Advice Needed...Need A Single Vacation Day Off, Brand New Daycare

[bluemoose_mom]

Alright ladies, this is the deal.

I just started a daycare, at this point I have one child. Today was her first day.

Last Friday I found out that my DH's job has a company trip over memorial day. I would need to take off Friday, the 25th. In the nearly 4 years he's worked with this company, this is the first time spouses are welcome.

I really want to go. I haven't had free time away from DD since she was born (2 1/2 years), and DH and I have only had a handful of dates. We need time together (which we would get, we only have to do dinner with company employees every night, otherwise our time is ours). DD would stay with grandparents.

What do I say to my current, but very new parents? My contact states that I have a two week, unpaid vacation. I didn't address splitting it up (although they asked if they could take a two one week vacation, and I said that was fine). WWYD??

[SunshineMama]

Tell them the truth and explain the situation. It's only one day. I would say, "I know this is short notice, but an opportunity for my to go on a short vacation with dh came up for the first time in years and I would really like to spend it with him if you wouldn't mind terribly."

I had to do something similar once to new dcp's and they were totally cool with it and understanding.

[Christian Mother]

I would tell them or even a write up a letter letting the parents know that May 25th you will be unavailable to care for their child. This will give at least a couple of wks for them to prepare for alternative care for that day.

In your contract do you provide a back up in case your out or do you have it said that parents need to have a back up on their own?

I don't provide a back up but sometimes a family member will sub. for me in extreme cases.

[cheerfuldom]

I guess I disagree....this isnt an emergency. If you are serious about getting your business off the ground, you need to be available and professional. Taking a day off in the first month of care is not professional in my opinion. There will be many times in the future when you will have to tell your friends and family "no", you cannot participate because you have to work. I would forgo the trip and work hard at putting in at least 6 months of consistent work before scheduling any vacation or time off, even if it is unpaid. From the parents point of view, they may understand but more likely, they will be very annoyed that you are going to unavailable so quickly. If you need time off with the hubby, you will have to work around your job situation just like every other working mom out there.

[spud912]

OP -- I was just wondering, did you write in any of the federal holidays as days off (paid or unpaid)? If not, I would definitely amend your contract or you may be working on the major holidays (Christmas, Thanksgiving, etc.).

Memorial day is usually a big one and most businesses (that operate during business hours) and governments have it off anyway, so maybe you will be lucky and they have it off already.

As far as your question, I would **** it up and work it, especially since it's somewhat last minute notice (less than a month). Otherwise, you will come across as unreliable (not a good first impression).

[saved4always]

I would totally ask them tomorrow if they would mind. It could be that they have someone who is totally available to watch for the day. All 3 of the last dck's I watched had stay at home grandparents who were available to watch for day. And none of that group of parents would have expected me not to go if an opportunity like that came up...even when they first started with me. It cannot hurt to ask, imo, if they could swing it. If you have a back up you can offer to them, that would be helpful. If they are able to make arrangements for the day or use your backup, I would not charge them for that day.

[Hunni Bee]

I guess I disagree....this isnt an emergency. If you are serious about getting your business off the ground, you need to be available and professional. Taking a day off in the first month of care is not professional in my opinion. There will be many times in the future when you will have to tell your friends and family "no", you cannot participate because you have to work. I would forgo the trip and work hard at putting in at least 6 months of consistent work before scheduling any vacation or time off, even if it is unpaid. From the parents point of view, they may understand but more likely, they will be very annoyed that you are going to unavailable so quickly. If you need time off with the hubby, you will have to work around your job situation just like every other working mom out there.

I agree. You wouldn't ask for a day off the first week on any other job. This is actually worse, because the OP is the only one on this job.

[Countrygal]

I'm in the not a good time to take a day off camp. If you had started a job somewhere else you would not be able to get off.

When I had some new children in my daycare (I had been open several months) I became quite ill with a kidney infection and had to take several days off. I absolutely couldn't do anything but lay in bed. It looked very bad and I am sure I almost lost the family, and I had a very, very good reason! A vacation day right after you started sends a message that is not good, IMO.

Any chance you can join your hubby on Sat? I'm sure there are a lot of other wives in the same boat.

[cheerfuldom]

I'm in the not a good time to take a day off camp. If you had started a job somewhere else you would not be able to get off.

When I had some new children in my daycare (I had been open several months) I became quite ill with a kidney infection and had to take several days off. I absolutely couldn't do anything but lay in bed. It looked very bad and I am sure I almost lost the family, and I had a very, very good reason! A vacation day right after you started sends a message that is not good, IMO.

Any chance you can join your hubby on Sat? I'm sure there are a lot of other wives in the same boat.

I had a kidney infection one time when I had just started a new job (in an office). I went every day and hung in there till I passed out and they had to call an ambulance. I was NOT going to call in and lose this job in the first week! They knew full well that I stayed as long as possible

[bluemoose_mom]

In your contract do you provide a back up in case your out or do you have it said that parents need to have a back up on their own?

I don't provide a back up but sometimes a family member will sub. for me in extreme cases.

I'm new to area, so no I do not provide a back up provider. The parents would need to provide their own back up.

[bluemoose_mom]

OP -- I was just wondering, did you write in any of the federal holidays as days off (paid or unpaid)? If not, I would definitely amend your contract or you may be working on the major holidays (Christmas, Thanksgiving, etc.).

Memorial day is usually a big one and most businesses (that operate during business hours) and governments have it off anyway, so maybe you will be lucky and they have it off already.

As far as your question, I would **** it up and work it, especially since it's somewhat last minute notice (less than a month). Otherwise, you will come across as unreliable (not a good first impression).

Yes, I have memorial day off (paid) as per my contract, but I would need Friday off. I have all major federal holidays off, and a one or two more off as well.

Saturday is tough...We would have to pay for my airline ticket, where if I went on Friday the company would pay for my airline ticket.

Thank you everyone for your responses. You all gave me lots to think about. Still not sure what I'll do. But thank you everyone for your honest opinion.

[CheekyChick]

As a new provider, I wouldn't close. I don't think it would be good business to close this soon into opening your business.

[spud912]

Yes, I have memorial day off (paid) as per my contract, but I would need Friday off. I have all major federal holidays off, and a one or two more off as well.

Saturday is tough...We would have to pay for my airline ticket, where if I went on Friday the company would pay for my airline ticket.

Thank you everyone for your responses. You all gave me lots to think about. Still not sure what I'll do. But thank you everyone for your honest opinion.

Ah, gotcha. I didn't read the part about needing Friday off, just thought you needed Monday off.

[littlemissmuffet]

I wouldn't... not if you are serious about running your own business. Sure, the parents could be totally understanding and say "Oh sure, why not?" Or, they could be like "Um, we JUST started with you and you ALREADY are asking for a day off?"

Word of mouth is everything in this business - if you start showing that you are unreliable (and yes, I do think this would show unreliability) than your business will fail.

What happens if you take this day off and then a week later you are so ill you couldn't watch another person's child and need to close again in such a short period of time??

[JennyBear]

My advice would be to work that day and hopefully arrange a date night with hubby on a weekend or something. I'm all for spending much needed quality time with hubby, however, one thing I've learned since opening my home daycare almost a year ago is so many colds and illnesses will be running through your home that you may need to take a day off if you get really sick, so you need to have that in the back of your mind.

It's tough to be in a situation like that though

Hopefully it all works out for you! Best of luck!