Annoyed

[My3cents]

I am annoyed because I wanted to comment on the thread of-

What is your policies for days off? and it has been closed. I didn't have time so planned to come back to it. I don't think it is right to do this. Everyone should be able to post as they wish. If it get's nasty remove the person but not the thread.

My 3cents is right in line with TexasJeep,AngelWings, Littlemissmuffet. I have seen it all. I want to be viewed as a professional in my craft. I work hard, and put a lot into my daycare.

It makes me a better provider to be appreciated and allowed this time off with out having to stress on the income side of it. I give a lot into my daycare through out the year above and beyond the norm. I become attached to these children and spend a lot of time with them, so I give a lot. I don't feel entitled, but I do feel appreciated. If I had someone that was in a pickle, I would access the situation and go from there- I would do this for all situations, not just paid days off and Holiday pay. During my interview, I am upfront that I take these days off and they are not negotiable. My experience is that daycares that are in this for the long haul and have been in business for many years take these days paid.

I will say- the part of being in business for yourself is that you get to decide what works best for you and your clients and families.

I personally am a better provider for having that time off and having it paid. I think the only time in my policy book that is not paid would be, if it is over my three personal/sick days I take a year or if I want a third vacation.

I know I wanted to make more points and views and am just annoyed that this great thread was closed. Ugh!

Best to all-

[mom2many]

I TOTALLY agree My3cents!!!!!!!!!

[Blackcat31]

The thread can be re-opened. It veered SEVERELY off track and was no longer about what everyone's policies were in regard to days off/vacation time and had become a debate between two members about who said/implied what and who didn't.

Sometimes to simply stop an all out war, especially when it's gone off topic and when there is NO ONE RIGHT OR WRONG answer, closing the thread is best.

If you want to add some comments and a few more cents....feel free

[countrymom]

I don't think just because you don't charge for things your a bad provider or think less of yourself. Where I live you just can't do this, it just wouldn't fly. I don't mind and I don't get the headaches llike some of you guys do.

[Country Kids]

Interesting-the thread wasn't closed on my end? Is there something I'm not seeing?

[cheerfuldom]

well I for one dont care if anyone thinks I am a bad provider.

I charge for everyday of the year. Even if I close for emergency or any other reason, no credits/no refunds/no nothing. If that makes someone here think that I am taking advantage of others or whatever else.....go ahead and think that. No skin off my back.

Whats important to me is that I have a regular income. I set up my daycare as such. Any parent that is not okay with that, is welcome to find other care. Its my business, I can put in as many benefits as I want. If some random cyber person gets all offended over my policies, I still dont care. I do ask for opinions or ideas at time but have no problem going my own way in some situations. I remember one thread in particular where 90% of the providers were advising me against doing something a certain way.....I did it my way, everything turned out fine and all ended well. So hopefully no one gets over involved in the opinions of others online.

For the record, I get two paid vacation weeks a year plus most holidays (its like 10). I dont work any emergency days or sick days into my agreement outside of the parent acknowledging that they will pay even if I have to randomly close. In five years, this has happened only 3 times (two sick days, one day that my AC broke during the summer) so that part is really a non issue because I am very reliable. I have gone thru three pregnancies during my daycare years and the paid vacation is generally used for my maternity leaves. It is very rare that any one complains about any of this as far as my DC parents go. I have no issue with parents possibly having to "double pay" another provider....sorry folks, not my problem. they knew this coming into our agreement so its not like I am holding any one hostage to be here.

[My3cents]

The thread can be re-opened. It veered SEVERELY off track and was no longer about what everyone's policies were in regard to days off/vacation time and had become a debate between two members about who said/implied what and who didn't.

Sometimes to simply stop an all out war, especially when it's gone off topic and when there is NO ONE RIGHT OR WRONG answer, closing the thread is best.

If you want to add some comments and a few more cents....feel free

I can understand..... I think it is helpful to newbies to hear it all. I still learn from these threads and I am seasoned. I just often am only able to skim post and have to come back to reply. Of course I enjoy the heated interest too- I agree there was no right or wrong answer, but I enjoyed hearing both sides. Just because I do it one way does not mean that I can't be open to other ways of doing things in the future if issues should arise for me to have to change my mind. I doubt it but its food for thought- I say I doubt it because I have put a lot of time into putting my policies in place. I have all of these threads to thank along the way---

Thanks Blackcat31-

[LaLa1923]

well I for one dont care if anyone thinks I am a bad provider.

I charge for everyday of the year. Even if I close for emergency or any other reason, no credits/no refunds/no nothing. If that makes someone here think that I am taking advantage of others or whatever else.....go ahead and think that. No skin off my back.

Whats important to me is that I have a regular income. I set up my daycare as such. Any parent that is not okay with that, is welcome to find other care. Its my business, I can put in as many benefits as I want. If some random cyber person gets all offended over my policies, I still dont care. I do ask for opinions or ideas at time but have no problem going my own way in some situations. I remember one thread in particular where 90% of the providers were advising me against doing something a certain way.....I did it my way, everything turned out fine and all ended well. So hopefully no one gets over involved in the opinions of others online.

For the record, I get two paid vacation weeks a year plus most holidays (its like 10). I dont work any emergency days or sick days into my agreement outside of the parent acknowledging that they will pay even if I have to randomly close. In five years, this has happened only 3 times (two sick days, one day that my AC broke during the summer) so that part is really a non issue because I am very reliable. I have gone thru three pregnancies during my daycare years and the paid vacation is generally used for my maternity leaves. It is very rare that any one complains about any of this as far as my DC parents go. I have no issue with parents possibly having to "double pay" another provider....sorry folks, not my problem. they knew this coming into our agreement so its not like I am holding any one hostage to be here.

You made my day! LOL Thanks for the laugh! The last part was funny !!happyface

[Willow]

I am annoyed because I wanted to comment on the thread of-

What is your policies for days off? and it has been closed. I didn't have time so planned to come back to it. I don't think it is right to do this. Everyone should be able to post as they wish. If it get's nasty remove the person but not the thread.

My 3cents is right in line with TexasJeep,AngelWings, Littlemissmuffet. I have seen it all. I want to be viewed as a professional in my craft. I work hard, and put a lot into my daycare.

It makes me a better provider to be appreciated and allowed this time off with out having to stress on the income side of it. I give a lot into my daycare through out the year above and beyond the norm. I become attached to these children and spend a lot of time with them, so I give a lot. I don't feel entitled, but I do feel appreciated. If I had someone that was in a pickle, I would access the situation and go from there- I would do this for all situations, not just paid days off and Holiday pay. During my interview, I am upfront that I take these days off and they are not negotiable. My experience is that daycares that are in this for the long haul and have been in business for many years take these days paid.

I will say- the part of being in business for yourself is that you get to decide what works best for you and your clients and families.

I personally am a better provider for having that time off and having it paid. I think the only time in my policy book that is not paid would be, if it is over my three personal/sick days I take a year or if I want a third vacation.

I know I wanted to make more points and views and am just annoyed that this great thread was closed. Ugh!

Best to all-

The GIANT difference between what you wrote above and much of what was said in that thread is that you spoke for yourself and only yourself.

You didn't make assumptions about anyone else. You didn't proclaim other people things that they're not. You didn't make blanket statements about other providers who do things differently than you do.

When you phrase things like:
"It makes me a better provider..."
"I want to be viewed as...."
"My experience is that...."

it makes all the difference in the world.


We may have completely different beliefs as far as this issue is concerned My3cents, but I can completely hear where you're coming from and respect discussion concerning it when you take that approach.

I am sorry you didn't get to speak your mind in the other thread. Would have been a fabulous contribution

[cheerfuldom]

You made my day! LOL Thanks for the laugh! The last part was funny !!happyface

ha! glad to be of service. as you can read, I am feeling especially feisty lately LOL probably a good thing that that other thread was closed before I jumped in and accidentally made things overheat

[Blackcat31]

Whats important to me is that I have a regular income. I set up my daycare as such. Any parent that is not okay with that, is welcome to find other care. Its my business, I can put in as many benefits as I want. .

I personally think, THAT is the key, as to whether providers have certain policies or not.

WHY they have daycare in the first place. Are they looking to support themselves financially, simply bring in a few dollars to stay home while staying home with their own little ones or just to pass the time and/or help friends/family out by taking in a few kids.

There are hundreds of reasons why a provider has choosen to become a child care provider and those reasons usually dictate what kinds of rules and policies providers put in place.

And again, NOTHING wrong with any of those reasons or any of those policies and rules so long as BOTH client and owner agree to them.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

well I for one dont care if anyone thinks I am a bad provider.

I charge for everyday of the year. Even if I close for emergency or any other reason, no credits/no refunds/no nothing. If that makes someone here think that I am taking advantage of others or whatever else.....go ahead and think that. No skin off my back.

Whats important to me is that I have a regular income. I set up my daycare as such. Any parent that is not okay with that, is welcome to find other care. Its my business, I can put in as many benefits as I want. If some random cyber person gets all offended over my policies, I still dont care. I do ask for opinions or ideas at time but have no problem going my own way in some situations. I remember one thread in particular where 90% of the providers were advising me against doing something a certain way.....I did it my way, everything turned out fine and all ended well. So hopefully no one gets over involved in the opinions of others online.

For the record, I get two paid vacation weeks a year plus most holidays (its like 10). I dont work any emergency days or sick days into my agreement outside of the parent acknowledging that they will pay even if I have to randomly close. In five years, this has happened only 3 times (two sick days, one day that my AC broke during the summer) so that part is really a non issue because I am very reliable. I have gone thru three pregnancies during my daycare years and the paid vacation is generally used for my maternity leaves. It is very rare that any one complains about any of this as far as my DC parents go. I have no issue with parents possibly having to "double pay" another provider....sorry folks, not my problem. they knew this coming into our agreement so its not like I am holding any one hostage to be here.

What holidays, if you don't mind sharing? We are trying to figure out all the days we want to take off next year. We really enjoyed the Thursday and Friday off for Thanksgiving break so we plan to do a "Fourth of July break" the same way in 2013 (Thursdsay is the 4th and Friday will just be off as well).

[cheerfuldom]

I personally think, THAT is the key, as to whether providers have certain policies or not.

WHY they have daycare in the first place. Are they looking to support themselves financially, simply bring in a few dollars to stay home while staying home with their own little ones or just to pass the time and/or help friends/family out by taking in a few kids.

There are hundreds of reasons why a provider has choosen to become a child care provider and those reasons usually dictate what kinds of rules and policies providers put in place.

And again, NOTHING wrong with any of those reasons or any of those policies and rules so long as BOTH client and owner agree to them.

good point. my main reason IS income. I will be honest in saying that I would not do home daycare if I didnt have to financially. I do love my little DC kids and strive to make things the best possible, but its not like my dream job or anything.

that said, I am also perfectly fine with others doing things their own way too! If it makes you feel better to give unpaid days and whatever other options to your parents, thats fine! whatever works for you, you know?

[Country Kids]

95% of the childcares charge here anywhere from $450-$475 a month for full-time care. This includes paid vacations/holidays/and such.

I'm charging a daily rate with no paid time off. This month I took off the last two days of last week for the holidays. I'm still bringing in more money then the childcares that charge a flat rate with the paid vacations/holidays/etc. When I break it down its averages about $2.50 an hour for what I make.

So for me personally, I think I'm doing whats right for my business. I've been doing this hard and strong for 17 years and its never been something I've even thought of when redoing my contracts/hb year after year.

I know I actually bring home more then alot of people who work outside the home and get all these perks. So, I'm thinking if I were to have all my time off paid, I would have to lower my rates (I think they are low already) and take a bigger lose in income just to have paid time off. Now thats what wouldn't make sense to me-losing money for paid time off.

[Willow]

I'm still bringing in more money then the childcares that charge a flat rate with the paid vacations/holidays/etc.