Annoyed

[countrymom]

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.

I agree. I tell parents up front that I take as much time off as I want and not charge them for my vacation or their vacation. Most are happy with this and don't complain (I only take a day off here and there) but I too still make more than those who work outside the house, heck at one point I was making more than dh.

[My3cents]

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

I think you felt attacked- and I don't think that was anyone's intent- It is hard when your passionate about something.

Your way works for you and that is all that matters- that is the blessing of being your own boss. You may choose to change your mind down the road, and that is ok. I know I have.

Out of this extension of the OP- I have learned that I might even want to change my contract to not put how many days off I take paid- example for sickness or personal days. It is not like you can predict you will be sick so many days, deaths in the family, random issues that arise through the year. I too am reliable, but life happens and thinking down the road it might be a good idea to have this in place in my policy book. I don't abuse this- I have three personal days and I have never used them. I am thinking future.

I like what Cheer said and Blackcat31

I don't happen to agree with you on this subject, but that is ok. I have agreed with you on other issues before. I do know your coming from a good place even if it different from my view.

Anyhow---- next
Best-

[My3cents]

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 don't 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.

Cheer- this sounds like me. I like the bolded part above and am going to have to incorporate this into my policy

[Country Kids]

I took out how many sick/personal days this year out of my contract/HB due to the fact parents were keeping track. I didn't blame them but I was sick for over t wo weeks last year (thank you childcare). Dr. said I was just getting run down and body wasn't going to bounce back quick enough.

This year I took it out and feel less pressure on taking days off. Haven't so far and really trying hard not to so that maybe I can take them this summer for extra vacation time.

[cheerfuldom]

I took out how many sick/personal days this year out of my contract/HB due to the fact parents were keeping track. I didn't blame them but I was sick for over t wo weeks last year (thank you childcare). Dr. said I was just getting run down and body wasn't going to bounce back quick enough.

This year I took it out and feel less pressure on taking days off. Haven't so far and really trying hard not to so that maybe I can take them this summer for extra vacation time.

this is exactly why i dont give parents a number of sick days or personal days i might take. i rarely take any but when i do, its for emergencies and the last thing i need is a daycare parent freaking out if i go one day over my allotment. several years ago i had to drive to CA for a funeral....obviously i cant miss that and cant drive any faster than i already was so some things are truely out of my control. i dont want to make any promises i may not keep

[countrymom]

I took out how many sick/personal days this year out of my contract/HB due to the fact parents were keeping track. I didn't blame them but I was sick for over t wo weeks last year (thank you childcare). Dr. said I was just getting run down and body wasn't going to bounce back quick enough.

This year I took it out and feel less pressure on taking days off. Haven't so far and really trying hard not to so that maybe I can take them this summer for extra vacation time.

this is why i don't have them either. I also find if i don't charge for the days that they are not here, I rarely get a sick kid. I stress this point out at interviews Also, I never know when I'm going to need a day off so I don't want them to hold me to that policies.

[melilley]

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.

If you don't mind me asking, how do you word it in your contract/policies that they pay if you randomly close, for emergencies, being sick etc.... I like how you don't put a set amount of days, but I'm unsure of how to word it. And how in the world did you just take 2 weeks off for maternity leave? Was it hard? (I'm considering having another child, but am unsure about how to work it with running an in home daycare) Thanks!

[Country Kids]

My last "maternity" leave I was only off a week-with no assistant-:confused:
I'm still wondering how I did it and its been years.

[melilley]

My last "maternity" leave I was only off a week-with no assistant-:confused:
I'm still wondering how I did it and its been years.

You must be super woman...

[Crystal]

My last "maternity" leave I was only off a week-with no assistant-:confused:
I'm still wondering how I did it and its been years.

Yup....I had son on Saturday and was back to work on Monday. WTH was I thinking? :confused::confused::confused:

[Country Kids]

My last one was born at 3:00 AM on a Saturday.

I had gotten up Friday morning at like 6:00, called off daycare, got my one off to school and then went about my day. Had two little ones of my own home but cleaned my dds room entirely/organized the whole bit and then cleaned the entire house. That evening a very good friend was at the hosp. having her baby and we told the kids we were going to see her. We grabbed my bag because we knew we weren't coming back that night but didn't want the kids worrying if they knew Iwas going to the hospital. Saw my friend and then checked in and 6/7 hours later along came baby. Was up that entire day and night because I couldn't sleep. Dad came the next morning/afternoon and we waited for check out. Dad rushed us through as it was Super Bowl Sunday-and I guess they were stopping it for us-.
Came home and didn't sleep that night really as baby was up alot and then I had to get up Monday to get dd off to school again. Since Friday morning through Monday morning I may have slept about 5 hours- Of course there was no down time either during the day as I had a newborn and 2 toddlers.

Then back to work a week later-

[melilley]

My last one was born at 3:00 AM on a Saturday.

I had gotten up Friday morning at like 6:00, called off daycare, got my one off to school and then went about my day. Had two little ones of my own home but cleaned my dds room entirely/organized the whole bit and then cleaned the entire house. That evening a very good friend was at the hosp. having her baby and we told the kids we were going to see her. We grabbed my bag because we knew we weren't coming back that night but didn't want the kids worrying if they knew Iwas going to the hospital. Saw my friend and then checked in and 6/7 hours later along came baby. Was up that entire day and night because I couldn't sleep. Dad came the next morning/afternoon and we waited for check out. Dad rushed us through as it was Super Bowl Sunday-and I guess they were stopping it for us-.
Came home and didn't sleep that night really as baby was up alot and then I had to get up Monday to get dd off to school again. Since Friday morning through Monday morning I may have slept about 5 hours- Of course there was no down time either during the day as I had a newborn and 2 toddlers.

Then back to work a week later-

Geez! Definitely super woman!

[Mom&Provider]

I personally think this is one of those things that is up to the provider. I do a bit of both sides when it comes to days off and that's what I feel is fair AND what works to obtain and keep business vs other home daycares in my area and the two main centers here also.

What works for one provider, may not be what works for another...it's all personal choice I think and no one person is wrong for doing it one way or the other!