DCP's Can Be So Rude!!

[hgonzalez]

My DCP's have been bugging me to make a decision about what days off I am taking for the Holidays. I have told them about the paid Holidays and one other day. I give a 2 week notice, so I need to decide today.

Over the weekend, I sent an email asking all parents what days they have off of work during those two weeks, so I can see if some days are better for the majority of my parents than others.

I have not received one single response from 5 families.

I also had a DCP late today, because his battery died on his car. First it happened at home. Then he went to a gas station to get cash to pay me (because they have bounced a check to me in the past) and the car died there. He makes some comment about 'well if I wouldn't have stopped at the gas station to get your cash, we would have been fine'. I snapped back at him 'well you did have all weekend to get the cash'...because I am sick of people treating me badly.

What the heck is wrong with people?

[Heidi]

My DCP's have been bugging me to make a decision about what days off I am taking for the Holidays. I have told them about the paid Holidays and one other day. I give a 2 week notice, so I need to decide today.

Over the weekend, I sent an email asking all parents what days they have off of work during those two weeks, so I can see if some days are better for the majority of my parents than others.

I have not received one single response from 5 families.

I also had a DCP late today, because his battery died on his car. First it happened at home. Then he went to a gas station to get cash to pay me (because they have bounced a check to me in the past) and the car died there. He makes some comment about 'well if I wouldn't have stopped at the gas station to get your cash, we would have been fine'. I snapped back at him 'well you did have all weekend to get the cash'...because I am sick of people treating me badly.

What the heck is wrong with people?

They're just big babies....

:hug: It'll be okay...

[NeedaVaca]

Sorry you are dealing with this. Personally I decide what days off I want and do not ask parents about their schedules. It was nice of you to try to work with them but in the future I wouldn't. Just pick the days you want and let them know

[snbauser]

(((HUGS))). I would not ask parents about their days off. Decide what is best for you and take those days. We give so much of ourselves for this business.

[cheerfuldom]

I would never ask parents what days would work best for them. you have now opened the door for your daycare parents to negotiate your days off. you can bet at least one parent will be upset in the future if you dont send these type of emails every time you want to take a day off.

do yourself a favor and just do what works best for you.

[itlw8]

I do see their point if you are going to close. It is almost impossible to get time off at the last minute over Christmas. Many need to put in 6 months in advance

[Play Care]

I do see their point if you are going to close. It is almost impossible to get time off at the last minute over Christmas. Many need to put in 6 months in advance

I give a one month notice of extended time. I also learned early on to never try to coordinate time off clients. They will always need you to work...My hairdresser, plumber, electrician, etc. don't consult me when they are going to be off

[caregiver]

I just pick the days off that I want to take and then Parents have to go by my schedule. I tried trying to take the same days off that parents had years ago and it just wasn't working.
So just do what works for you. I usually give them about 2 months or so notice for my Holiday schedule, so that gives them enough time to find alternative care for their child while I take my vacation.

[Kimskiddos]

Most of my families get a lot of time off for the holidays. At the end of Nov (before I made my newsletter) I asked/texted my dcf's what their schedules were going to be from Dec 23-Jan 1 so I could make my decision on time off for the holidays.
Two of them said the whole time and the third said they had to work Dec 30 & 31st but could take those days off too. I think they wanted to use daycare as an excuse to get the days off. LOL So yes, I am off Dec 23-Jan 1 can't wait!

[e.j.]

He makes some comment about 'well if I wouldn't have stopped at the gas station to get your cash, we would have been fine'. I snapped back at him 'well you did have all weekend to get the cash'...because I am sick of people treating me badly.

What the heck is wrong with people?

It's so much easier to blame someone else than to accept responsibility for your own mistakes.

I agree with the others when they advised you to decide which days off work best for you and just notify the parents. It was nice to try to take their needs into consideration but it's hard when you have several families with different needs - especially when they don't/won't respond to you. Hopefully they're not deliberately ignoring you. Maybe they were busy Christmas shopping this weekend and haven't checked their emails yet?

[Annalee]

(((HUGS))). I would not ask parents about their days off. Decide what is best for you and take those days. We give so much of ourselves for this business.

[hgonzalez]

Well, unfortunately I did not get advance notice that my mother is dying. I am not trying to be dramatic here, but she is being moved into hospice care and I would like to spend more time with her if I can.

My parents are all aware of my situation with her. Also, I should have said that two families told me that they have lots of time off over the Holidays. I am trying to find out from them what days those are so I can inconvenience as few people as possible.

I looked this morning and not a single family responded with their schedules. Isn't that nice? So I am going to go ahead and take the time off I want without giving a **** about their schedules, since they don't give a hoot about my situation.

I usually give at least a month notice out before taking time off and I have had only 2 unscheduled sick days in 2013. I am just so tired of the disrespect.

[Scout]

:hug: So sorry about your mom. Isn't it possible though that not all of them checked their email? I know I only check mine daily when I have an ad on Craigslist up. I wouldn't be worrying about what works well for any of them in your situation. Do what you need to and forget about them. They should be able to find family or friends who can watch their kids last minute over the holidays.

[MotherNature]

I would never ask parents what days would work best for them. you have now opened the door for your daycare parents to negotiate your days off. you can bet at least one parent will be upset in the future if you dont send these type of emails every time you want to take a day off.

do yourself a favor and just do what works best for you.

yup-I tried this before, & it didn't work well. Good luck, though. Hope you pick something that will benefit you and the clients.

[NeedaVaca]

Sorry to hear about your mom. I don't know if you have paid vacation or personal days left for the year or if they are all unpaid. Either way, use all the days you have left or take as many unpaid days as you can afford! If your mom is being moved to hospice you should spend as much time as possible with her. Don't worry about the DCF's just do what you need to do