Closures Due to Cold

[Play Care]

same here. Just went over this with parents with our snow storm this week - my commute is not an issue, I live here but they are the ones who have to decide if they want to risk it.

I used to feel this way also. Until the Valentine's Day Blizzard of 2007, when one parent decided to try to get to work in two feet of snow. Which would have been fine had her child not started vomiting about a half hour after she had left. Of course, mom was stuck on horrid roads and no one could come get her Mom got all the way to work to find they had closed the office, and on her way back to get her sick child (hours later) she got stuck in a snow bank on my road, and one of my older neighbors dug her out. Every time someone says "well you don't have to leave your house so why do you care?!" I tell them this story.

[Kabob]

I used to feel this way also. Until the Valentine's Day Blizzard of 2007, when one parent decided to try to get to work in two feet of snow. Which would have been fine had her child not started vomiting about a half hour after she had left. Of course, mom was stuck on horrid roads and no one could come get her Mom got all the way to work to find they had closed the office, and on her way back to get her sick child (hours later) she got stuck in a snow bank on my road, and one of my older neighbors dug her out. Every time someone says "well you don't have to leave your house so why do you care?!" I tell them this story.

Yep, I ended up closing because this thought occurred to me too. The last time we had a decent chunk of snow, the family in question ended up an hour late because of car trouble. In fact they've been late because of car trouble even without weather issues. I do charge a late fee, but a late fee won't make me feel better if there's an emergency (i.e, power outage, illness, etc) and they can't get here because their car won't start.

I still feel silly closing but I consoled myself by deciding to do daycare paperwork and cleaning for the day so that I'm still working.

Normally, cold and snow don't bother me...I've lived way up North by Lake Superior most of my life until I had to move for better financial prospects. Lake effect snow is terrible...combined with wind off of the lake and you have recipe for miserable weather. One time, during a cold spell, my workplace caught on fire because it was so cold that morning that (to the best of my memory) some fan belts operating the venting system froze up and then that created stress in the system that started a fire. Long story short, we were stuck outside in that cold for a couple of hours before we could go back inside. The cold can do funny things to machinery.

Besides, since Blackcat lives in the same area (generally speaking) as me, I figured if even she is closing, then perhaps I should take a note.

[Maria2013]

I've never experienced wind chill temperatures as low as -30 to -60 though! Holy cow! Why would anyone want to go out in that?!!!

I'm asking myself the very same thing

[Blackcat31]

Yep, I ended up closing because this thought occurred to me too. The last time we had a decent chunk of snow, the family in question ended up an hour late because of car trouble. In fact they've been late because of car trouble even without weather issues. I do charge a late fee, but a late fee won't make me feel better if there's an emergency (i.e, power outage, illness, etc) and they can't get here because their car won't start.

I still feel silly closing but I consoled myself by deciding to do daycare paperwork and cleaning for the day so that I'm still working.

Normally, cold and snow don't bother me...I've lived way up North by Lake Superior most of my life until I had to move for better financial prospects. Lake effect snow is terrible...combined with wind off of the lake and you have recipe for miserable weather. One time, during a cold spell, my workplace caught on fire because it was so cold that morning that (to the best of my memory) some fan belts operating the venting system froze up and then that created stress in the system that started a fire. Long story short, we were stuck outside in that cold for a couple of hours before we could go back inside. The cold can do funny things to machinery.

Besides, since Blackcat lives in the same area (generally speaking) as me, I figured if even she is closing, then perhaps I should take a note.

Yeah, this is getting old...... but atleast there are other places that are going through the same thing... LOL! ::



It's funny how many issues there are that are indirectly related to the cold (in reference to your fire at work story). We are always hearing about someone burning down their garage while trying to warm their cars or even stuff as tragic as dying because of space heaters and such.

But life goes on here I guess.... cold is just part of the deal when living here. The ice fishing is crazy and SUPER busy..... there are probably more cars/trucks and people parked on the lakes than their are on the roads right now.

I'm getting ready to eat lunch and then hop on the snowmobile for an afternoon ride with friends since I have the day off tomorrow.

Speaking of living near Lake Superior, I LOVE that area! I live about an hour away... a little farther north-northwest.

My son is moving to Duluth in June. I am excited because the hubs and I spend ALOT of time there and up along the north shore. Beautiful there!

As far as closing daycare, I probably wouldn't have normally closed but since the governor closed schools and several of my families are teachers, I just decided to go ahead and close. As you know, we don't often have school closings for temp/snow so I figured, why not.

I wanted NO part in parents choosing to bring their kids out in this weather.

The parents all get it....even if they aren't always wisest in their decisions to stay home or not, we aren't being overly cautious or impractical about it when the governor kind of feels the same way, ya know?

[TaylorTots]

I remained open today and we are in the same area getting -40 windchill. However, I will only have one child - my other two are teacher DCMs and the schools are closed today. Then again, that child was suppose to show up 10-15 minutes ago and nothing yet, so we will see... I am worried about it being a late late night because DCM/DCD could easily have issues with cars starting...

[coolconfidentme]

My county is on a Level 1; roads are emergency use only. No parent questioned my decision to closed today when I contacted them last night. They just wanted to know where you go to find out emergency information. I have good families who value the safety of their children!!! happyface

[Heidi]

Well, I didn't close, but all my families called in. One's job closed, 2's boyfriend is staying with kiddo so she doesn't have to drive him in her klunker, 3's gma wanted to spend the day with him, and 4's daddy drives an old truck and mom made him call in to work.

I've started laundry and have a list of projects to work on. happyface

[Maria2013]

only the youngest baby made it so far

[KDC]

I was curious about this because most of my parents brought their kids today, even though ALL schools in the surrounding area are closed. This is the coldest its been in this area in 20 yrs. or something like that. There are spin outs and dangerous roads (snowed 6 inches this weekend) -- but most of my clients are in my neighborhood, where they are dropping off and going back home to 'work from home'.

Many of the commercial daycare's in my area are also closed, my kids are home from school and I could have really used a 'day off' -- but I just couldn't see closing for cold weather. With the holiday's and sickness time off lately, I could see parents being a little miffed. I as a parent might feel a little miffed, especially if I didn't have an understanding boss. I do feel that some parents are taking advantage though -- basically they're teachers with the day off, still bringing their child so they can 'clean'. Good times!!

[Familycare71]

This is the first year I am closed if the school district is... Paid. I get so frustrated when people take their kids out in dangerous weather! So I decided I would take the option away!
The story of a parent not being able to get back to their vomiting child makes me even happier I did it!!!
Tomorrow I am pretty sure we will have a wind chill closing-

[caregiver]

LOL! I was typing this same thought as you posted.

Most my parents are pretty good about it but how many times have you shaken your head at the way a kid is dressed (improperly) for the weather, forgotten their hats or gloves etc?

I have so many parents that just think :the car is warm, so it's all good" ...kwim?

So, I just made the executive decision and closed. I want NO part of a parent's choice to expose their child to such extreme temps.

I live in the same state as Blackcat and I was seriously thinking about closing today as it was -23 this morning. I only have 2 families at the moment and decided to see if they would use their common sense and not bring their kids, but lo and behold, here they both come and on time. I do know that one family the Mom can and has worked from home before for the day, so was hoping she would do that, but she didn't. Her daughter was out 2 days last week with a really bad cold, so I thought maybe she would not want to take her out in this cold, but as people have said, parents don't seem to care if they have to take their child out in the extreme cold. The other DCM says she can not take anymore time off as she has no more PTO left, so brings her child.
So I have the kids today and am trying to keep the house nice and warm.

[Blackcat31]

This is the first year I am closed if the school district is... Paid. I get so frustrated when people take their kids out in dangerous weather! So I decided I would take the option away!
The story of a parent not being able to get back to their vomiting child makes me even happier I did it!!!
Tomorrow I am pretty sure we will have a wind chill closing-

I felt the same way and decided that allowing parents to make the choice worked before but now it seems the majority of parents don't care.

Like the poster who said a lot of her clients were teachers who just want the day to clean. I get that, but why can't that happen when their child is home?

Seems ridiculous to risk your child's life just so you can clean without interruption.

Here is what my temp reading was this morning.... I am GLAD I closed.

[SilverSabre25]

When the University closed last night I seriously considered closing too. Or at least....wished that I had a policy about closing if the University closes!

But I'm still getting paid, it's not THAT cold here, the roads aren't bad, and my kids are all mostly easy right now.

Of course, we got missed by the snow. Do you have any idea how peeved I am at the Weather Sprites for gifting us with unreasonably cold weather and not giving us SNOW to enjoy, too?! I would have accepted ice, too. But no. Just ridiculously cold air and wind.

[mema]

I felt the same way and decided that allowing parents to make the choice worked before but now it seems the majority of parents don't care.

Like the poster who said a lot of her clients were teachers who just want the day to clean. I get that, but why can't that happen when their child is home?

Seems ridiculous to risk your child's life just so you can clean without interruption.

Here is what my temp reading was this morning.... I am GLAD I closed.

I think for once we are colder than you. When I took dh to work this morning, the wind chill was -65*. Altho, really at this point, it's all the same.

[Blackcat31]

I think for once we are colder than you. When I took dh to work this morning, the wind chill was -65*. Altho, really at this point, it's all the same.

I think you guys are getting strong winds (making the wind chill colder).

It's not as windy here today as it has been.

The forecast for the week is funny because today the temps are suppose to be -20F and by Friday it's suppose to be +20F (above) so within the next 5 days the swing is HUGE!

Friday will feel like a heat wave! ::