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

[Annalee]

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.

True statement in bold...I know there are some ruffled feathers sometimes with personal day use, but we seem to get through them. I don't think the parents are upset with me, it is that they do not have backup care which they should from the interview forward. I explain the use of my personal days in the interview, usually for a family issue and I DO NOT open with 2 subs....Parents in the interview always say how that is OK, but when it actually happens they see it differently. It is definitely a two-way street.

[KiddieCahoots]

I once lost a family due to excessive days off. My dd was ill and at the time I was a single mom, so I had no other choice other than to close to get her to many doctor appointments or the hospital. The family was great and we kept in touch, but it simply came down to them not having back up care.

[TwinKristi]

No, I haven't. I have only called off twice I think in almost 2yrs. The first time was only one child and he got us all sick with Norovirus so it was for the best. The other time was a couple months ago when we got a stomach virus from a DCG and my DS was super sick and throwing up.
I did have an interview for a family who's current provider called off numerous times. Their son was only 18mos and she had called out at least once a month, sometimes more, because she or her kids were sick. They were expecting a baby in a few months and didn't want the instability of finding backup care for 2 kids. She ended up choosing someone closer to home but she did leave her provider for that reason and because she would be transporting her own kids to and from school every day AND taking Fridays off. It was a lot of changes at once combined with the frequent absences.

[MarinaVanessa]

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

[Play Care]

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

::::::::::

[TwinKristi]

Love it mv!!!!

[craftymissbeth]

That was the best story I've ever read! ::

[Leanna]

Who doesn't love a good fairy tale? happyface

[KiddieCahoots]

::......LOL!!!
That was just toooo gooood!
Thanks MV! lovethis

[SignMeUp]

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 do agree. But there can sometimes be bad apples. I have only had a couple. It was upsetting at the time, but looking back, it was their loss more than mine.
One left because I took time off for my father's funeral, then asked a friend later (when she had her 2nd child) if she had burned her bridges with me. Um :: what do you think?
The other remained with me for another year or so, but our relationship was never the same. They did all the necessary things just fine, but to me it was STRICTLY business after that.

Ironically, I've seen and talked with the first one since then, and she was apologetic and nice. The second one - crickets

[Heidi]

::

MV...that is great! :hug:

[renodeb]

I can honestly say I have never lost any one but I don't abuse my days off either. (it sounds like you don't either) Each time I take vacation I give a months notice minimum. Four years ago when my grma passed away I took a week off and all my clients were great. It sounds like you made every effort to have some one there.
I used to fell guilty to take vacation but with each passing year that guilt fades. If we don't take care of us then how in the heck can we take care of the kids in our dc?
Deb

[daycare]

MV you should write story books for children Ill buy all of them

[NightOwl]

MV, you're officially my favorite!

[renodeb]

I take off two weeks a year for vacation, and all school holidays. Plus when I go on vacation I don't charge them. Now who would complain about that. Well years ago I had one mom who worked as a dental hygenist, she was always bragging about how much money she made and how she had all these days off saved up. But when I notified her about vacation she always belly ached. My current group is great and luckily they all have back up care.
I think generally dc parents are selfish, they don't want to be inconvenienced in any way, shape or form. I think thats the appeal of a dc center.