Kids At DC While The Parents Are Home From Work...

[Michelle]

I have 8 families. I have one MOm who grabs baby ASAP I have one fam who drops at 630 picks up at 530. EVERY DAY. kids cry for parents. Parents post to fb. Missing my kiddos. Then a pic of them having coffee alone. Saying wish the kids were here. They would love this pastry!!

Then get them. If you miss them that bad.

wow!
I feel guilty when I leave my kids in the nursery at church!
And that's for just 2 hours, one day a week

[Crazy8]

It used to bother me - NOT because I had to work but because I felt bad for the kids who were already only spent 2-4 hours a day with their parents. But ultimately it is a parent's decision and its a battle I've stopped fighting. If I want the time off I know I need to officially close for the day!

And, yeah, I love all the FB comments about "missing my little girl" yet they put them in daycare every chance they get and send them to grandma's for the weekend.

[LittleD]

I'm half and half on my feelings. Christmas time is a time for family. If you are off, spend it with your kids. If you are working, I'm more then happy to watch the kids. I don't get paid if they aren't here, which is no fun come payday, but it's Christmas for gosh sakes!! Parents that say they miss the kids then drop them of at DC for reasons other then work drive me batty! Don't say it if you don't mean it!
Other days, I don't care if they are here, but it would be appreciated if the parents wouldn't leave them RIGHT until 5pm ;0

[Sugar Magnolia]

I'm still in the process of making my parent handbook and at the moment I plan to stay open on all holidays except Christmas. I don't mind it, I know some parents have to work those holidays, and I don't mind including others into our celebration (we normally have a lot people over on holidays anyway, so a few extra kids isn't a big deal). I worded that paragraph in my handbook this way

"I reserve the right to close on any Federal Holiday. At this time I plan to only be closed on Christmas Day. This means, at the moment, I will be open on all other Federal Holidays, including Thanksgiving. It is important, if you have the day off from work, to spend it with your child and your family so I can spend it with mine. I understand the temptation to utilize daycare to get errands done, or to get a break. Please do this sparingly. If I feel that being open on Holidays is becoming abused I will close on all Federal Holidays."

Is that maybe being too rude?

Not rude, just seems a little vague. As a parent, I'd want to know definitively what days you are open or closed. Take the Fed Holidays off, you deserve them. Make them PAID holidays too! I love my dck's, but nope, they wouldn't be at my Thanksgiving table. IMO.

[SilverSabre25]

Not rude, just seems a little vague. As a parent, I'd want to know definitively what days you are open or closed. Take the Fed Holidays off, you deserve them. Make them PAID holidays too! I love my dck's, but nope, they wouldn't be at my Thanksgiving table. IMO.

Yes, I agree with this.

If you want, once you have children in care, you can get a feel for who has good back-up, who really has crappy work schedules, and who really might NEED some help.

I have a struggling single mom and a family where both parents work retail-type jobs. I offer, at my discretion, to keep those kids on *certain* holidays--but only those families and I offer in private. The other family is more likely to bring dcg when one or both parents are off and they work at a bank so they work bank days and hours--they also have tons of family nearby to baby-sit. I do NOT offer this to that family.

[SilverSabre25]

So, how do you feel about children who attend DC while their parents are at home from work/school etc.?

I am opened M-F this week and next, since one parent does work M-F, but has a half day Friday. The other 3 are off of school this week (teachers children), but are coming every day for full days this week and next! I can understand a day, or maybe two, but the whole week? What happened to people wanting to spend time with their own children

Meh, I don't ask what the parents are doing. I care, but only when it's a day I would have rather had off, their child was the only one I had, and I was told they were working when it's clear they weren't. And even then, I sigh and only care a little bit. As long as I'm getting paid, I'm doing my job. I strive to give each child the love, cuddles, and playtime that they need and leave it at that.

As for what happened to people wanting to spend time with their children, well, learning to parent and understanding one's own child both come with TIME. TIME in the trenches of parenting. TIME to make the mistakes, and to see what works. TIME to really understand where your child is developmentally and react accordingly. Parents who work all the time do not HAVE this time.

The short answer is, parents aren't quite sure HOW to parent, and so have a very hard time doing it.

[daycare]

Meh, I don't ask what the parents are doing. I care, but only when it's a day I would have rather had off, their child was the only one I had, and I was told they were working when it's clear they weren't. And even then, I sigh and only care a little bit. As long as I'm getting paid, I'm doing my job. I strive to give each child the love, cuddles, and playtime that they need and leave it at that.

As for what happened to people wanting to spend time with their children, well, learning to parent and understanding one's own child both come with TIME. TIME in the trenches of parenting. TIME to make the mistakes, and to see what works. TIME to really understand where your child is developmentally and react accordingly. Parents who work all the time do not HAVE this time.

The short answer is, parents aren't quite sure HOW to parent, and so have a very hard time doing it.

this!!

and we cant be mad at the parents for not parenting the way we parent our own children.... Kind of like saying I dont like the way you parent, because you don't parent like me....

[wdmmom]

I don't allow it. When teachers sign up here, they give me their calendar in advance so I know what days Winter break is, Spring break is and Summer break is.

The deal I offer is: kids don't come over winter and spring break. winter break is paid because it includes holiday pay. Spring break is 50% off and summer depends on whether they will be needing any care during those 2 months.

[mema]

Most of the time I don't mind. If they are the only one in care that day, it bothers me a bit more, especially if the parent says that they didn't want them to miss their buddies. What bothers me, is when they have the day off and don't let you know. I had one that didn't tell me and their child got sick. I called work, no answer-left message. Called cell, no answer-left message. Called back to work to the front office instead and found out they had the day off I tried the cell 2 more times and then called the back up-grandma, who had to leave work to come get child. 2 hours after grandma picked up, parent called back and I said not to worry, grandma left work and came got them Not sure how the convo between them went, but wished I was a fly on the wall:: I also had a parent that worked 4 days but brought all 5-every week. Kid went to grandmas every Fri nite and didn't come home til Sun nite. She complained how she never saw him and was missing all his new language. I felt bad for the kid and even worse when she told me she was pregnant.

[spud912]

I don't mind at all. They pay for a full week (on time) and I expect to work that time regardless. If they need an occasional day to get something done, then I don't mind. I can definitely understand from their perspective (especially this time of year....trying to purchase children's x-mas toys with the children is pretty difficult if they are 3 or older).

Now, I admit that I am guilty of judgmental moments. If I believe the parents are the types who don't want to spend any time with their kids, then it would start to get on my nerves. For example, many years ago I worked as a nanny for a large family for 50 hours a week. When I wasn't there, they had another nanny come at night and on the weekends. On top of it all, they had me cleaning their house (which was a disaster), doing their laundry, feeding their dog and cooking dinner for the family. When they had a day off, I still had to come (even though they were at home). The mom used to complain that her work wasn't sending her off on enough business trips. That's when I was young and naive and let people walk all over me.

All of the parents I have now genuinely are good parents in my opinion and want to spend as much time with their children as possible. On occasion, they will ask me to watch their children for a few hours or even a full day when they are off so they can get some stuff done. Most of the time, I get a surprise shortened day or a day off (even though it's a paid day), making my job easier!

[Meyou]

Most of the time I dont mind. They have paid for the service, so they are welcome to use it.
But when I hear them complain about how much they miss their kids, and how they wish they didnt have to work so they could have more time with them. And when I see these same parents home from work, while their kids sit here, then I get upset.
This same family, the dad has a week off between christmas and new years, and is bringing both his kids here all week.

Like others have said, I just feel bad for the kids. They grow up so fast, and the parents are missing so much.

This. The only reason I care is because I'm the one who has to see how much the kids miss their parents.

[godiva83]

I have one DCB who has been off with extreme bronchitis the past 2 days, I just got a phone call saying he will be here tomorrow to get some of their monies worth... Both parents are at home, and this poor little guy just needs his rest!

In cases like this I am peeved where they care about their $$ over what is best for their son! At least he is my only child and I can give him a lot of extra TLC

[AnythingsPossible]

I have 2 that will be here the last two days of the week though their parent's are home. Dad told me the other day, "we're going to go ahead and bring them thrusday and friday, it's just easier that way then they aren't in the way" Nice, really nice.
If you wanted easy you shouldn't of had children!!

[Unregistered]

I have a mom who works 15 hours per week or 3 hours per day. Her child is with me full-time every day. I'm pretty used to it. I asked her if she was planning to come and pick up DCG early tomorrow (It's like Christmas Eve so everyone I know is only working 1/2 day including my husband) but she said "No I have errands I need to run". It cracks me up!! Couldn't you have run those errands in the 25 hours your child was already in daycare this week while you were NOT WORKING?!!!

I feel pretty bad for the little girl but I know she's happier here than at home anyway and all she'd do there is watch tv.

[wahmof3]

I don't allow it. When teachers sign up here, they give me their calendar in advance so I know what days Winter break is, Spring break is and Summer break is.

The deal I offer is: kids don't come over winter and spring break. winter break is paid because it includes holiday pay. Spring break is 50% off and summer depends on whether they will be needing any care during those 2 months.

I do the same bc I have all teachers kids. I haven't charged in the past for winter break, spring break etc but starting 2012 I am.

50% of their fee for winter/spring break and all other holidays, snow days, sick days are regular fee.

I have however kept dck when parents aren't working but they always ask me & usually its a valid reason and its seldom.

I did term a family for not following phb rules. They would both have the day off & both would come in to pick up dck. It would make me so mad

I am a firm believer that if you have the day off, spend it with your child. It really breaks my heart. But you really can't control it because when pushcomes to shove they would lie about it anyways.::::::