Maternity Leave..

[Unregistered]

Hi! I'm working on finishing my handbook before I open in a month and was wondering how everyone handles your own maternity leave..I'm not pregnant and not planning on trying for another year but I want to add it in just in case
I was thinking of hiring someone to work for me...obviously I would still be in the house (the other side of it) except for dr appt...I wouldn't really be making money but I would still get to keep my families..
anyone have a different idea?....maybe close for a couple months, risking losing all your families?
Thanks!!

[Michael]

Here are some threads that may be helpful:

https://www.daycare.com/forum/tags.php?tag=maternity+leave+contract

https://www.daycare.com/forum/tags.php?tag=maternity+leave

[cheerfuldom]

I dont think you should address this at all in the contract, especially since you have no plans to be pregnant any time soon. You can always notify parents down the road and have a plan at that time. I would hate for you to tie yourself to something via the contract that you find does not work for you down the road.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I am 39.5 weeks pregnant right now. I have a lengthy Parent Handbook but I do not cover maternity leave in it. I try not to put in too many things that aren't relevant all of the time and that would be one thing that isn't relevant all of the time or even most of the time as I am not pregnant most of the time!

I simply stated the dates I would be closed for the year (paid), and said, "Any additional closings will be unpaid and credited back to your account."

I have sent out notices throughout this pregnancy keeping parents updated and asked them to address any concerns they might have. There have been none and I have signed on many new children (7) during this.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I dont think you should address this at all in the contract, especially since you have no plans to be pregnant any time soon. You can always notify parents down the road and have a plan at that time. I would hate for you to tie yourself to something via the contract that you find does not work for you down the road.

In all of my notices I tell them that this is my tentative plan. I don't want to tie myself down to anything in the event that it DOES change during childbirth (say, I have to be transferred to have a c-section thus extending my short maternity leave by a week).

[Familycare71]

I agree with PP...leave it out- I took three weeks of maternity leave. The first week I closed, the second two I had someone (my mom) come in and work for me. I was around most of the time but could nap when I wanted, etc... It worked really well- and like you said I got to keep my families but still have some bonding/recovery time

[MNMum]

As for what I put in my contract, all I said was that daycare would close for 1 week.

My 4th baby is now 6 weeks old. This is how I handled maternity leave. As soon as I knew I was pregnant I started looking for an assistant. I found a SAHM who was listed on SitterCity. She had an almost 2 year old herself. I contacted her and explained my situation and asked her if she would be interested in 8 hours/week (2 mornings) regularly, then taking over when I had the baby for about 8 weeks. She worked along side me for several months, when I felt comfortable leaving her in care of the daycare, I had 2 mornings to run errands. The transition was as smooth as possible. I ended up closing the week before I had the baby, as I had a couple false starts to labor, this was actually nice, but not what I planned, I had thought I would close the week after I had the baby. As you said, I am not actually making any money right now, but I have kept my good clients happy. This worked well, as we each had our own space. My husband finished our basement for daycare, a few days before our son was born