close early on Halloween but not close all together.

I do understand the burn out and just not wanting to do it days.......we all have them. Have to work through them.

It's one thing if you are sick but if your not well...... I even push through days when I am sick. Most of us here have to do that.

[jessrlee]

Personally, I wouldn't do it. I will sometimes "decide" to call in sick. What I do is figure out how much I made for that day, and spend it doing something super special on Saturday! I figure I wouldn't get the money if I called in. So every once in a blue moon I play "hooky" and no one even knows . Maybe take DD to the pumpkin patch this weekend?

[MommyofThree]

Personally, I wouldn't do it. I will sometimes "decide" to call in sick. What I do is figure out how much I made for that day, and spend it doing something super special on Saturday! I figure I wouldn't get the money if I called in. So every once in a blue moon I play "hooky" and no one even knows . Maybe take DD to the pumpkin patch this weekend?

so u do or u dont. first you say you wouldnt then you say you have played hookey??

[Crystal]

It's not something I would do. BUT, if you find it is really important to you, then I would BE HONEST with the parents and take the day off. Put yourself in their shoes....how would you feel if they lied to you? Lying is the one thing I would term parents for.....and if I lied to them, I'd expect the same if I got caught.

I hope you can get the day off to spend with your daughter. I undertsand wanting to experience those few precious moments as she grows up.

[PitterPatter]

First and foremost I couldn't lie. I can't stand being lied to so I try to show the same respect. I have missed many classroom parties since opening daycare. I used to always be the class Mom and prep all the parties, help kids with costumes at halloween etc. Now it's hard to get a back up in on short notice. I attend as much as possible. If I only have a couple kids I may even tale them with me in order to attend. Our school also waits for the week of or week before to give any notice of special events. I have in my contract that I will give at least 2 weeks notice prior to any days off so that ruins it for me. I feel so bad missing certain things but as long as Im there for the music programs and such then it doesn't seem as bad. It's sad at times our children don't ask to be born into our environment yet we have to work. If I miss something special I do my best to make it up to my son. A special trip somehwere on the weekend or a surprise of some sort, definatly extra mommy and me time later... those kinds of things.

I would inform the parents of the special occasion you would like to spend with your child. Maybe they will work with you. I don't know how your familes are but mine will claim not to have anyone else yet when they want to go out they have sitters all over the place. I have 1 client just like clock work every Friday she would want to go out right from work so many dif family members and friends would pick up her child at 6:00 and keep him overnight even. You dont know how bad I wanted to call her on her lie of she has no one else when I wanted to take off for a holiday or vacation.

Anyway, I would just be honest. Honesty is always the best policy! Good luck to you.

[bgmeyers]

I call out sick when I'm sick. I've missed alot over the years with my kids, but so much in life is a trade off. Kids are now 19 and 14, and there is still alot I can't do with and for them, but it has been worth it.
I have learned to take planned personal days and have paid sick days in my contract. I take these if need be. Burn out is a real issue in this business.

[Nellie]

Tonight when parents come to pick up hand then a note and say sorry for the short notice, but something came up and I need to close Friday. They will probable be crabby about it, but it will give them a little time to figure something out. Don't tell them why you need the day off, but just say something came up. For the most part my DCF's jobs depend on me. Yes they should have a back up, but many of them don't. They have to take the day off, call in family that lives 8 hours away, ect. I had my DD in daycare when she was a child and I don't EVER remember her provider calling in sick. Once she needed surgery and she had a sub for it. I guess as a parent I'd be looking for new daycare if I found out my provider called in sick and was just playing hooky. I wouldn't be able to trust or depend on you. Your families might pitch a fit, but I'm sure that they realise you need days off too.

Sounds like you don't like doing daycare and am only doing it until you can find another job. So it doesn't matter if they leave or not. So on Thursday night give a call around midnight. Tell the parents that it is coming out both ends, can't leave the bathroom, throw in a few fake coughs, and if start to give you grief do your best "oh NOOoooo" and hang up.

[sharlan]

I am OCD when it comes to lying. I don't expect my parents to do it to me and I sure wouldn't do it to them. It goes both ways.

By taking a 4 day weekend, you may be jeopardizing their jobs. If they don't have back-up, they have to call in. Giving them such short notice is really unfair, especially since you really aren't sick.

It sounds like you are burned out and need to stop providing daycare.

Many stores are hiring right now for the Christmas season. Of course, then you run the risk of having to pay a provider for your kids.

[mismatchedsocks]

I have never taken a "sick" day or a sick day off. I will close for my vacation with plenty of notice to parents.

I have however had a day that I only had one or two kids scheduled and was honest with the parents, asking if they had back up for that day, so I could get a day off. I didnt charge him for those days, and they were more then happy to bring kids to grandmas or where ever that day. I did this twice in 11 years, and works out great.

Honesty for me is important. If a parent wants to take day off to spend day with significant other, dont tell me you are sick.

[Unregistered]

It always amazes me at the amount of people on here who SAY they are always supportive, but you ask a simple question and get chewed out for it.

I would say just take the day off if you need it. It is YOUR business. YOU can do what you want. That is why you're in business for yourself. I wouldn't say you're sick. Just tell them something came up and that you need the day off. Give them a refund for the day and leave it at that. Chances are, they have personal time with their work or they have a backup. If not, they should have planned better for the occasional situation like this.

[nannyde]

It always amazes me at the amount of people on here who SAY they are always supportive, but you ask a simple question and get chewed out for it.

I would say just take the day off if you need it. It is YOUR business. YOU can do what you want. That is why you're in business for yourself. I wouldn't say you're sick. Just tell them something came up and that you need the day off. Give them a refund for the day and leave it at that. Chances are, they have personal time with their work or they have a backup. If not, they should have planned better for the occasional situation like this.

Well by you telling her you wouldn't say you were sick you aren't being that supportive.

Why do you get to say that and it's support but when someone else says it it's not support?

We can't blindly give support because someone comes on here and types... states they are a provider.... states what they think or a problem... and then all of us just do support words.

It doesn't work like that.