Don't Know How To Handle This, Need Advice!

[AfterSchoolMom]

I'm currently pregnant, and my due date is the first week of school. It's time now to begin advertising for B/A care for the fall. I have one child lined up who's parents have been SO nice about finding backup care for the time that I intend to take off after the baby is born. However, I'd love to have at LEAST one more SA child, if not two.

How should I proceed? Should I advertise as normal, then tell parents before we interview that it's very possible that I could go into labor before the first day of school? Do you think it's even possible to get more kids under these circumstances?

I'm not sure how to handle this!

[SilverSabre25]

How much time are you thinking of taking off?

Is there any way for you to get a substitute for the time you're intending to take off?

If it's just a couple weeks and you can get a substitute then I don't think that you would have a problem getting more kids. Depending on release times, you might even be able to hire a nice high school student to help. Or does your DH get paternity leave? Could he do the B/A care for that time?

[CKSher]

I think it really depends on the length of your leave and the situation of the family looking for care. I have some families in my care who would not have been able to find care if I had had the first couple of weeks off, but I have other families who have back-up care and relatives who would be able to fill in the gap.

I think your best bet is to go ahead and advertise and when they come to the interview explain the situation. I am not sure if I would tell them on the phone as they may immediately say no that won't work. I think you have a better shot if they actually meet you in person and get a chance to see your home and environment. If they love what they see and have the means they may decide it is worth finding alternative care for a short time. The other plus to them meeting you is if they choose to go elsewhere and decide that daycare is not working out for them, they may call you after a couple of weeks and decide to come to you afterall. Best of luck!

[AfterSchoolMom]

I think I'll probably take two weeks. I guess the biggest issue is that I have no way at all of knowing when those two weeks will start - it could be before school starts, the first day, a week later... it's so hard to plan around that!

I'll talk to DH about covering a week - I know he's plannning to take at least a week off, so that may be an option...and SA's will only be here for a few hours anyway.

I'm not sure if it's practical to find a sub. I could look into a high schooler, but would that be something that parents would be comfortable with?

[cheerfuldom]

It couldnt hurt to advertise and see what people are willing to work with.