Have You Ever Lost A DCF Because Of Your Own Absences?

[cheerfuldom]

Let me tell you a story ...

Once upon a time there was a child care provider and she was very nice. She never closed when she was sick and opened earlier or closed later for her clients when they asked and everything was well.

One day the provider decided that she wanted to go on an adventure and take a vacation. She gave her clients 6 months advance notice of when she was going on this adventure and closing the daycare during this time. Every month after that she reminded them of her adventure and her clients all agreed and smiled and were jolly. Then one day right before her adventure her ugly step-client told her that she could not go. That she needed the provider to stay and watch her child so that she could work. The ugly step-client scowled and fumed at the nice provider and told her that if she went on her adventure that the provider would be forbidden to watch her child any longer.

The provider fretted about this and was sad. She pleaded with her ugly step-client but it was of no use. The ugly step-client would not change her mind. The nice provider, fraught with distraught, fled high up into her tower weeping unsure of what to do.

She decided she would ask the magic oracle of the friendly wisps for help so she sat down at her writing desk and clickety-clacked on the magic keyboard to share the story of her woes. The friendly wisps in the magic oracle were very kind and shared their displeasure. They offered encouragement and advice and with their help she decided that she would go on her adventure anyway. She was tired of working and working and not being able to go to balls or adventures or even to her yearly annual gynecology appointments. She packed up her bags and put on her suit of armor to prepare for the hard battle that was ahead.

When she next saw her ugly step-client she stood tall with pride and courage and told her ugly step-client that she would indeed go on her adventure! The ugly step-client raged! She roared and boomed and transformed into an evil dragon and molten lava and fire spit out of her eyes and poured out in a heated dragon's breath of death! But the nice provider stayed strong and remembered that she did not care if her ugly step-client left! She was tired of working like a slave and not being appreciated so she raised her sword high over her head and shouted "Don't forget to give me your 2 week notice in writing!" and cast her out of her castle.

The ugly step-client went home and after thinking about how naughty she had been decided to call the nice provider and apologize for turning into a dragon and for being mean and ugly and asked if she could come back. The nice provider had a very kind heart and agreed to let her come back only if she was on her best behavior.

The nice provider went on her vacation and laid out in the sun while she sipped on Micheladas and she lived happily ever after.

THE END

awesome. thanks for the laugh! ::::::

[cheerfuldom]

I have taken two sick days off in over 6 years of daycare with notice. I also had a family emergency which involved me driving cross country, taking custody of my brother and also my grandmother passing away but thankfully, the daycare parents were so understanding and encouraging me to take even more time off. I think it ended up being three days, can't remember, but yeah other than that, I dont take time off.

Now it came back to bite us thought because my husband was recently turned down for a promotion because he "used too much of his sick time". Sick time is a company benefit with no guidelines in place about using too much time and because I work, have four young children including a special needs child, my husband did a number of appointments this years. probably 6 or 8 days used of his 14 days. He has worked his tail off for over 10 years for this company and now they say he wont be promoted due to using his sick time? gah! Now I am wondering if I should have closed the daycare more often so he wouldnt have used the time......

[CraftyMom]

Let me tell you a story ...

Once upon a time there was a child care provider and she was very nice. She never closed when she was sick and opened earlier or closed later for her clients when they asked and everything was well.

One day the provider decided that she wanted to go on an adventure and take a vacation. She gave her clients 6 months advance notice of when she was going on this adventure and closing the daycare during this time. Every month after that she reminded them of her adventure and her clients all agreed and smiled and were jolly. Then one day right before her adventure her ugly step-client told her that she could not go. That she needed the provider to stay and watch her child so that she could work. The ugly step-client scowled and fumed at the nice provider and told her that if she went on her adventure that the provider would be forbidden to watch her child any longer.

The provider fretted about this and was sad. She pleaded with her ugly step-client but it was of no use. The ugly step-client would not change her mind. The nice provider, fraught with distraught, fled high up into her tower weeping unsure of what to do.

She decided she would ask the magic oracle of the friendly wisps for help so she sat down at her writing desk and clickety-clacked on the magic keyboard to share the story of her woes. The friendly wisps in the magic oracle were very kind and shared their displeasure. They offered encouragement and advice and with their help she decided that she would go on her adventure anyway. She was tired of working and working and not being able to go to balls or adventures or even to her yearly annual gynecology appointments. She packed up her bags and put on her suit of armor to prepare for the hard battle that was ahead.

When she next saw her ugly step-client she stood tall with pride and courage and told her ugly step-client that she would indeed go on her adventure! The ugly step-client raged! She roared and boomed and transformed into an evil dragon and molten lava and fire spit out of her eyes and poured out in a heated dragon's breath of death! But the nice provider stayed strong and remembered that she did not care if her ugly step-client left! She was tired of working like a slave and not being appreciated so she raised her sword high over her head and shouted "Don't forget to give me your 2 week notice in writing!" and cast her out of her castle.

The ugly step-client went home and after thinking about how naughty she had been decided to call the nice provider and apologize for turning into a dragon and for being mean and ugly and asked if she could come back. The nice provider had a very kind heart and agreed to let her come back only if she was on her best behavior.

The nice provider went on her vacation and laid out in the sun while she sipped on Micheladas and she lived happily ever after.

THE END

I LOVE IT!!!::::::::

[Angelsj]

MV, you're officially my favorite!

[saved4always]

Let me tell you a story ...

Once upon a time there was a child care provider and she was very nice. She never closed when she was sick and opened earlier or closed later for her clients when they asked and everything was well.

One day the provider decided that she wanted to go on an adventure and take a vacation. She gave her clients 6 months advance notice of when she was going on this adventure and closing the daycare during this time. Every month after that she reminded them of her adventure and her clients all agreed and smiled and were jolly. Then one day right before her adventure her ugly step-client told her that she could not go. That she needed the provider to stay and watch her child so that she could work. The ugly step-client scowled and fumed at the nice provider and told her that if she went on her adventure that the provider would be forbidden to watch her child any longer.

The provider fretted about this and was sad. She pleaded with her ugly step-client but it was of no use. The ugly step-client would not change her mind. The nice provider, fraught with distraught, fled high up into her tower weeping unsure of what to do.

She decided she would ask the magic oracle of the friendly wisps for help so she sat down at her writing desk and clickety-clacked on the magic keyboard to share the story of her woes. The friendly wisps in the magic oracle were very kind and shared their displeasure. They offered encouragement and advice and with their help she decided that she would go on her adventure anyway. She was tired of working and working and not being able to go to balls or adventures or even to her yearly annual gynecology appointments. She packed up her bags and put on her suit of armor to prepare for the hard battle that was ahead.

When she next saw her ugly step-client she stood tall with pride and courage and told her ugly step-client that she would indeed go on her adventure! The ugly step-client raged! She roared and boomed and transformed into an evil dragon and molten lava and fire spit out of her eyes and poured out in a heated dragon's breath of death! But the nice provider stayed strong and remembered that she did not care if her ugly step-client left! She was tired of working like a slave and not being appreciated so she raised her sword high over her head and shouted "Don't forget to give me your 2 week notice in writing!" and cast her out of her castle.

The ugly step-client went home and after thinking about how naughty she had been decided to call the nice provider and apologize for turning into a dragon and for being mean and ugly and asked if she could come back. The nice provider had a very kind heart and agreed to let her come back only if she was on her best behavior.

The nice provider went on her vacation and laid out in the sun while she sipped on Micheladas and she lived happily ever after.

THE END

happyface::

Love your story!!! You could have a great career in writing!

[TwinKristi]

I have taken two sick days off in over 6 years of daycare with notice. I also had a family emergency which involved me driving cross country, taking custody of my brother and also my grandmother passing away but thankfully, the daycare parents were so understanding and encouraging me to take even more time off. I think it ended up being three days, can't remember, but yeah other than that, I dont take time off.

Now it came back to bite us thought because my husband was recently turned down for a promotion because he "used too much of his sick time". Sick time is a company benefit with no guidelines in place about using too much time and because I work, have four young children including a special needs child, my husband did a number of appointments this years. probably 6 or 8 days used of his 14 days. He has worked his tail off for over 10 years for this company and now they say he wont be promoted due to using his sick time? gah! Now I am wondering if I should have closed the daycare more often so he wouldnt have used the time......

:confused: how lame!! I've been thankful that my dh is self-employed so was able to move jobs around if I really needed him. He's looking for a new job working for someone else and this is one thing I'm worried about. Not sure if I'm ready for that!

[KidGrind]

This can definitely be true in a majority of cases but I think the BIGGEST thing is communication.

If parents are aware of and know your plans/policies AHEAD OF TIME then the resentment and/or frustration doesn't happen.

Handling unexpected closures is something I discuss thoroughly during the interview so that parents are aware of how I manage unexpected closings BEFORE they happen.

I also discuss with them MY expectations for them. For example, I do NOT provide a back up provider and expect parents to manage that portion of it.

Sometimes it does come down to costs but not always. I charge the same flat rate 52 weeks a year and NONE Of my parents have issues with that.

However, I am VERY reliable and RARELY close without a LOT of advance notice so I am sure that makes a difference too.

I would think like everything else in this line of work...it comes down to your relationship with the parent, how well you communicate and whether or not you work WITH your clients so that everything is a two way street.

I had to giggle. I had a DCM complain about planned closures. There were four days in question she was attempting to bully/guilt trip me into not closing. She even claimed 3 of the days were not listed in the contract. I admit I thought I had made an error and BELIEVED HER. I had made some contract edits. :::::: The fourth day was a planned day off in which parents were given over a month notice. 2 of the days were paid and two of them were not.

She gave me so much grief I decided to take the bullet if it was my mistake and not listed in her contract (due to my editing) and open for the 3 days. If I expect parents to follow the contract, I should to. If I made an error then I need to be accountable. So I read her contract and the 3 were listed. I was so mad at myself for believing her shenanigans for 1 second. I texted her telling her the days were listed and I would be closing. The fourth day I told her, “No way, no how….”

I assisted her with care elsewhere. She no showed.::

[Blackcat31]

I had to giggle. I had a DCM complain about planned closures. There were four days in question she was attempting to bully/guilt trip me into not closing. She even claimed 3 of the days were not listed in the contract. I admit I thought I had made an error and BELIEVED HER. I had made some contract edits. :::::: The fourth day was a planned day off in which parents were given over a month notice. 2 of the days were paid and two of them were not.

She gave me so much grief I decided to take the bullet if it was my mistake and not listed in her contract (due to my editing) and open for the 3 days. If I expect parents to follow the contract, I should to. If I made an error then I need to be accountable. So I read her contract and the 3 were listed. I was so mad at myself for believing her shenanigans for 1 second. I texted her telling her the days were listed and I would be closing. The fourth day I told her, “No way, no how….”

I assisted her with care elsewhere. She no showed.::

:: Glad you stood your ground though and corrected your mistaken belief.

Just goes to show you that you can't please them all...

I had one who complained about every.single day I had planned to be closed.

Finally I got sick of her complaining about those days that I told her I would change my contract for HER and not charge her for any days I am closed.

Her reply "But you are hardly ever closed."

I figured it out and am actually making a few MORE dollars off of her than I was before (I switched scheduling rules around on her to compensate ME for not charging her for those days... and she now realizes the "good thing" she HAD going on but I refuse to discuss this topic with her anymore. ::

[Second Home]

I have never lost a client for this reason , I have only closed with short notice 1 time in 11+ years . And that was because there was a major blizzard coming and we had a cruise wedding to get to . Our flights were cancelled 2 days before we were to leave ,We decided to drive to FL so we would make the trip. I called every family and asked if they were coming all but 1 said no . I told him sorry but I had to close .

If fact it is my family who misses out on last minute events & things because I am here for the dcp .

[childcaremom]

If fact it is my family who misses out on last minute events & things because I am here for the dcp .

c

This exactly. I always tell my clients during interviews that it is their responsibility to have a back up plan and that I am human and can only do what I can do.

I have closed twice with short notice. Once because two of my kids had the stomach flue. Once I had norovirus.

My vacation times are planned months in advance and I give plenty of reminders.

If someone ever gave me a hard time about taking time off, or closing when I am sick, well they are better off elsewhere.

[MarinaVanessa]

If someone ever gave me a hard time about taking time off, or closing when I am sick, well they are better off elsewhere.

And this was really my point in my story. We are only human and we have family's too. We get sick, our kids get sick, we need an occasional vacation, we need to go to the Dr's too. A client that expects you to stay open 365 days a year should look into center care. A client that expects ONE person to care for many children on her own and not ever close is not thinking of anyone other than their own needs, they're not even thinking about the needs of their own children. A provider that never takes a day or holiday off is more prone to burnout, fatigue and illness and that IS NOT good when you care for children.

The way I see it is a provider can either be okay with not taking days off or she can be okay with possibly losing a client if she does take days off. It does happen, sometimes clients do leave. Sometimes they just threaten you and say that they will (like in my case). It's not until we as provider learn to unburden ourselves of client's problems that we will be able to fully enjoy caring for the children and running our own businesses. THIS IS A BUSINESS ... do what is in the best interest of your business. It is not realistic to think that a business will never close, especially a sole proprietorship. Taking days off rejuvenates us and that directly impacts the children and the care that we provide.

[SignMeUp]

It is not realistic to think that a business will never close, especially a sole proprietorship. Taking days off rejuvenates us and that directly impacts the children and the care that we provide.

So true. And I have seen that some centers also close. It's just not likely that it will be on short notice (though I have seen that too, due to weather, or a leaking roof, situations like that). One of my families wanted to nit-pick the finances of my vacation plan, and used their old center's policy as the example of "how it should be". I had to point out to them that it worked out exactly the same financially. It was just a different way of working the numbers

The centers that I know of that close do so for either: vacation/break time for all of their employees at once OR for an annual training for the employees, sometimes coinciding with an annual clean-up/painting of the center.

[NightOwl]

For anyone who did NOT read all of the responses, it will be well worth your time to scroll back to read MV's fairy tale!