Winter Weather

[wdmmom]

We haven't had a great winter here in the Midwest. School has called off 3 days so far and we have already been put on notice by every weather station that "Snow-magedon" is suppose to arrive later this week.

Our first winter weather day was colossal. Our road didn't even get plowed til 5pm! A friend HAD to go in (is a nurse) so I watched her 2 kids for 2 hours until the clinic she works at decided to close. ALL other families cancelled for the day except for ONE. I made 3 attempts to contact dcm via phone, text and email. NO RESPONSE.

She shows up at my door with DCB at 930am. TWO hours later than normal drop off time. I turned them away at the door explaining that I was closed, I had no other kids in my care and I made attempts to reach her and let her know.

So far predictions are between 12 and 20 inches for my area.

So this time, I notified EVERY family and put them on HIGH alert. I said that this may be a little premature but I wanted to make sure we are all on the same page.

I asked families to notify me Thursday and Friday to let me know if their child is going to be in attendance for the day. Depending on attendance AND weather, I will determine if daycare will be open or if we will close early.

Is it wrong of people to get a plan in place now?

And, next year, I've already decided that if school closes, I'm closing too.

[SilverSabre25]

No, it's not wrong of people. Even in IA that's a lot of snow and it's a serious situation, one that needs planning and preparation. I would say that you could start now following a policy that you'll notify by 6 AM if you're going to be open (i.e. when the schools make their call!) and they need to check email/phone/whatever before leaving to make sure you're open.

[Blackcat31]

I think pre-planning is a good thing.

I decided next year I will close if school is closed as well. Last week when our schools closed, I had a teacher mom who tried to tell me it was school district policy that ALL teacher's report to school even on snow days.

She said "A day in the classroom without students is a gift to a teacher"

I said "A day with less kids is a gift to me" She didn't see it as funny.
My policy is no teacher kids when school is closed. I think she thought she found a way around my policy.

Funny thing though is she only wanted to bring the baby and not her other two kids.

I also requested that she find and show me the district's written policy. She then said "Well, I don't know if it is actually a rule but it is strongly suggested." ::::

[wdmmom]

I asked all parents to notify me on Thursday and Wednesday no later than 630am if they were going to tempt the trip.

I also told them I will make the final determination as to whether I will open or close.

If it's bad and I know keeping the drive and walks clean poses a problem, I'm taking the day off. And honestly, I'm really HOPING for a day off!

[SquirrellyMama]

I am not looking forward to this storm. My dh got stuck in DSM during that first storm in December. Actually, he made it to work the day after it snowed, he just couldn't make it home.

His company has a policy that you have to use vacation days if you can't make it in for snow. Is it possible that your dcm's company has the same rule. We hate having my dh use his vacation time for snow since we have vacations planned already in the spring/summer/fall.

You may want to make extra sure that you can get a hold of her on Thursday and Friday. Tell her in advance that just because she doesn't answer her phone it doesn't mean that you are open.

K

[laundrymom]

Stay safe. Check in.

[MNMum]

For those of us that run daycare in our homes, I don't see why we would need to close. It's not as if I'm going anywhere.

[daycarediva]

I used to think I didn't need to close, but when dh is busy working (and ALWAYS is in bad weather as he owns a plumbing/heating company) I can't keep the walk shoveled. PLUS, then my SA kids show up and I didn't plan for food/activities for them and it makes one LONNNGGG day.

Next year, if school closes, so do I!

[daycarediva]

Topic at hand-yes I would get them all on board and tell them that if you are doing to close you will make that determination by X time and notify them ALL via _______.

[mema]

I don't close, but sometimes wish I did! I just let them know that I don't do the drive during the day and that is up to them. We live on top of a rather large hill, so if your vehicle can't make it up, don't come. I had one year that a mom called me from the bottom asking me to drive her kids down to her because she couldn't get up it. Shortly after, she bought a new vehicle with 4 wheel drive::.

I had one mom comment today that she maybe having to answer her work calls from home with the kids screaming in the background! I also have 1 that lives out of town and doesn't work right now-they will be here regardless-last ice storm it took them over an hour to get here and they were late picking up.

DD is looking forward to it. She's ready for sledding. I'm not looking forward to it if it keeps up into Friday night-we have a 3 hour drive on Saturday morning.