Days Off

[Kenny]

I need to take a 1/2 day off to take my son to see a specialist for his eye, so yesterday when I mentioned this to the parents (the appt is not for 2 weeks,) I had one mom act like this is a big inconvience for her!
Has anyone else ran into this before and how did you handle it?

[melissa ann]

I have up to 5 personal days to use at my discretion. Except for an emergency advanced notice will be given. Now, that being said, I used on one of my personal days for this past friday. my daughter had a picnic for her last day of school. it was from 10-1. I told them the 1st week of May. G-pa was not happy. OF course, I was also closed memorial day so I had a 4 day weekend. This was only my 2nd personal day since Aug 1 when my contracts renew.
2 weeks should be enough notice for parents to come up with a back up plan.
Don't let her make you feel guilty. I"ve been through that. Now, if I need to close due to an apt or school event, I do it and don't feel bad about it.

[jen]

I think that is a pretty common reaction from some parents. The only suggestions I have are to:

1. Make sure that you explain in the interview process that parents are required to have back up care for these types of things.

2. Make sure that you further cover this area in your contract. Make sure allow yourself enough vacation time. We need to attend to our families and to ourselves.

3. Give ample notice when possible, which you did.

4. If after all of that they choose to have an attitude either refer them to their contract or just ignore it. We are not machines, our families not only count they come first, and most often people who complain about these things are clients you don't really want anyway.

[Anna]

I am pretty lucky that I have such great parents I guess. I had to have a series of 4 dentist apts (blah) and I asked the parents which days worked best for them. I was lucky because all of them said that mondays worked best. I took every other Monday off until I was done with the stupid apts. All my parents were super understanding and didn't even mention not paying me for those days. Also I am taking two weeks off coming up here for my much needed vacation. I have had this planned for over a year and have given all the parents lots of notice. I told them I was not going to have them pay me for this time and one of my parents insisted on still paying the full month! Maybe she has something worked out with child support where it just works easier for her to pay the whole amount (I have no clue just a guess). After reading how upset some of your parents get over silly things I find myself appreciating my dck parents more!

[Momma In MT]

I always have a backup, that way the parents are not inconvenienced. (heaven for bid)

[tymaboy]

I point out at the interview that I do not provide back up care & have a section about my absents.

[grandmom]

Send it in an email. That way the reaction is not in your face. And you have proof that it was sent. ....... oh, I don't remember you telling me.....

[Janet]

I give as much notice as I possibly can, and I remind the parents that I'm not required to provide a back up provider. I have a back up provider that is able to cover for me but I try to only use her if I get sick. I give the parents the option to ask her themselves if she will cover any days that I am closed, but I don't promise that it will be covered. It's in the contract, and I verbally cover it during the interview process. I also put up a written notice of days closed well in advance. If an emergency comes up, then I do make sure that I have someone to cover (which is what my back up provider initially signed on for.)

[Anna]

I always have a backup, that way the parents are not inconvenienced. (heaven for bid)

The state lets you do that? In Hawaii we are absolutely the only one who can watch the kids at anytime. They are very strict on it. Do you do childcare in your home?