Illness and Closing

[Mom&Provider]

About 3 weeks ago my own child had strep, a daycare boy was out same time with the same thing for a week (he was in hopsital), but I also closed down for a few days too during that time to ensure no one else picked it up from my own son. Then just this week I had to close for 2 days again since I was the one running a fever and came down with strep too. Now I just got a call from my childs Dr. with a specialists appointment to happen on Monday! I'm not missing the appointment, my childs health is very important, but I can't help but feel badly since lately it seems I've been having to close when this is not usually the case.

Does anyone else experience times like this and are parents usually ok with it all?

My parents seem fine with it, one is on maternity leave so no biggie for her, but I worry what everyone thinks just the same!? One family is new here this past July and I worry they might leave me thinking this is normal when it's not at all!!

I hope this all isn't an indication of the winter ahead.

[daycare]

About 3 weeks ago my own child had strep, a daycare boy was out same time with the same thing for a week (he was in hopsital), but I also closed down for a few days too during that time to ensure no one else picked it up from my own son. Then just this week I had to close for 2 days again since I was the one running a fever and came down with strep too. Now I just got a call from my childs Dr. with a specialists appointment to happen on Monday! I'm not missing the appointment, my childs health is very important, but I can't help but feel badly since lately it seems I've been having to close when this is not usually the case.

Does anyone else experience times like this and are parents usually ok with it all?

My parents seem fine with it, one is on maternity leave so no biggie for her, but I worry what everyone thinks just the same!? One family is new here this past July and I worry they might leave me thinking this is normal when it's not at all!!

I hope this all isn't an indication of the winter ahead.

if there is no way that someone else can keep you open or get your child to the DR. then you have to do what is best for your family first.

Is it possible for you to have someone else take your son? Or to have someone like a friend or family member come in and keep the childcare open???

[lovemykidstoo]

I had to close once for 2 weeks because I had pneumonia. I NEVER get sick, but boy did I get it that time. I felt terrible closing even though I was so sick and was afraid of what others would think. They were nothing but supportive. People will understand the situation with you and your son. If they don't understand that your child is your priority, then maybe you don't want them. I'm sure that they will be fine. it's not like you're closing to go shopping or something.

[daycare]

I had to close once for 2 weeks because I had pneumonia. I NEVER get sick, but boy did I get it that time. I felt terrible closing even though I was so sick and was afraid of what others would think. They were nothing but supportive. People will understand the situation with you and your son. If they don't understand that your child is your priority, then maybe you don't want them. I'm sure that they will be fine. it's not like you're closing to go shopping or something.

great point about if they dont understand then those are not the people you want...

Is there anyway you could open half day or open late??

[clep]

I have one parent that will consistently send her child to me sick. All this past week her child had to be picked up as he was very ill by the end of the day. He doesn't nap at home as she says she doesn't have the energy to deal with her other two children and try to get her youngest to nap. She quit her job to train for the Ironman and ran, biked and swam for 13 hours during that Ironman, but lacks energy when it comes to her kids. He doesn't get rest at home so keeps coming to me sick.

All of my day home children have been sick on and off for the past two weeks. I was sick the whole time too but continued to work. I had the parents of the two children that were at the day home yesterday pick up 1 hr early so I could make it to the dr. I was diagnosed with bronchitis. My medication knocks me out pretty good. I took it this morning and felt stoned having to keep moving to stay awake. I let the parents know I was closed today and to pick up their children.

The Ironman lady was mad, even though she doesn't work. She is an engineer and so is her husband so the money isn't the issue. She said "You are closed again" since I closed an hour early yesterday. I let her know I have bronchitis and she walked away with me still talking and yelled from upstairs that she hopes I feel better and will see me later.

Strange how parents expect me to care for six children while sick, but when they are sick they ensure their children are with me cause they just can't watch them.

I used to get upset with the guilt trips, but now they can just take a hike. My son is sick today to as am I, but a couple of parents expect me to care for my sick son, and their children while I am sick.

Maybe they need to remember they are parents first and look after their children while they are sick instead of giving them tylenol in the morning to mask the symptoms of sickness until the afternoon. Then I might not be sick, my son wouldn't be either and neither would all the day home kids.

They should take their children to a big day care where they are never closed. Take care of yourself and your family first. I am today and don't feel guilty a bit.

[daycare]

I have one parent that will consistently send her child to me sick. All this past week her child had to be picked up as he was very ill by the end of the day. He doesn't nap at home as she says she doesn't have the energy to deal with her other two children and try to get her youngest to nap. She quit her job to train for the Ironman and ran, biked and swam for 13 hours during that Ironman, but lacks energy when it comes to her kids. He doesn't get rest at home so keeps coming to me sick.

All of my day home children have been sick on and off for the past two weeks. I was sick the whole time too but continued to work. I had the parents of the two children that were at the day home yesterday pick up 1 hr early so I could make it to the dr. I was diagnosed with bronchitis. My medication knocks me out pretty good. I took it this morning and felt stoned having to keep moving to stay awake. I let the parents know I was closed today and to pick up their children.

The Ironman lady was mad, even though she doesn't work. She is an engineer and so is her husband so the money isn't the issue. She said "You are closed again" since I closed an hour early yesterday. I let her know I have bronchitis and she walked away with me still talking and yelled from upstairs that she hopes I feel better and will see me later.

Strange how parents expect me to care for six children while sick, but when they are sick they ensure their children are with me cause they just can't watch them.

I used to get upset with the guilt trips, but now they can just take a hike. My son is sick today to as am I, but a couple of parents expect me to care for my sick son, and their children while I am sick.

Maybe they need to remember they are parents first and look after their children while they are sick instead of giving them tylenol in the morning to mask the symptoms of sickness until the afternoon. Then I might not be sick, my son wouldn't be either and neither would all the day home kids.

They should take their children to a big day care where they are never closed. Take care of yourself and your family first. I am today and don't feel guilty a bit.

not to be rude, but sounds like you need to make some serious changes to your illness policy.

There are several people on this board who have awesome ones if you are in need of help. Blackcat and MariaVanessa are two off the top of my head that have GREAT illness policies.

Once you get those policies, you have to enforce them too, or the parents will continue to do this to you.....

[clep]

not to be rude, but sounds like you need to make some serious changes to your illness policy.

There are several people on this board who have awesome ones if you are in need of help. Blackcat and MariaVanessa are two off the top of my head that have GREAT illness policies.

Once you get those policies, you have to enforce them too, or the parents will continue to do this to you.....

I have a fantastic illness policy. The problem is with one parent and when they medicate the child before he get's here and he looks fine, there isn't much I can do. She will tell me he did great the night before and all day after I sent him home. He had really red cheeks and I let her know that it is not okay to bring him. She tells me it is because of a reaction to him getting into her lotion. Uggg. She is the only parent like that in my day home. The others will keep their children home sick if they know they are. I get tired of her lies and excuses to trick me into caring for her sick child. The policy isn't the problem, she is. She is receiving her notice as per my policy.

Edited to say: That wasn't rude at all btw. It was honest.

[daycare]

I have a fantastic illness policy. The problem is with one parent and when they medicate the child before he get's here and he looks fine, there isn't much I can do. She will tell me he did great the night before and all day after I sent him home. He had really red cheeks and I let her know that it is not okay to bring him. She tells me it is because of a reaction to him getting into her lotion. Uggg. She is the only parent like that in my day home. The others will keep their children home sick if they know they are. I get tired of her lies and excuses to trick me into caring for her sick child. The policy isn't the problem, she is. She is receiving her notice as per my policy.

Edited to say: That wasn't rude at all btw. It was honest.

in my policy I have written that anyone who is caught masking their childs symptoms will be termed on the spot. I have never had it happen, but recently thought someone did. I talked to the ladies here and they all told me how to tell if a kid has been doped and dropped...

If anyone ever did that to me, that would be their last and final day of care here at my place......

[clep]

in my policy I have written that anyone who is caught masking their childs symptoms will be termed on the spot. I have never had it happen, but recently thought someone did. I talked to the ladies here and they all told me how to tell if a kid has been doped and dropped...

If anyone ever did that to me, that would be their last and final day of care here at my place......

I can tell he has been doped and dropped. Haha, great way to put it. I can't prove it though.

How can you immediately term on a suspicion? What if you were wrong?

[daycare]

I can tell he has been doped and dropped. Haha, great way to put it. I can't prove it though.

How can you immediately term on a suspicion? What if you were wrong?

Well heres the thing, my parents know that it is up to me if I will care for a child or not and it can be for a list of reasons.

If they are doped and dropped, you will normally not be able to tell until about 4 hours after the meds ware off. so around lunch time. The kid then spikes a fever or all of a sudden becomes lethargic.

Also, I read that if they are given meds their urine will change color and smell funny.

I do have in my policies as well that all children MUST be able to particiapte at all times. If your child seems better, but cannot keep up with the group, they need to be home.
Perfect example, I sent one home on monday. We were out on our normal daily hike and this kid was so winded and wheezing from a cold that she was getting over she could not walk the hike. As soon as we got back, the kid went home. AND they could not come back for a full 24 hours, so home for 1.5 days, which was really 2 days because I don't do half day drop in...

[daycare]

I also wanted to add that some providers on here have in their policies that if the parent keeps the child home it is a 24hour exclusion from care, but if the provider has to send the kid home it is a full 48 hour exclusion.

I bet that stops someone dead in their tracks and really makes them think about if they should send their sick kid or not.... I currently do not have this in my policy, but I am going to be making a new PHB for 2013 and that will be one of the changes in it......

[clep]

I also wanted to add that some providers on here have in their policies that if the parent keeps the child home it is a 24hour exclusion from care, but if the provider has to send the kid home it is a full 48 hour exclusion.

I bet that stops someone dead in their tracks and really makes them think about if they should send their sick kid or not.... I currently do not have this in my policy, but I am going to be making a new PHB for 2013 and that will be one of the changes in it......

Ohhhh I don't have that in my policy. I am going to rewrite my policy today to include that.

I allow children to come if they have a common cold. I find thought that when there are six children with a cold and their noses are runny it is hard to keep up with.

I am interested now to see what other providers have in reference to colds. I will start another thread as I am hijacking this one.

[Mom&Provider]

if there is no way that someone else can keep you open or get your child to the DR. then you have to do what is best for your family first.

Is it possible for you to have someone else take your son? Or to have someone like a friend or family member come in and keep the childcare open???

This is a specialist appointment for my son, I'd rather ensure I hear all the facts direct vs from a family member when they got back with him - a regular Dr's I'd be fine with, but not this. KWIM? I would send my hubby, but he works afternoons and just got a new job, so that's a no go there too.

I offered to be open for a few hours in the morning prior to his appointment, but they chose not to accept that.

I really don't have anyone around to help out either, wish I did! My parents are also a bit picky about that too, so I'd have to be careful.

I know I am doing the right thing, just ****s that all this illness and now an appointment has all happened at once!!

[Mom&Provider]

I have one parent that will consistently send her child to me sick. All this past week her child had to be picked up as he was very ill by the end of the day. He doesn't nap at home as she says she doesn't have the energy to deal with her other two children and try to get her youngest to nap. She quit her job to train for the Ironman and ran, biked and swam for 13 hours during that Ironman, but lacks energy when it comes to her kids. He doesn't get rest at home so keeps coming to me sick.

All of my day home children have been sick on and off for the past two weeks. I was sick the whole time too but continued to work. I had the parents of the two children that were at the day home yesterday pick up 1 hr early so I could make it to the dr. I was diagnosed with bronchitis. My medication knocks me out pretty good. I took it this morning and felt stoned having to keep moving to stay awake. I let the parents know I was closed today and to pick up their children.

The Ironman lady was mad, even though she doesn't work. She is an engineer and so is her husband so the money isn't the issue. She said "You are closed again" since I closed an hour early yesterday. I let her know I have bronchitis and she walked away with me still talking and yelled from upstairs that she hopes I feel better and will see me later.

Strange how parents expect me to care for six children while sick, but when they are sick they ensure their children are with me cause they just can't watch them.

I used to get upset with the guilt trips, but now they can just take a hike. My son is sick today to as am I, but a couple of parents expect me to care for my sick son, and their children while I am sick.

Maybe they need to remember they are parents first and look after their children while they are sick instead of giving them tylenol in the morning to mask the symptoms of sickness until the afternoon. Then I might not be sick, my son wouldn't be either and neither would all the day home kids.

They should take their children to a big day care where they are never closed. Take care of yourself and your family first. I am today and don't feel guilty a bit.

Thank you! I know I need to take care of myself first, I just wish I could do it without feeling badly...why do we feel like this!?

[daycare]

This is a specialist appointment for my son, I'd rather ensure I hear all the facts direct vs from a family member when they got back with him - a regular Dr's I'd be fine with, but not this. KWIM? I would send my hubby, but he works afternoons and just got a new job, so that's a no go there too.

I offered to be open for a few hours in the morning prior to his appointment, but they chose not to accept that.

I really don't have anyone around to help out either, wish I did! My parents are also a bit picky about that too, so I'd have to be careful.

I know I am doing the right thing, just ****s that all this illness and now an appointment has all happened at once!!

I know what you mean...last year my oldest son was knocked out at football practice and I could not be there at the hospital with him at the time because I had a house full of kids.....

If your parents don't understand, then like the other person said, then those are not parents you want in your daycare. Just like thier children, your child has needs to be met and it is your responsibility as his parent to do so.

I know you are in a tough spot, but you just have to do what you have to so that you can take care of your son.

If they leave or get mad, let them.

so sorry you are having to go through this.....