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I could really use a break for a few days or a week sometime in the near future....from watching the daycare kids anyway. How do you do about vacation time when you are the only one taking care of the kids? Is there an alloted time. what do you do?
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"God said, ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart. He will do everything I want him to do.'"
Acts 13:22 -
then just book a week off. Let everyone know a couple weeks or months in advance. You are allowed to take time off, don't worry about the kids, their parents must have back up care. -
Correct me if I am wrong Dave, but are you still just watching your SIL child? or do you have a few more DCK's now?
If you are worried about any parents thinking you aren't relaiable enough because you need/want to take a few days off, then start small and schedule a Friday off here and there just to give yourself a long weekend.
Once you have gotten everyone used to having to have a back up provider (which in my opinion is necessary for ALL parents) then go ahead and take a week vacation (from daycare obligations) and don't look back or feel guilty one bit.
In the future if you plan your vacation days/weeks ahead of time, parents can schedule their vacations around yours if they don't have back ups.
If you really can't manage taking a whole week off, then opt for a few long weekends or sometimes just a Wednesday off in the middle of the week to break up the long-ness of the week helps a ton!
Don't let ANYONE tell you that you don't need a vacation or a break because happy provider = happy daycare kids and we all want happy daycare kids right?
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I have it in my policy's that I take two weeks, possibly three weeks vacation per year, paid. It's up to me when I take it but I give at least one month notice do parents can plan alternative care. You need a break. Take it. Do you have any kind of written vacation policy?Comment
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See this is what happened to me. I started a new family and the last provider only took a week off every year. No sick time/fed. holidays/anything. So they new they only needed one week off and would schedule their own vacation then.
Here I come and have quiet a few days off compared to that. Well they still refuse to get a back up so they have gone through all their time off it seems. My husband says quit feeling quilty, you need time off also.Each day is a fresh start
Never look back on regrets
Live life to the fullest
We only get one shot at this!!
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New family had no business signing up with you if they didn't have a plan when it came to your scheduled vacation and closing days.
They signed and YOU are the one feeling guilty! Stop it!
Your DH is right ya know...YOU need time off too and it isn't right of new family to make their problem yours.
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I also do 3 day weekends, I find thats all I need to feel refreshed.Comment
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Oh, I take my time but the two vacations we scheduled this year, I was sick one of them and ds was sick the other. We literally could go no where.New family had no business signing up with you if they didn't have a plan when it came to your scheduled vacation and closing days.
They signed and YOU are the one feeling guilty! Stop it!
Your DH is right ya know...YOU need time off too and it isn't right of new family to make their problem yours.
Then I ended up taking more sick days then in my book because I literally couldn't get out of bed. I have to hear "We are out of sick time so no more time off for you-
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This year was just a mess for me and time off. I literally feel I have had no time off because of being sick on my vacations. Does that make sense?Each day is a fresh start
Never look back on regrets
Live life to the fullest
We only get one shot at this!!
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I plan my days off a year in advance. I get 10 days total paid, and sometimes take a few in addition to that (unpaid) for instance I ALWAYS take my birthday off (it's in March) I spoil myself by sleeping in, getting a pedi and lunch out. I take from whatever the fourth of July lands on until the following Monday off. This year that was a 5 day weekend, next year it will be a four day weekend. Most parents are off for the fourth anyway, and 4 out of 7 families opted to take a family vacay during that time. I take long weekends around thanksgiving and christmas, always new years eve/day, etc. It really helps break up the monotony. Next year I am adding in 4 more paid days with January contract renewals, and plan to take a day off in February, April, June and August too!
^Notice a pattern here? Two days off in Jan, one in Feb/3 day weekend, one in March, one in April/3 day weekend, one in June/3day weekend, longer weekend in July, one in August/3 day weekend, longer weekend around thanksgiving, longer weekend around christmas, new years eve/new years day.
Pretty much take a 'recoup' day off once a month! Makes for one happy daycare lady!
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I have 2 weeks(10 days) vacation paid, plus Holidays. I take them throughout the yr. when I would like to.Comment
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We keep our holidays to a minimum since we just started up. In the future, I look forward to taking more.Comment
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I am watching another two year old and a 11th month old as well now along with my niece. My niece and the two year old both came sick and i ended up with the stomach bug this weekend and i think the others in my house are sick now too, so frusterating!
Im just looking to take a couple days off in Oct when my oldest has fall break, i just worry they will find someone else and take their kids out of my care."God said, ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart. He will do everything I want him to do.'"
Acts 13:22Comment
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You sound so much like me many years ago. Blackcat suggested you start slow to prove your reliability. That will work great! I started with an extra day around a holiday....then moved on to making the parents pay for their vacations......then they paid for mine......and now I charge 52 wks a year with holiday, vacation, emergency and personal days.... You can build up to it and you will be glad you did. I was blessed with a wonderful support group/mentor here which gave me the courage to follow through. Good luck! happyfaceComment
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When I first started I went two months before I closed for a sick day.......well about 5-6 weeks into it actually. Then I lasted another two months before I needed another sick day. This is where I call the night before to close but no one left. It was such a relief to know at 6 pm after I called and left a voicemail to whoever didn't answer that I didn't have to worry and could enjoy another 30+ hours without kids and just relax.
I do have 10 paid closed holidays which 5 remain, labor day-2 at thanksgiving-2 at christmas. I do take 5 paid closed days which 2 were used for sick days last winter/spring and 2 more were scheduled 3-4 weeks in advance for training and vacation just one day at a time though. I have one remaining paid day and am thinking about taking that in October for either our 2 year anniversary or my birthday.
I recently expanded my daycare license and added 2 part time kids and 1 more full time to afford a helper who is actually working 30 hours a week starting this week. The pay cut I have to take it going to bite, but I need to take some time off and relax. Daycare does stress me out but I do enjoy it. Just not 60 hours a week enjoyment,
. I'm pregnant and have 6 months to go and want to relax more now anyways. I wish you luck and take some days off. If it's not in your contract give parents a written notice that you'll be closed on a certain day 3 weeks out is plenty of time and take it unpaid just for an long weekend. 2 more weeks is the 3-day labor day weekend so hang in there!
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