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My other 2 gifts were very nice, a gc to a spa a half hour away for $150 and $60 to another local spa. Last year I got $100 cash only so it's a step up! The other mom is kinda ditzy so who knows.
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I'm the same way. I feel appreciated every day because my current families show up on time, pay on time, follow my policies and don't try to sneak their sick LO's into daycare. That's appreciation enough for me and I get that year round.
If I had families that didn't do one or several of the above well then ... I wouldn't expect them to appreciate me on Christmas anyway :
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My only issue was with the Mom who picked up late on the last day, accepted my card, baked goods and bag full of ornaments her son made for her all week, thanked me (sort of) and then stammered she'd be right back with my gift from the car.....right before driving away. The next time I saw her was yesterday...two weeks later. She dropped, barely spoke and then ran. At dropoff she gave me a couple of new, unwrapped toys "for the kids" "Merry Christmas!" while her 7 year old chased her from the car yelling, "Why are you taking our new stuff to Miss's house?"
My issue is with the big song and dance. Don't ACT like you care when you don't, you know? Just own it...I don't care. Don't steal crap you want out of your house from your children and then act like you made a big donation to my daycare. That's just stupid.Comment
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Things were very tight financially for our family also for Christmas and I only spent about $50 total for the family of 3 and then monogrammed their stuff. I didn't get anything from mom except she did text me a thanks when the kids opened the presents at home.
For my special dcg family, I knew mom could only afford two presents per child from her so I bought them a few extra wrapped things for mom to out under the tree in Christmas Day. Let me insert here, a couple special members here helped this family also. You know who you are (big smile). Their mama was SO appreciative for everything. And even though she couldn't afford to get me anything physical, she wrote me a heartfelt letter and gave it to me on the 23rd when she picked up the baby because ky had just been released that day from being inpatient the week before. Her letter made me cry.
I'm like you guys, no presents are needed but a thank you goes a long way. I get thank you texts every week from special dcg. Constantly she will text me how much she appreciates me and loves mean d it makes my heart feel so good.Comment
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All but one of my families gave me a card and/or gift. The one that didn't, the dcm did thank me for the homemade ornament that I made for them, but not even a thanks to me for the care I provide. It doesn't bother me because I know this family has financial problems, but a thank you would be nice..and it's free.
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Most of my families aren't in the best financial situation. I get a paid holiday break from the 24th-the 2nd. I do not expect a holiday gift. I did have on family bring a box of crayons and Christmas coloring book in a little gift bag "for everyone" and I thought that was sweet. Sure it wasn't for me, but it was the thought that was nice, even though I don't expect anything.Comment
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THIS scenario is always the saddest story.
I've had it happen to me too. A DCM I went waaaaaay out of my way to help out, discounted rates, bent policies etc (and of course had the toughest kid in care) said she had a Christmas gift for me but had forgotten it in the table at home but would have her DH run it by later.
Of course, I never ever received anything from them and didn't hear another word spoke about it either.
I ended up terming them about 3 months later (NOT because of the gift thing) and it took everything in me NOT to say something to her on her last day at pick up just so I KNEW she knew I remembered her behavior.
I didn't say anything to her though.
Like Miss Beth and MV, I would rather have parents that SHOW their appreciation to me ALL year long by adhering to my policies and being respectful verses getting a Christmas gift, where half the time it seems like the BEST gifts come from the worst families....almost like they are trying to make up for their behavior the rest of the year.
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IMHO, This seems to have started happening in the last few years. It is hallmark Entitlement Generation (as the media have dubbed them) it seems :confused:
I am expected to decorate, have the kids make heirloom crafts, teach holiday themes such as being thoughtful of others, buy the kids gifts, throw a huge party, take/share photos, etc. but the parents feel taken advantage of because they must pay their tuition. "I paid my bill, that is Thanks enough."
I received two 4x6 photos of daycare kids I spend 50+ hours a week with and take approximately 1500 photos a year of (no handwritten notes included with photo gifts) and an opened bag of animal crackers to serve with morning snack (straight to garbage, of course
It would be unlawful to serve.)
Luckily I was able to deduct the $480 I spent celebrating the Holidays with their kids this year or I'd feel pretty bitter about it (all have been here 3-5 years, now).
** Back in the day I'd get a thoughtful cup of hot seasonal flavored coffee from their commute in to start my day, a box of chocolates to share during storytime, a heartfelt handwritten note that I kept in my bureau for times I was lacking motivation or a sweet ornament handpicked by their child for me (often hysterically inappropriate that made it epic to me :: ) ... Used to bring a tear to my eye. lovethis I miss those days, kindness is a lost art. 
- Unless otherwise stated, all my posts are personal opinion and worth what you paid for them.
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This is my 3rd Christmas with one family. Never a gift or a Merry Christmas (unless I say it first). In order to teach the dcg about giving, each year we make small clay ornaments for each cousin and grandparent. Never a comment or thank you from Mom. DCG loves it and gets so excited when we are wrapping them and putting on tags. She takes so much care in choosing paper and tags-even when she was just 2. I don't even expect anything from dcm anymore. (This is the family with an ECI child-the one I spend so much time with each day, doing his various therapies.) But, as many have said, she pays on time and picks up on time, so I'm good. And I really like her-she's a good mom and a good client now.
This year, she was standing there when my other dcm gave me a turkey at Thanksgiving, and again when she gave me a card at Christmas. She apparently never even thought that maybe it would be a nice gesture. ::
I've had 6 families in 3 years and until this year, had only received 1 gift the 1st year. My newest dcm (another ECI child) gave me the turkey at Thanksgiving and a lovely card with 1 days pay and a really nice note, with an apology that it couldn't be more and a really nice verbal thank you. I know what a sacrifice that extra day pay was for them, which made it mean as much to me as a weeks pay. But the card--I put it in my desk drawer so that I can pull it out on the days when I'm tired and frustrated. But wait, there's more. She texted me on Christmas night to say that she wasn't bringing the baby the next day to give me an extra day off, since he was my only kid that day. Then, she did the same thing again on Friday. So, basically, she gave me a days pay and 2 paid days off.
I'm ok with it now. I have really good families and the other 11 months of the year, they are treasures. The first year, I didn't know to expect anything and was surprised with the gift. Oh, that was the year that I had 3 families. One gave me a gift, the others didn't pay me until after Christmas. I hadn't found this forum and had no backbone (I didn't know it was allowed). Both families had hard luck stories about how their jobs had messed up their paychecks and they weren't going to get paid the rest until the next pay cycle, which was, conveniently, after the first of the year. I couldn't risk losing them (kids are hard to come by here), so we just had a sparse Christmas here. That wouldn't happen now. For one thing, everyone pre-pays now.Comment
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I'm more irritated that I now have to witness her awkwardness until it runs it's course. She forgot about me, lied and then didn't care enough to follow through with her lie. That's on her, not me. I didn't expect a gift in the first place although a token "Happy Holidays!" would have been nice.THIS scenario is always the saddest story.
I've had it happen to me too. A DCM I went waaaaaay out of my way to help out, discounted rates, bent policies etc (and of course had the toughest kid in care) said she had a Christmas gift for me but had forgotten it in the table at home but would have her DH run it by later.
Of course, I never ever received anything from them and didn't hear another word spoke about it either.
I ended up terming them about 3 months later (NOT because of the gift thing) and it took everything in me NOT to say something to her on her last day at pick up just so I KNEW she knew I remembered her behavior.
I didn't say anything to her though.
Like Miss Beth and MV, I would rather have parents that SHOW their appreciation to me ALL year long by adhering to my policies and being respectful verses getting a Christmas gift, where half the time it seems like the BEST gifts come from the worst families....almost like they are trying to make up for their behavior the rest of the year. None of the rest was necessary, all of it was drama.
The bottom line is I don't make ornaments for the parents, I do it because the kids love to make them and I love their joy. I bake because I love to bake (although I will admit I love the "OMG YOUR COOKIES ARE SO GOOD! I'M HIDING IN THE CLOSET FROM THE KIDS EATING THEM ALL!!!!" texts
). I give out cards because I think it's polite. All of those things are about making ME happy on the holidays not about making parents feel guilty or bad. She will just have to deal with her own conscious and live with it. 
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I use to expect it and was always disappointed.
This year I didn't expect anything. Instead I closed for two weeks - paid!
One family gave me nothing and even tried to get away with not paying for their vacation time until after they returned. I didn't allow it. They had to wire me $ from Europe.
The other families gave me token gifts.Comment
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This year I tried something different. We made some Winter/Christmas art and crafts and instead of sending them home I hung on to them and decorated my house with them. I still have them up. Several families asked for their child's craft and art projects and I just said "Oh, I worked really hard on them with the kids. I'm going to hang on to them until sometime in January" I got a bunch of :confused: looks.I am expected to decorate, have the kids make heirloom crafts, teach holiday themes such as being thoughtful of others, buy the kids gifts, throw a huge party, take/share photos, etc. but the parents feel taken advantage of because they must pay their tuition. "I paid my bill, that is Thanks enough."
Next week we start our new winter theme and so we have more projects to work on and THAT's when I'll send last months Christmas theme projects home. I work hard on planning, preparing, shopping, cutting, setting up, and working on the projects ... I want to enjoy them too ::. I already know that most of them will end up in the trash anyway so we might as well enjoy them while we can .
In 2012 I had some families COMPLAIN that I was sending home too much stuff so I completely STOPPED sending anything home. In 2013 they COMPLAINED that they weren't getting enough.::
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Brilliant!!!! :hug:This year I tried something different. We made some Winter/Christmas art and crafts and instead of sending them home I hung on to them and decorated my house with them. I still have them up. Several families asked for their child's craft and art projects and I just said "Oh, I worked really hard on them with the kids. I'm going to hang on to them until sometime in January" I got a bunch of :confused: looks.
Next week we start our new winter theme and so we have more projects to work on and THAT's when I'll send last months Christmas theme projects home. I work hard on planning, preparing, shopping, cutting, setting up, and working on the projects ... I want to enjoy them too ::. I already know that most of them will end up in the trash anyway so we might as well enjoy them while we can .
In 2012 I had some families COMPLAIN that I was sending home too much stuff so I completely STOPPED sending anything home. In 2013 they COMPLAINED that they weren't getting enough.::
We can't win for losing it seems... ::
- Unless otherwise stated, all my posts are personal opinion and worth what you paid for them.Comment
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I don't mind it at all! I don't give out gifts. I have enough to buy for as it is with my own. I do go to birthday parties because my kids are young and always get invited, so I tend to get a nice birthday gift in exchange for not giving anything for Christmas.Comment
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For the first years I was doing child care I guess I got spoiled by the parents giving me gifts. Then for a few years a new group didn't. Well maybe one out of the group would. I'll be honest. It made me feel unappreciated. I don't need a gift but a nice card was plenty. It really is the thought that counts and there didn't seem to be many thoughts. I always gave their children really nice gifts in the $15-$20 range as a 'thank you' for doing business. Same thing for birthdays.
This year I got one week's pay from one mom and a $50 gift card for my birthday. The other mom gave me a houseplant that was gorgeous but mostly she gave me the best hug ever telling me how much I meant to her family. I don't even tell parents when my birthday is. I asked her how she even knew and she said she asked me a long time ago. I don't remember that. I absolutely don't feel bad about birthdays.
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